James P.
About me
| James P. | |
| Language and Linguistic Science | |
| Franch/Linguistics | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Wentworth | |
| 1994 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Business Development Manager | |
| Translation agency | |
| Germany | |
| Library, museum and information services |
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A day in the life of a Business Development Manager in Germany
Working in interpreting you get to meet some important people; I had a the privilege to work with Pelé and Mohammad Ali twice.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
A well-established translation agency
What do you do?
Help large and medium-sized business with their translation and interpreting needs
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
Love of languages, Entrepreneurial spirit. I was one of the first people in the UK to take English Language as an 'A' Level and it was a logical step to go into linguistics. I had a good grounding in languages and teaching was also a natural choice. But I also liked business and doing deals and subsidised my student grant by proofreading economics theses and giving ghostwalks in 6 languages around York for the tourists. After I moved to Germany I ran my own language school - the perfect combination for me until a downturn in the market made me look at translations and intrepreting. It is these services I now sell across Europe.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Yes
Describe your most memorable day at work
Working in interpreting you get to meet some important people I had a the privilege to work with Pelé and Mohammad Ali twice. You definitely get a buzz when the eyes of the world are watching and listening to you. Being an interpreter is not just about being good at languages. You have to be diplomatic, incredibly flexible and stress-resistant.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Massive competition and lack of USPs. You have to be a great networker, story-teller and judge of character in sales. It is important to celebrate the little wins, not just the big ones.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
I work from home, contact with colleagues is online, contact with clients is either face-to-face or online
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
Cricket - team player, leadership, creativity, organisational skills
What would you like to do next with your career?
Keep learning, follow everything that is happening in the industry and stay close to the clients.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Get good at many things, learn a language. Cultural competences is becoming a sort after skill and knowing how other cultures work is of vital importance.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Working abroad, career in sales, career in languages, networking
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
You can never have enough contacts
Next steps...
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