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Next Level supports translators and interpreters with five or more years of experience as they seek to achieve their business goals. We provide information for both freelancers and company owners to use in all aspects of their careers, from improving their privacy protections to planning for retirement.

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A Bid Too Far – On Reaching For and Losing Projects

By Next Level | June 28, 2023
A bid too far – On reaching for and losing projects

This post is a reblog, originally published on Tip of the Tongue. It is republished with permission from the author. The question of when a price proposal is too high is quite complex. Last week, I submitted a bid for a specialized service to an experienced professional. In my proposal, I took into account my investments in terms of time and energy as well as my assessment of his perception of value and ability to pay for and appreciate the result. I would like to say the negotiation ended in agreement but, alas, he wrote to me that I was…

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The Scammers’ New Clothes

By Next Level | June 14, 2023
The Scammers' New Clothes

I may be wrong, but scam activities seem to be inversely proportional to the economic cycle. Whenever there is the threat of an economic downturn, there seems to be an uptick in scam activities. At least that’s what I have noticed in my own business and in my capacity as webmaster of the Northern California Translators Association (NCTA). Therefore, I…

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Impressive Time Management for Translators: The Time Diet

By Next Level | May 24, 2023
Impressive Time Management for Translators: The Time Diet

This post is a reblog, originally published on Productivity Stacks. It is republished with permission from the author. Do you often feel like your business is running you instead of the other way around? Do you wonder why you constantly feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? This is your chance to figure out where your time is…

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5 Tedious Non-Translation Tasks ChatGPT Can Do Amazingly Well

By Next Level | May 10, 2023
5 Tedious Non-Translation Tasks ChatGPT Can Do Amazingly Well

Odds are you’ve heard the hype around the futuristic artificial intelligence-based tool currently taking the world by storm. But what is it and what can it really do for translators? The answers may surprise you. What is ChatGPT? ChatGPT is a large language model (LLM) designed and developed by OpenAI to generate human-like responses to prompts. LLMs are a type…

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How to Plan Large Projects to Minimize Stress

By Next Level | April 19, 2023
How to plan large projects to minimize stress

This post is a reblog, originally published in the Tool Box Journal on September 16, 2022. It is republished with permission from the author. Large work projects can be a boon and a bane for a freelance business. It’s exciting to have a large chunk of income to look forward to, but accommodating parallel work volumes from other clients can…

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Get More Done as a Freelance Translator – How to Plan Your Work and Become More Productive

By Next Level | March 15, 2023
Get More Done as a Freelance Translator How to Plan Your Work and Become More Productive

This post is a reblog, originally published on Marketing Tips for Translators. It is republished with permission of the author. Scheduling and planning are fundamentally important things to consider if you hope to build an effective freelance career. In any field, time management is of the utmost importance. If you are a freelance translator, your productivity – and therefore your…

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Should You Start a Translation Agency?

By Next Level | February 15, 2023
Should You Start a Translation Agency

You have been freelancing as a translator for a few years now, and you have settled into a good rhythm. You have some steady clients and are feeling confident in your abilities. You start to wonder: should I be starting my own translation agency? Is that the next step? You might notice colleagues going this route: incorporating as a business,…

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8 COVID-Era Online Language Practice Sites

By Next Level | January 25, 2023
8-COVID-Era-Online-Language-Practice-Sites

This post is a reblog, originally published on Carlie Sitzman’s blog. It is republished with permission of the author. As they venture off into unknown realms of the internet, some language learners may become overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of offerings out there. What works? What doesn’t? Where am I likely to run into personages with dubious motives? This week,…

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Translator Profile: ATA Past President Ted Wozniak

By Next Level | January 11, 2023
ATA Translator Profile Ted Wozniak

Many of you know Ted Wozniak quite well from his many years of dedicated service to ATA…but did you know he essentially worked undercover as a liaison officer for the US Army in Germany? I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ted, and I enjoyed hearing about his colorful professional life as much as I valued his advice for…

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Shiny Object Syndrome

By Next Level | December 21, 2022
Shiny Object Syndrome

This post is a reblog, originally published in the Tool Box Journal Newsletter, Issue 22-11-342 on November 23, 2022. It is reposted with permission from the author. Imagine you’re building a house. You’ve poured cement for the basement, you spent weeks constructing the walls, and just as you’re starting to work on the roof… you decide to remodel a shiny…

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Mentoring: Get As Much As You Give

By Next Level | November 23, 2022
Mentoring Get As Much As You Give

From the Next Level team: Do you remember the first few years of your career in the language industry? Was it smooth sailing, or did you sometimes wish for someone who could give you advice and point you in a new direction? If you’ve ever wanted or had someone to help you find your footing, consider doing the same for…

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