Real Work From Home Jobs...

.. or How this website supports my German translation business

The chance to work from home - when you choose, and at your own pace - is something I guess many people would jump at.

My freelance German translation business has given me the chance to do so. And I've also found a way of combining my job with one of the best work at home opportunities available.

I guess if you've clicked through to this page, then you're interested in hearing about it.

Well, it's like this....

How my work from home journey started

I grew up coming home from school each day to the inviting warmth of a cosy artist's studio, the smell of printing ink, and a cheery "hello".

My stepfather was also a fan of working from home - as a marine artist and engraver, his studio was in the house. Since those days, I've always loved the idea of working from home!

(And this was the view behind our house – so you can understand that I get nostalgic!)

The Dorset coastline, UK.

After graduating and starting out professional life in PR & marketing in London, life and love brought me to Austria. Here my greatest asset was English.

So I studied German and took my German translation qualifications before starting out as a freelance translator. It's a real work from home job and one I still enjoy - I've never looked back.

I work for a series of private clients, translation agencies and various businesses.

It's fun. Translation is a great career for curious people - I get to see what other people are up to and learn about the work of a whole range of different businesses and industries.

Variety is the spice of life, and I love to get my teeth into new translation challenges.

(And yes, the views here aren’t too bad either!)

The Belvedere Palace in Vienna, Austria

But I’m more than just a translator .... when I started freelance translating, I was also a "work at home mum" - a WAHM.

Because I worked from home, I could be around for the kids when they needed me.

In many German-speaking countries school stops at lunchtime, and so I needed my afternoons free for the important things in life – supervising homework and ferrying children to sports clubs, friends and activities!

Real work from home jobs for a busy mum

However, although working in German translation is fun and challenging and life was busy, it also felt somewhat hectic and disorganized.

I realized it was because it was my clients who determined when I worked, and not me.

Although I work with a network of clients, German translation jobs can be a bit like buses – short periods when no jobs come in, and then 3 job offers at once. That means being permanently on standby, and ready to take on a new translation task whenever it comes.

But you never know how long that standby will be. 

So I started thinking how I could use my non-translating “downtime” more effectively.

And I realized the answer was staring me in the face.

That thing on my desk.

My computer.

And I began to think, the world is online, so why not me?

I started to do some research about what else I could do to generate extra income while when not directly at work home online.

I searched the web and quickly learnt about “home based computer work”, “real work from home jobs”, “additional streams of revenue” etc. I probably spent about a year considering my options, and learning a lot of interesting stuff on the way about online businesses.

More than a real work at home job – a real business!

I'd begun to think I was wasting my valuable time, and getting rather off-subject.

But I kept coming across a website called Solo Build It! (SBI) which helps ordinary people with no webmaster skills (like me) to build their own successful online businesses and work from home.

So I surfed many of the websites written by people using the SBI website building system.

These were websites about all sorts of weird and wonderful things - juggling, renting villas, investing, playing poker, building houses, travel sites, recipe sites, wedding sites, gift sites etc.

And not only were each of these sites providing valuable information on all sorts of topics, they were also fun, readable - and generating income for their owners at the same time! Anything from a little extra holiday money to “bye-bye” day job and “hello” my own real work from home business.

These were real people from all sorts of backgrounds, who'd taken the time and effort to create their own real work from home jobs by building their own web-based businesses.

It really did seem the best work at home opportunity around on the web.

And then came my Eureka moment!

“What about a German translation website!”

German translation is the ideal niche for me because I translate German, it's a subject I know about, am passionate about, and am forever talking about.

So I started thinking about what information was out there on the web about German and German translation.

I quickly discovered that there were really only 2 types of websites:

• Websites published by translation agencies advertising their own German translation services
• General sites about learning German.

There was nothing I could find about German translation as a subject, or about helping buyers of translation, promoting other freelance German translators or celebrating the role of English in a German-speaking environment.

“Ah ha!”, I thought. My chance to give readers outside the profession a few insights and pointers, encouragement to anyone considering  translation as a career, and help for those simply lost in a German-speaking environment.

And so the idea for German Translation Tips & Resources was born.

And the result?

You’re reading it.

My very own, real, work from home job / business / passion

Its taken time to build (it’s a work in progress), but it's a great voyage of discovery, a huge learning experience and great fun.

I research new topics and think about what potential visitors might be wanting to know or be interested in. Then I write a page, and add it to the site. Once up, it's working for me forever. 

And at the same time, my site brings in extra income (even when I’m asleep, on holiday, translating, at the cinema....you get the idea.) It's still a real kick when an Amazon or Google payment arrives in my bank account.

To be honest, my primary interest is still my German translation business, and the site helps me win new clients.

I've translated 4 published books to date, and each time the publisher contacted me directly having found this website! So for me having my website has been worthwhile simply as an effective way of marketing my services.

But I know lots of other SBI owners have swapped their 9-to-5s for a full time, home based SBI business, and make a good living from it.

A great opportunity to move forward after COVID-19

Maybe my story will give you the urge and confidence to start your own real job working from home.

Maybe, like many others, COVID-19 is impacting your income levels, or threatening your current job?

Perhaps you have your own business, and would like to reach new markets by taking it directly online?

Solo Build It's comprehensive set of easy-to-use tools, advice and support gives you everything you need to make this happen. 

If you want more information, you can also talk to the boss himself! The Solo Build It team is always on hand to answer any questions you might have.

Why not see what other successful SBIers have to say?

Meanwhile, thanks for reading this far, and good luck for your future working from home!

  Joanna

German Translation Tips & Resources

Joanna Scudamore-Trezek

I'm a German to English translator living and working in Vienna, Austria. I turn German texts into clear and accessible English, allowing clients to present their stories, ideas and information to a completely new audience. My business and marketing clients rely on me to get their message across clearly and effectively.  How can I help you today?