Comments on: Attending Professional Events: Benefits and Tips

By: Weekly translation favorites (Mar 20-26)

Weekly translation favorites (Mar 20-26) — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 17:17:34 +0000

[…] Common misconceptions of the translation process The PEN Model Contract for Literary Translators Attending Professional Events: Benefits and Tips memoQ&A in Porto – good people, great bagels! Spotlight on Literary Translator Marek […]

By: Attending Professional Events: Benefits and Tip...

Attending Professional Events: Benefits and Tip... — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 17:57:15 +0000

[…] Yesterday, I attended a huge professional event, the Salon Entreprendre. […]

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 14:14:57 +0000

Absolutely. We shouldn’t be shoving business cards left, right and centre. I agree with your approach. Even if the person in question may not need our services, they may know someone who does.

By: Emeline Jamoul

Emeline Jamoul — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 13:52:18 +0000

You are right, Lloyd. Our industry is not so well-known and it is important to represent it and raise awareness about what we do.

Agree on the water tip! Hadn’t thought about that one!

As for business cards, I guess the key is not to shove yours in the other’s hand – that would be extremely rude. But you have to take the context into account… If, for example, they mentioned that they might need translation services in the near future, you could give them your business card and suggesting giving you a call when the need arises. The thing is to keep it casual! Do you agree?

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:48:15 +0000

Great post, Emeline. I think we should all make as much of a presence as possible at events like these outside of our own industry, not just for ourselves, but for our industry as a whole.

To the list of tips, I would add – make sure you have enough access to water. We tend to do a lot of talking at these events, plus the venues are always boiling hot!

Getting a plan of the venue is a great idea. I’d definitely agree about planning the day carefully beforehand. If there are lots of workshops and seminars happening, you’ll want to know what you want to go to and when, not feeling disoriented and rushed on the day. It makes you much more relaxed and less panicked on the day.

On another point, I read somewhere (translation-related) that you shouldn’t give your business card to someone unless they ask for it. I completely disagree with that and think that if something could subsequently come of your conversation with someone, then you should offer your card just before you part ways. What do you think?

All the best,
Lloyd