Here are some details to look for in a vendor’s profile:
- Specialization: Someone with specialized experience is often a better fit than a jack-of-all-trades.
- Priorities: Consider the needs of different industries. For example, an emergency translation might have a looser budget, but lack time to train someone with low tech skills.
- Language: Sometimes a vendor is a non-native speaker, or speaks a different dialect. Are there scenarios where a heritage speaker can be a good fit? Are there any qualifications you might look for in a non-native speaker to trust their expertise? Can you think of any languages where dialect is more or less crucial?
For more information, visit “Key Components of Successful Translator Recruitment” by The ATA Chronicle.