The International School of Linguists (ISL) is an Accredited Centre that has a proven track record in providing innovative support for linguists and developing interpreting standards throughout the UK and overseas.
The ‘feast or famine’ way Get used to this phenomenon, which inexplicably governs most of our freelance working life. You are either snowed under with work, or waiting for that e-mail to drop in your inbox. Most of the time, there is no inbetween. As frustrating as this may be, know that the phase you are in is only temporary and if things are quiet on the work front at the moment, that’s bound to change soon.
Use downtime wisely Rather than wallowing in worry when things are quiet, use this time to build your business. Research the Internet for work opportunities, increase your profile on social media, consider building a website. There are lots of things you can do when you haven’t got interpreting or translation projects on the go and in the long run, you will be investing into yourself.
Give yourself a break Because of the nature of freelance work, it’s easy to forget how to say ‘no’ in fear of jobs no longer coming in. However, this is the fastest route to burnout. Ensure that your work-life balance is healthy. This will be individual for everyone but put simply, when jobs landing in your inbox are bringing you anxiety rather than pleasure, that’s a sure-fire sign that you need to take a break.
Be social Most of the time, our job is very solitary. That doesn’t mean that you have to be segregated from society. There are lots of friendly, light-hearted, supportive groups out there in the social media sphere. Get involved in productive discussions online and you will make friends and, no doubt, learn something too.
Learn a new skill It is never too late to learn a new skill. Developing a skill you already have or learning a new skill that you want to add to your portfolio can help take your mind off any worries or concerns that you have while you indulge in a new and exciting project. Getting creative and being pro-active in your learning and upskilling can show clients what you are capable of and ultimately help improve the work you provide for them.
Are you ready to jump into a new adventure? Contact the ISL team on 0203 475 7771 or by email on [email protected] and see how we can help you build your business as a linguist!
