MLV - MultiLingual Translation Company Recruitment

In this article we describe, referencing the standard Translation Project Management process, internal and external human resource aspects in an MLV, from the main aspects of linguistic production to the selection and formation of personnel.

Production flow and Human Resources

Selection process and contraction

INTRODUCTION

Multilingual Translation companies offer their clients full management of their localization and Translation needs from any Language to another with all the technological expertise necessary to make the final product. This often involves the replication of products per geographical region. Multilingual language company clients often lack the necessary resources to redistribute their product in regions or markets, against the single language company model where the client has many local offices for the distribution. Put simply, the translation and localization process can be handled at local office level or the central office as is the case of the multilingual translation company model. With the MLV model the client depends on its supplier to manage all aspects of the process with very high expectations due to the MLVs expertise: The benefits of this model are minimal technical and linguistic complications and maximum standardization of their localized product within a very small time frame. We are no longer in the times where multinationals released their products on different regional markets on a gradual basis. Now the client can expect SIM ship releases of their products which means a simultaneous release of their product onto various regional markets.

To confront this challenge the multilingual Translation companies incorporate a team of professionals with different skill sets for example sales agents, Project managers, project analysts, translators of various languages, Desk top publishing specialists, localization engineers, etc. Depending on the production and management model chosen by an MLV the group must guarantee the standardization of the localized product across the whole production process, in other words all the team must be speaking on the same page. Added to this challenge is the time differences across which the different MLV resources are working in.

To guarantee efficiency and quality across all these production processes by different resources located across the globe there are two main problems the multilingual services company has to crack:

On the one hand the MLV has to identify a streamlined and integrated production and management process through the use of global management tools and the implementation of advanced information and communication technologies.

Due to the above, and the second problem, this implies that there has to be continuous re-training and formation of the various personnel located across the globe in diverse teams from Europe and America to Asia. It also implies a coherent and optimal selection of personal in the diverse specialized areas with minimum disruption to the production cycle. This also involves the complicated process of external resource selection and monitoring their performance.

Along with the new demand from clients for more visibility and traceability of their products during the localization cycle and more control over their localized content the MLV has had to face yet another challenge, the use of Translation assisted tools such as machine Translation tools, Translation memory environments and automatic Project management tools. Without doubt the ability of the MLV to compete is influenced by the amount of investment and the degree of success to which they have implemented these ever changing tools.

In this article we will describe, making reference to the standard Project management process, the most relevant internal and external human resource factors, from their selection to their training and development.

Work and Human Resource Flow

Once the client has chosen his supplier and the Project is in process, he uses the following principal resources: Project manager, Translation Manager, Lead translator and Translator:

PROJECT MANAGER (PM)

The role of the translation project manager can differ from one multilingual translation company to another but their main function is to be the connection point between the various resources of a Project. On one side they liaise with the client to find out their specifications and expectations, budget and delivery schedule. They then have to guide the project through the various tasks liaising with the various resources responsible for those tasks, right through to completion while all the while ensuring that the workloads have been realistic and the project is delivered meeting the client's quality, budget and deadline expectations.

It often happens that the client may change the budget or specifications of the project while in the production phase. It is the responsibility of the PM to ensure that these changes are implemented with minimal fuss without affecting the production cycle or the budgetary constraints within reason. It is also their responsibility to coordinate the resources that have been chosen for the project. Typically this may involve a translation team, engineering team, publishing team, testers and evaluation team, etc. The main task of the PM is to make the end product of each production phase available for the next phase. This may involve transmitting vital information to the relevant resource at the best time during the production cycle. The PM ensures that each resource completes his process or task on time and to budget thus ensuring the overall success of the project.. The PM also filtrates information back to the client in the most efficient and timely manner for example queries from translators or technical problems encountered by the engineers which need input from the client.

