| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you think it's necessary to have postgraduate degrees to get better jobs? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think it's necessary to have postgraduate degrees to get better jobs?".
This poll was originally submitted by Yoko Busk. View the poll results »
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:17
German to English
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| No, not necessary ... | Oct 14, 2010 |
... but it helps.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 10:17
English to French
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Not everybody has the same definition for "a better job".
| | | | Karin Usher
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:17
Member (2006)
English to Portuguese
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| Agree with Mary... | Oct 14, 2010 |
Mary Worby wrote:
... but it helps.
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mustafaer
Türkiye
Local time: 11:17
Member (2005)
| the more you learn the better | Oct 14, 2010 |
best, if your work/company finances your studies
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 10:17
Member (2009)
English to German
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Mustafa Er (BSc MA) wrote:
best, if your work/company finances your studies
That would be the ideal solution,but that hardly ever happens. Definitely not to freelancers.
Studying, keeping one's knowledge at the pulse of time, is mandatory to do well while postgraduate degress are nice and helpful but not really a "must".
| | | | | Translators are born, not made... | Oct 14, 2010 |
...but advanced studies in a field of specialization can be really helpful. Sometimes I wish I had gone for a graduate degree in science rather than linguistics.
Anyway, I'm a firm believer that all education is worth the investment of time and money.
| | | | Samir Sami
Qatar
Local time: 11:17
Arabic to English
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What is meant here by better jobs? Quantifiably (more jobs) or in-house promotion?
In my opinion, what is better than postgraduate studies is to try other majors (legal, business administration, etc.). Horizontal education might serve us better than the vertical approach.
[Edited at 2010-10-14 11:01 GMT]
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| Question too general... | Oct 14, 2010 |
Thinking only of the translation/language industry I would say "no", however I think with the trend towards the "requirement" for postgraduate qualifications, it may shortly become more important although, in my personal view, that has to do more with the commodification of education than any skill or intelligence. I think it is more important for younger translators and in spite of my comment above (about education), the fact that postgrad courses for translators are also becoming more and more... See more Thinking only of the translation/language industry I would say "no", however I think with the trend towards the "requirement" for postgraduate qualifications, it may shortly become more important although, in my personal view, that has to do more with the commodification of education than any skill or intelligence. I think it is more important for younger translators and in spite of my comment above (about education), the fact that postgrad courses for translators are also becoming more and more specialised (medical/legal/audio/subtitling, etc.), there is clearly a move within the industry towards that type/level of training. Not that any of this helps you to deal with the "real" world... I don't know how useful other postgrad degrees are for translators but I'd be interested to know.
Personally, I'm all in favour of translators having some form of "translation" or "linguistic" training, although that does not necessarily mean postgraduate studies but I won't elaborate further as I may be going way off-topic with such a general theme...
Regards, Aisha ▲ Collapse
| | | | | In the field | Oct 14, 2010 |
During my career I've trained many cadets both male and female. Being a post-graduate simply means that on paper one is deemed capable. What follows in the field is what determines one's competence. I remember an old man called Mudarra John. He surprised us one day when with one short sentence he solved a very technical problem. He turned out to be an amazing font of information and because he'd been the shop floor cleaner for about FORTY YEARS no body ever thought looking at that old man to ask... See more During my career I've trained many cadets both male and female. Being a post-graduate simply means that on paper one is deemed capable. What follows in the field is what determines one's competence. I remember an old man called Mudarra John. He surprised us one day when with one short sentence he solved a very technical problem. He turned out to be an amazing font of information and because he'd been the shop floor cleaner for about FORTY YEARS no body ever thought looking at that old man to ask him. I learned a vital lesson and that is it is better to know people before the paper and perhaps those that do the selections should learn to read people in order to develop intuition and empathy. In so doing the best choice is easier to determine. Not likely in this society we like to think modern. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ahmet Murati
Germany
Local time: 10:17
English to Albanian
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| Further education | Oct 14, 2010 |
Education in specific field can be reached even through experience on that particular field.
