1. How organised are you?
A. I have a system, plan everything out and set reminders.
B. I go with the flow and wait for inspiration to strike.
C. I’m guided by my clients and what they need from me.
D. I’m pretty chaotic but it works for me.
2. What do you do with instructions?
A. I read them and follow them to the letter.
B. I read them but take them with a pinch of salt.
C. I speak to the client if I think I need to deviate from the instructions at all.
D. I skim them and start working on the translation, making changes as I go.
3. How do you feel about working with clients/project managers?
A. I like everything to be clear. Everything runs like clockwork with detailed instructions and a proper contract in place.
B. I prefer to be left to my own devices. I just want to get on with my work – that’s it.
C. It’s a partnership! I like talking to the people I’m working with and I always make sure I know what’s expected of me.
D. My priority is to do my work my way – even if that means I miss the deadline sometimes.
4. What does your inbox look like?
A. I have a system in place so I can always keep on top of my emails.
B. It’s absolute chaos. But I do at least reply to all the requests I receive.
C. I archive my emails in a structured folder system and I save thank you messages from happy clients.
D. I would call it organised chaos.
5. You receive an urgent request at the weekend. The deadline is tight. How do you respond?
A. I ask for further details before I accept the project.
B. I don’t accept the project. My weekends are precious to me.
C. I accept the project but charge a higher rate than normal.
D. I accept the project and then complain about it to myself for the next two hours.
6. What’s your favourite part of being a translator?
A. Working hard on a project and delivering it ahead of the deadline.
B. Working for myself in my own little bubble.
C. Serving my clients and meeting their expectations.
D. Getting lost in a text that inspires and motivates me.
7. What’s your favourite time of day for translation?
A. I start bright and early so I can stick to my schedule for the day ahead.
B. The time of day isn’t important to me – unless I’m working to a tight deadline.
C. I prefer to work in the afternoon.
D. I feel most inspired in the evening.
8. What drink keeps you going during the working day?
A. Water. It’s really important to me that I stay hydrated.
B. Double espresso.
C. Tea.
D. Energy drinks.
9. Which of these quotes sounds like you said it?
A. “Staying organised sets you free.”
B. “Rules are made to be broken.”
C. “Every project is a new adventure.”
D. “Words have soul.”
10. Someone asks you if you translate quickly. What’s your reply?
A. “I translate to a high standard.”
B “It depends on the text and my mood on the day.”
C. “I translate as fast as I need to translate to meet the deadline.”
D. “It depends how inspired I’m feeling.”
11. What’s your biggest motivation as a translator?
A. Being recognised for my hard work and skills.
B. Having the opportunity to express and convey emotion through my translations.
C. Building strong relationships with my clients and earning their trust.
D. Working on exciting and creative projects.
12. If you had to work somewhere else for a day, where would you go?
A. A quiet coworking space.
B. A beach hut by the sea.
C. A monastery in the mountains.
D. A busy café in the city centre.
That’s the end of the test!
Ready to discover your translator persona? Each of the answers corresponds to a specific type of translator. Are you detail-driven, rebellious, attentive or passionate.
Count up how many times you answered with each letter (A, B, C and D). The letter that came up most often reveals your translator persona. Read the relevant profile to find out more!
If you have two letters tied at the top, you can either consider yourself as a chameleon (with a hybrid profile) or read both descriptions and choose the one that you think sounds most like you.
Mostly A = You are detail-driven
You’re methodical, precise and extremely reliable. Every word matters to you. Every comma is in exactly the right place and every term is checked, double checked and checked again. Clients know they can count on you, so they trust you. You’re always on top of things – and that’s the way you like it. Productivity and efficiency are your top priorities.
Mostly B = You are rebellious
You trust your intuition when you translate. You have a strong personality and an unmistakeable style. You’re a free spirit. You like working on projects that reflect your personality and you’re confident enough to do things your own way.
Mostly C = You are attentive
You’re an attentive translator. You understand your clients, their needs and their pain points. You like working collaboratively and building strong relationships that last. You believe that translation is a team game.
Mostly D = You are passionate
It’s important to you to work on meaningful texts. You have a deep connection with language and you appreciate the beauty of words. You want your translations to have an impact and genuinely land with the readers. You can spend hours working on just one paragraph – even if it means you miss the deadline.