TRANSLATION MANAGER

The Translation is the boss of the Translation department. He has overall responsibility of the translators in the translation company and guarantees the linguistic quality of the work produced by the department, including texts that are sub-contracted to freelancers external to the company. He is also responsibility for the feasibility of projects undertaken from within and outside the department. He is involved in the planning of all projects and ensures that all projects run smoothly using the most efficient and economical methodology and processes. It is important to ensure that all department members are working at their optimal capacity and that control and quality measures are working correctly. He or she must also monitor each department member efficiently to ensure their performance is optimal, they are up to speed with the company processes and also their personal development and motivation flourishes. The updating of department processes and technologies should be a collective department process guided by the translation manager.

LEAD TRANSLATOR

There is a lead translator for every project Language assigned on leadership skills and experience. When there is regular work from a client it is advised to have a stable translation team with the same lead translator. This saves time when recurrent linguistic issues arise. The lead translator is responsible for the final linguistic quality of the project, all the components such as the glossary, software, help, documentation, establishing stylistic norms and standard terminology. Normally he revises the work of the other project translators to ensure that this goal is achieved and resolves technical problems (translation Memory and terminology issues, etc.). He is the bridging point between the translators and the Project Manager, the lead desk top Publisher and lead engineer and selects and analyses the freelancers chosen for the project if one is hired.

SELECTION AND CONTRACTION PROCESS
The MLVs always offer the translators the opportunity to work in different positions giving them the opportunity to specialize in their preferred area thus motivating them more. This may be a field of specialization for their particular Language combination or an unrelated Translation position such as:

Management of Translation projects

Linguistic and functional testing on various platforms

Audio recording positions

Line manager

Terminology Management (creation and maintenance of multilingual glossaries)

Pre-Project Evaluations

Sales Support

Selection of Translators

The recruitment of translators requires a standardized process. From receipt of C.Vs and aptitude tests to the interview stage and training after hire the Translation Company must maintain standardized recruitment processes while at the same time adapting to the local laws and legislation where the staff are being hired.

Standardization can be guaranteed in the following aspects:

· The information the candidate receives

· The aptitude tests (Translation and revision tests) and the evaluation. This includes the methodology of the tests and the formulas used to calculate the results.

· Ensuring the candidate is anonymous for the aptitude test thus ensuring results are objective

· Results feedback to the candidates

The following people are involved in the recruitment process:

Recruitment manager: This person publishes adds and gathers the relevant C.Vs according to the specifications per language. Universities are a very good source of recruitment and its important for the translation company to maintain good relations with the various education centers where there may be potential candidates. This close relationship is also beneficial in that it can enhance and develop new technologies and methodologies in the localization sector.

The distribution of MLV offices often complicates the registration of candidates and for this it is better to have a centralized Database.

Translation manager: The Translation manager who conducts the evaluation of the tests selects the best candidates and is also involved in the interview process..

Line manager: also assists at the interviews and is involved in the final selection process.

TESTS

The revision and Translation tests are the same throughout all the world wide offices of the multilingual Translation Company. During the selection process it is handy to do two tests: 1 external by email and if this is passed the second at the company offices. Both tests are evaluated by senior translators or a line manager in that language. During the test it is important to establish the following:

· The linguistic quality of the candidate: written quality of the target translation, terminology knowledge and translation methodology.

· Comprehension of the source language, both in general and specific terms of the company fields.

· Capacity to resolve problems in the translation, documentation and deadlines.

External TESTS

The objective of the test is to ensure that the translator is familiar with certain materials. It is done at home. The focus of the test is on quality as opposed to speed.

In-house TESTS

Once the first test is passed there is an in-house test. Again the format of the test is the same across all the translation company branches. Here the focus of the test is not only on linguistic quality but also on the adherence to deadlines and instructions.

The evaluation or correction format is based on a standard formula

INTERVIEW

The interview process be it face to face or telephone should be supported by a series of processes and documentation:

· There should be a standard list of questions

· There should also be a formula for objectively evaluating the answers of the candidate.

