Studying languages offers a wide range of career choices, the localization and access services industry being one of them. But how can you be certain if this is the right choice for you? Christina Laleza, who joined our Operations team last summer, gives her insight on what an internship in the localization industry looks like.
- What are you studying? Why did you choose this academic curriculum?
I’m studying Translation and Interpreting at the Ionian University, in Corfu. I chose this academic curriculum because I have always loved studying foreign languages and learning about different cultures. Moreover, Translation studies provide limitless career opportunities.
- What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be a freelance translator. This would allow me to take on different projects while always learning something new. I really like the freedom and the entrepreneurial opportunities this profession provides.
- You worked as an intern at Haymillian last summer. What made you take this decision?
Ι was interested in an internship because I wanted to gain experience in audiovisual translation and to work in a global media localization company. Haymillian was the ideal company for me, as it offers media localization services, and I was able to gain experience in this field while building my skill set.
- What were you expecting prior to starting the internship and what was it really like?
I expected to learn how to use subtitling tools and software, that I hadn’t previously had exposure to or experience with, as this was my first work experience. My internship was better than I could have imagined. I learned a lot about audiovisual translation, and everyone was willing to mentor and help me. I found the feedback from project managers very useful, as it gave me the opportunity to improve my translation skills immensely.
The thing I liked the least about my internship is that I couldn’t watch movies in my spare time, without noticing subtitling errors.
- What did you like the most about this experience and what did you like the least?
I really enjoyed the variety of services, including closed captioning, subtitling, and audio description. I would like to take on more audio description projects with translation options to the Greek language. This is something that is complex and at the forefront of the marketplace. The Greek audience is not yet familiar with audio description.
- What skills did you have the opportunity to develop during your internship?
My internship at Haymillian allowed me to learn a variety of technical skills. Moreover, I had the opportunity to develop soft skills, like teamwork, communication, flexibility, and adaptability.
- What was it like working in the localization industry?
Working in the localization industry is very challenging and rewarding! Every day you take on different projects and each has its difficulties. At the same time, this environment allows you to troubleshoot, and problem-solve collaboratively, along with your team. Localization requires both creativity and imagination to be successful, which are highly desirable skills for a subtitler to learn.
- What are the benefits of combining academic knowledge with hands-on experience?
Combining academic knowledge with hands-on experience was invaluable! I was able to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. There were project timelines and expectations to meet. It was a great learning opportunity for the future.
- What advice would you give to someone who would like to pursue an internship in the localization industry?
Get creative and don’t panic! You will face a lot of difficulties and short deadlines in the localization industry. You should organize your time and set goals so that you can overcome these difficulties easily.