Some specific translations like medical do require broader knowledge of terminology that is used in that field. So, if a translator want's to move to another field of translation then he/she needs to get some training at least in that field. In other jobs like in computer science, mechatronics you need to have education in that field because these fields are like oceans so if you dive into them you... See more Education in specific field can be reached even through experience on that particular field.
Some specific translations like medical do require broader knowledge of terminology that is used in that field. So, if a translator want's to move to another field of translation then he/she needs to get some training at least in that field. In other jobs like in computer science, mechatronics you need to have education in that field because these fields are like oceans so if you dive into them you need to know how to swim on it otherwise the bottom of ocean is very deep so you might find yourself down there. ▲ Collapse
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guys, depends on where you study and how eager you are to study. there is a huge difference among the universities. knowing the situation in my country and the way we approach our studies i can definitely say that degrees help a lot!
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| right you are | Oct 14, 2010 |
Aisha Maniar wrote:
Thinking only of the translation/language industry I would say "no", however I think with the trend towards the "requirement" for postgraduate qualifications, it may shortly become more important although, in my personal view, that has to do more with the commodification of education than any skill or intelligence. I think it is more important for younger translators and in spite of my comment above (about education), the fact that postgrad courses for translators are also becoming more and more specialised (medical/legal/audio/subtitling, etc.), there is clearly a move within the industry towards that type/level of training. Not that any of this helps you to deal with the "real" world... I don't know how useful other postgrad degrees are for translators but I'd be interested to know.
Personally, I'm all in favour of translators having some form of "translation" or "linguistic" training, although that does not necessarily mean postgraduate studies but I won't elaborate further as I may be going way off-topic with such a general theme...
Regards, Aisha
Absolutely agree with you, Aisha.
| | | | Yoko Busk
United Kingdom
Japanese to English
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| What I really wanted ask was.. | Oct 14, 2010 |
Hi, I'm the one who posted this poll. I understand the question is too general and broad, but I couldn't create better question within this character limit. I also suggested more specific multiple choices for answers but they were simplified (I'm not complaining).
What I wanted to ask was whether 1. it is helpful to have (or take) posgrad degree in Translation / Linguistics, 2. postgrad degree in your translation field (medical, IT, Law etc.) 3. Undergraduate degree is enough. or 4.... See more Hi, I'm the one who posted this poll. I understand the question is too general and broad, but I couldn't create better question within this character limit. I also suggested more specific multiple choices for answers but they were simplified (I'm not complaining).
What I wanted to ask was whether 1. it is helpful to have (or take) posgrad degree in Translation / Linguistics, 2. postgrad degree in your translation field (medical, IT, Law etc.) 3. Undergraduate degree is enough. or 4. No
But all the comments are so helpful and I want to thank everyone who had voted and left comments. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:17
Spanish to English
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I don't think an in-depth (postgrad) education in linguistics will help you out as a freelance translator. Perhaps for a job as an in-house translator or some other similar post it might be taken into account, especially by the type of companies that advertise on proz for translators, stipulating that a degree or similar qualification in translation is a prequisite (which always gets my goatee).
In my opinion, a basic degree should usually be enough, although postgraduate translatio... See more I don't think an in-depth (postgrad) education in linguistics will help you out as a freelance translator. Perhaps for a job as an in-house translator or some other similar post it might be taken into account, especially by the type of companies that advertise on proz for translators, stipulating that a degree or similar qualification in translation is a prequisite (which always gets my goatee).
In my opinion, a basic degree should usually be enough, although postgraduate translation-oriented courses now usually include a lot of the tools used nowadays, such as Trados etc, as well as other technological advances, so that could be useful for those unfamiliar with that area of the profession.
Here in Spain, we have a phenomenon colloquially known as "titulitis", where the sufferers appear to be always studying for higher qualifications and never quite getting the job they yearn for, despite all their certificates and courses attended... ▲ Collapse
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