The Most Extraordinary Translation Jobs

Many translators will have jobs that they prefer and ones that they don’t. Whether you enjoy translating websites, marketing documents or legal jargon, your favourite jobs will be the ones you look forward to doing and don’t find yourself putting off starting. 

However, not all translation work fits neatly into the usual list of job types. Here we look at some of the more unusual translation jobs that you could one day find yourself faced with. 

Treating carrot addiction 

Those who enjoy medical translation will be familiar with the specialist requirements of the work. From text books to medication instructions, medical translation is a booming field that requires highly accurate translators. 

With that said, medical translation also affords the opportunity for a handful of translators to come into contact (not literally) with some of the world’s more obscure ailments. From advice on treating carrot addiction to information on the mental compulsion to eat metal objects, medical translations can offer a bizarre insight into some of life’s lesser known afflictions. 

A marketing brochure on funeral makeup 

The funeral industry, just like any other sector, needs to use translators for key documents. Whether it is a funeral company in an area with many ex-pats, whom the company wishes to let know about its services, or a cosmetics company looking to translate its marketing brochure on funeral makeup, the needs of this sector are many and varied. 

Welcome to our nudist resort

From books to plays to websites, the use of foul language is spreading as the years pass. This means that translators may be called upon to translate some extremely fruity phrases. 

The rise of nudist holiday destinations has also created some interesting translation work, from marketing brochures to welcome booklets that need to be provided in a range of languages. 

Clearly these kinds of jobs are not for those who embarrass easily! 

High profile jobs

There are of course a number of rare, high profile translation opportunities that exist, such as translating for the England football team’s latest coach until he learns English, or working for a fashion house that is about to debut a new collection and needs information in more than one language. These jobs are few and far between, but are worth seeking out for those who want a little more adventure in their translation careers. 

What is the most unusual translation job that you have undertaken? Please let us know by leaving a comment in the box.