Required Capabilities

Although SimulTrans has built strong relationships with many vendors over many years, SimulTrans does consider new prospective partners who offer the following profile:

• an absolute commitment to quality and deadlines
• the ability to satisfy a broad range of needs (from software strings to online help and websites), including formatting and testing, i.e., a total solution" for a given target language
• powerful computer and communications capabilities (e.g., ftp, email, secure servers, Notes)
• ownership and expert use of memory-based localization and translation tools (i.e., Trados Workbench, Corel Catalyst)
• the ability to cover one or more terminological domains relating to technology (e.g., software, hardware, networking, semiconductors, telecommunications, medicine)
• a well-designed and documented quality process, governing how translation projects are set up, managed, and monitored from a quality perspective

Vendors desiring to work with SimulTrans should describe their strengths and weaknesses in each of the above areas.

Rates

Competing against SimulTrans' entrenched vendor relationships, new candidates face daunting hurdles in earning an opportunity to work with SimulTrans. These hurdles can be lowered if the new vendor offers SimulTrans attractive rates for the first year. (SimulTrans negotiates rates with its vendors on an annual basis.)

When applying to work for SimulTrans, vendors (including freelancers) should quote their per-word and per-hour rates for the following services:

• translation without technical or linguistic review
• translation with technical or linguistic review (publication-quality translations)
• technical and linguistic review only (also called technical editing and linguistic proofreading)
• user-interface localization and testing
• online documentation translation (including online help)
• Trados-leveraged words
• translation of promotional texts (e.g., websites, brochures)
• rush assignments (though most vendors do not charge SimulTrans for rush assignments)

SimulTrans pays regional, not "export" rates for services. In other words, vendors should quote rates that apply to the local, domestic market, not to Ireland or North America, using both local currency rates and the current U.S. dollar conversion rate.

Candidates who apply to SimulTrans without providing this information at the outset will be disregarded.

Freelance Translators

SimulTrans works with independent contracting translators ("freelancers") on a secondary basis, typically in the following contexts:

• when the translator resides close to SimulTrans' production center and can provide on-site or other convenient services such as testing
• when the translator translates into less diffused languages such as Turkish, Hebrew, or Thai.

SimulTrans seeks translators who can translate effectively. Although applicants with a degree in translation from a reputable program attract attention more easily, SimulTrans really does not give preference to translators who have degrees. The Vendor Management team is most concerned with the translator's ability to produce high-quality results, on time, and at competitive rates.

SimulTrans seeks translators who own and use computers with formatting applications (e.g., FrameMaker, Microsoft Word, Interleaf), translation memory tools (Trados Translator's Workbench, Corel Catalyst), modems, and other common communication tools such as email. SimulTrans will not work with translators who lack powerful computer and communications systems.

Although most SimulTrans freelancers are professional, full-time translators, many technical reviewers who work for SimulTrans often provide linguistic services in addition to their main occupations, such as engineering and medicine.

Application Process

Linguistic vendors and/or freelancers who wish to apply to work with SimulTrans are asked to follow the following steps:

• provide the information requested in the section above entitled Required Capabilities
• provide the information requested in the section above entitled Rates
• send a description (or resume, preferably with an explanatory cover letter) of the offered services and capabilities, references, etc.

All information should be sent via email to linguisticpartners@simultrans.com as email text, not as attachments (due to virus concerns, etc.). It is useless to send this information via fax or conventional mail.

If you do not receive an immediate response, do not be alarmed. SimulTrans reviews all resumes and keeps on file those that meet our qualifications for testing and further evaluation. As the company has an extensive vendor database already and receives dozens of applications each week, we will respond to only to outstanding candidates.