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Five ways to spot whether you’re dealing with a good translator

13.05.2025
Five ways to spot whether you’re dealing with a good translator
Finding a reliable, high-quality translator can sometimes feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. The clock’s ticking and the client wants results — but how can you tell quickly and confidently whether the translator you have is up to the task? And what if you don’t have time (or the budget) to ask for a test translation?

Just follow these steps and watch out for these signs to help you quickly assess in just 15 minutes whether the translator is the right fit for you.

  • Let them talk a bit about their specialisation – and read between the lines. 

    ? ASK THEM:
    “Which areas do you feel most confident in and why?”

    → A good translator won’t tell you that they can translate anything. They will focus on specific areas, such as legal translations of contracts or technical manuals in the automotive sector.
  • Are they interested in context? Do they have any additional questions?

        For example
            Who is the intended audience?
            Are they used to a particular style or terminology?

        → These are questions which professionals ask. Translation isn’t just about a literal word-for-word approach – a good translator understands that the final result must be fit for its intended purpose.

  • Check the translator’s references and digital footprint

In only takes five minutes on LinkedIn or Proz.com to find out:
            *who they have worked for,
            *how long they’ve been working in the industry,
            *whether they have any references or feedback.

         → If someone has been translating for 10 years, but there’s no mention of them anywhere, be sure to ask about this.

  • Simulation of a mini scenario (with no translation involved)

Describe a short demo project:
“We’re translating a 20-page marketing document for a British pharmaceutical company expanding into the German market. Getting the right tone of voice is crucial for the client. How would you approach this?”

         → The answer will reveal a lot about their mindset, planning skills and ability to understand what is required.

  •  Pay attention to their style of communication

Is the reply clear and concise, with any details which may be relevant? Or is it vague and full of platitudes?

         → Professionalism begins with how the translator handles their email communication. The style, tone, speed of response and choice of words reveal a lot about the translator’s approach to collaboration with you.

You can spot a good translator not only by the quality of their test translation, but also by the way they think, the questions they ask, their experience and how they communicate.

By creating a simple list, you can quickly assess in just 15 minutes whether it’s worth pursuing collaboration with them. This will save you both time and unnecessary stress during the recruitment process.