to ask what you do if you are self employed/work at home

[PocketFluff]

In a few threads recently people have talked about being self employed, some only doing a few hours a week, or being able to have a work at home job that fits around the children.

Can I be nosey and ask what it is you do and get a bit of the action myself?

Thanks Elizabeth yeah I've looked at that website it's good info alright.

thenickname
bum, had not read through the whole of the infographic - but it will still make it worth putting slightly higher employee salaries through ....

Sorry to go off topic slightly, but would any of the translators mind giving me a few tips? I'm surprised there's so many of you here! I currently teach languages - a job which I do enjoy - but now I've got two young children I'm considering a career change, mainly so I can be more flexible. I've done a bit of paid translation work, but not a huge amount. From the research I've done it appears that experience counts more than qualifications. I'd love to know how you got into translation and how you find it.Thanks!

PhD student (not) writing up.

Journalist. I do a bit of editing too. And assess applicants for a foundation. And co-wrote a textbook on diversity. That sort of thing.

I'm a childminder.

Proofreading, copy-editing, project management for publishers. Plusses: can work in PJs, no commute, work when I want. Minuses: waiting ages to be paid, no holiday/sick pay, periods of no work...

I'm a regional manager for a luxury cosmetics brand. I technically work from home, though 4 days are out and about. Great job as I can be flexible as and when I needed

I own a website.

I do not want to make cupcakes!!!!

Eat them, yes. Make them, hell no!

I run an online retail business, and also see people for appointments where they can try out the options and choose (being cagey for avoidance of advertising, rather than because it's dodgy things I sell...!)

What kind of website Revels?

I'm a writer.
I also run severl websites and for-profit blogs.
I also review books (but this is absurdly terrible pay).

Just got a job doing customer service for an online retailer. Its sucj a relief as I was sacked from the last one. I have quite severe mobility issues and don't drive so it's been amazing not to have to sit on a cramped bus for two hours crying in pain!

I'm an OU lecturer. Most of it is done from home - online tutorials, marking etc. I'm only out a few hours a week.

Nettletea Thats what I want to be doing in ten years time I'm hoping to start Forest School Training next September if life doesn't lead me down a different path first!

I did work freelance as an editor and writer. However, work is erratic and the pay not great, so I went back to teaching which is much better paid and has all the benefits of full time work: sick pay, pension, paid hols etc.

Occasionally I daydream about working from home again, but it seems to only work if you have a partner who is the breadwinner and you are not dependent on your income.

Can I jump in pretty please and ask those who are freelance writers/copywriters/proofreaders how they got into that line of work? I have some experience and vaguely relevant qualifications in that area and would really like to start doing some freelance work from home...

A postgrad in Publishing Studies and years of in-house experience

Wanttofindaworklifebalance I trained as a chartered accountant with a big four firm and did a course in financial modelling when I moved into corporate finance. After I left I set up as a sole practitioner and kept in touch with ex colleagues who have referred work to me as there is a gap in the market locally for this type of work for medium and small businesses who can't afford to pay big four fees.
It has worked well for me as I can do the part of the job I used to enjoy and manage my work around school hours.

Like PrimalLass said: for me, a publishing degree and 6+ years in-house. This helped to build contacts so that when I eventually went freelance I knew people who'd send work my way. There's a LOT of competition for freelance proofreading/copy-editing work nowadays.

Guinea Pig meerschweinchen () - you need qualifications AND experience to make a decent living as a freelance translator. In my case - degree in modern languages (though theoretically could be in anything if you also have sound knowledge of a foreign language or are bilingual), experience as staff translator in public service and industry, Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation (IoL Dip Trans) and membership of Institute of Translation and Interpreting. You also need good written English and sound knowledge of one or more specialist subject areas. This would be a good starting point: www.iti.org.uk/become-a-member/membership-categories/20-membership/360-career-affiliate

Consider an MA in translation studies - Bristol University runs a distance-learning course, ITI website has details of other courses. At the very minimum, obtain the IoL Dip Trans - distance learning course available from London City University (and elsewhere, I think!)

The ITI website also has useful information about getting started www.iti.org.uk/about-industry/advice-newcomers. Remember that translation is not a regulated profession as such - we regulate it ourselves as far as we can, but anyone can set up a business and call themselves a translator or translation agency, which means there are plenty of fly-by-night cowboy outfits on the market who get away with ripping off unsuspecting clients and paying peanuts to the translators who actually do the work. There are also some excellent agencies that are a delight to work for. Good, enlightened clients are willing to pay decent rates for high quality work, as it costs them less in the long run.

How do I find it? Great - I've worked freelance on-and-off for the last 20 years or so, fitting it around family commitments, going full-time during DH's various redundancies, having breaks for babies and working part-time around the demands of a young family. Child care is still essential during working hours, self-discipline is a must and you have to sort out your own pension and manage all the other roles that go with running a small business...but the best thing is that it's you, not your boss, that decides whether or not to accept that job request.

Run my own business - greyhound coats and bandanas. We sell through our website, and attend specialist sighthound events.

Hottiebottie, thanks so much for such a detailed reply. I do already have the DipTrans, as I realised I'd need qualifications to help me get some work, and thus build up my experience. I don't know much about the Iti though, other than the fact it exists, so thank you so much for taking the time to post the links, it's really helpful! And I'm glad you enjoy translating as a career

Can I jump in pretty please and ask those who are freelance writers/copywriters/proofreaders how they got into that line of work? I have some experience and vaguely relevant qualifications in that area and would really like to start doing some freelance work from home...

Degree, then started as an editorial assistant and worked in house in staff for various publications until redundancy made me go freelance a little earlier than I wanted. Spent the first year with hardly any work and it took a whole to build up. Am very lucky to have had a good reputation in a specialist niche to build on. Nearly all my work is commercial now as writing for company websites etc pays the bills. Would like to go back on staff one day as miss feature writing.