Atlas Newsletter – April 2007
Atlas News Special – Working With Atlas
Q - What is the world's most unusual language?
A - Even Atlas is not sure. Having said that, there is certainly no shortage of new languages coming into the office on a weekly basis... Papiamentu, Ewe, Edo to name just a few.... This is why Atlas has a worldwide network of staff, meaning that it is able to offer the highest quality translation and language services when dealing with even the most rare and wonderful languages.
Many employers are placing increasingly value on the importance of language skills in helping them lead multicultural team. Although English remains dominant in the international arena, British business leaders still need help understanding and managing cultural differences at work.
Atlas' in-house project managers and translators are always on hand to answer enquiries about their language. Staff currently working in the Atlas office hail from Argentina, Poland, France, Greece, China and Italy. Not to mention Anna, who comes all the way from Essex!
Atlas Graduate Work Placement Programme
This well-established and highly successful work placement scheme has now been in operation for almost 15 years. It was founded with the intention of offering budding translators an introduction to the industry, along with the opportunity to develop their skills in translation, project management and much more. Previous work placement students or WPs -as they soon become known- have gone on to lead successful careers in the industry: some working in-house for Atlas or other translation companies and many more going on to work for Atlas on a freelance basis.
Atlas prides itself on the diversity of its working environment and offers around 20 placements each year to students and graduates of different ages and nationalities, who are passionate about working in the translation industry. Students are given full training and integration into the company on a scheme that offers a range of professional development and recruitment opportunities for future translators and project managers. The programme also promises to provide students with realistic expectations of what translators actually do, and teaches them many of the skills that they will need to survive in this competitive industry.
What do WPs do?
A typical day in the life of a WP could include:
- Translation and proofreading tasks
- Using and developing IT skills
- Project Management
- Building and maintaining solid working relationships with colleagues and clients
- Searching for terminology using the internet and on-line glossaries and dictionaries
- Administrative tasks, such as invoicing, handling purchase orders, contracts, payments, post, filing, archives, maintaining records and databases.
What WPs say about Atlas
Kasia – January to April 2006
“I have spent four months in Atlas and I have to admit I learnt a lot. It was an extremely good and useful experience for me. When you graduate from a university you know little about real translation world and therefore I believe it was very helpful to have this opportunity and do a work placement.”
Valeria – 19 June to 24 November 2006
“I learnt gradually and it was nice to be given something different to do each week/day, it allows you to build on what you learnt before but day by day. The things to do are so many in the first weeks and being busy at the beginning really helps breaking the ice.”
Kate – 4 October to 22 December 2006
“The Asian Games interpreting project gave me a real point of focus, I found it both challenging and extremely rewarding and, although at times I certainly did feel the pressure, I really enjoyed working on this project…I had a fantastic time working for Atlas. I loved being part of such a strong team and really appreciated the level of responsibility handed over to me.”
Where are they now?
Atlas' very first WP from way back in1992 continues to work for Atlas regularly on a freelance basis!
One of the company's WPs from 2006 is currently employed by Atlas in-house as a Project Manager.
Kasia now works in the UK for a large translation agency.
Kate was recommended to a London subtitling company by Atlas and has been working there since February. She also does some freelance work for Atlas.
Valeria is back in Italy, finishing her MA!
To find out more about the Atlas Work Placement Programme please visit the recruitment pages on the company website at http://atlas-translations.co.uk/english/company/placement.php .
Press/Public Relations
Press Office
Atlas Translations Ltd
Clare Suttie
Director
Phone: +44 (0)20 7240 6666
Contact Press Office
Site: www.atlas-translations.co.uk
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