· There should be a formal description of the post with clear guidelines of the specifications of the job plus the skills and expectations required from the candidate

WHAT IS SOUGHT FOR IN THE CANDIDATE

There are three important prerequisites that the translator should have:

1. Linguistic Excellence

2. Capacity to work in a team

3. Adaptivity

The Translation teams must work in harmony to ensure linguistic quality and smooth production flow. The training efforts of the company should be directed in this area and try to ensure that the new translators comply with the quality and production standards established by the company within a year.

Training should include the following:

· Organizational structure of the company and different roles of each department

· General Procedures such as dress code and time management, right and obligations of the employees

· Processes specific to the department such as workflows, Project management software, process documents related to the Translation procedure and the interaction process between the different departments

· Technology: Translation Memory and internal translation tool Use.

· Style and Quality: Style Guide of the company and the main clients. Quality controls, query process and correction process

Once the training has been complete there should be an appraisal system in place to not only monitor the progress of the employee but also their development. This may include:

· Identifying other training needs

· Monitoring performance

· Establishing objectives and renovating objectives once achieved

SELECTION OF FREELANCERS

During very busy periods when the workload is too much for internal staff the Translation company needs a data Base of quality external translators.

The evaluation of the freelancers follows the same format as the evaluation of the internal employees, although there may be extra criteria for correction of the aptitude tests bearing in mind there will be no training: the freelancer must be fully trained already in the field they will be translating. This evaluation is conducted by a Senior translator.

All the selected freelancers must be logged in a central database under the field and specialty they have been chosen for. The database should contain the following information on the freelancer

· Contact details, prices, qualifications and aptitude tests.

· Current projects and availability.

It is very important to record the progress of the freelancer in the database. This includes information such as the adherence to deadlines, linguistic quality and capability of resolving issues. This helps to avoid problems on future projects.

CONCLUSIONS

The whole recruitment, training and monitoring of staff in a multilingual Translation services company is the core of the business. As new markets open and technological advances continue at a fast pace it is of the ultimate importance for the MLV to keep up with these advances with regard to recruitment in order to stay competitive.

Mark Kieran is the director of a translation services company in Madrid, Spain. In addition to translation services in over 141 languages, the company provides localization, globalization and interpreting services.

One Stop Shop Translations S.L.
(Madrid) 0034 91 365 9608

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Kieran

Exclusive Mortgage Leads

If you are a loan officer or mortgage broker on the market for exclusive mortgage leads, how do you know if that lead is really exclusive or not?

The true definition of an exclusive mortgage lead is defined as one that is sold in real time and sold to you only.

This sounds really good, but there is a small problem with that. Who is to say that this potential customer hasn't taken it upon themselves to contact other loan officers.

Unfortunately, this is the chance you take when you buy leads exclusively.

Typically, a potential customer who fills out an on-line form over the internet is using the internet to find a mortgage and a loan officer because they feel as though they have no other place to go, and the internet is their best resource to find their product and someone to help them with it

Also, it is against the norm to jump from web site to web site filling out on-line forms. The majority of consumers like to keep their personal information very limited on the internet, so the chances of them filling out many forms is highly unlikely.

So your chances of receiving the lead exclusively may be better than you think.

Another problem, how can you be sure that the lead company selling you the exclusive mortgage lead is doing just that?

The best defense against receiving anything less than exclusive mortgage leads is to research the company you are considering investing in.

Call the company, speak with someone in customer service, find out how they obtain their leads and what exactly makes them exclusive.

Remember, you buy your exclusive mortgage leads with money that you have worked hard for, so if you can't get answers to your questions, move onto the next lead company.

Customer service, as in any industry, is very important in the lead industry. The way you are treated when researching lead companies should be an indication as to how you will be treated when something goes wrong, or if you think you should get your money back. Best of luck.

The Benefits of Using an Independent Mortgage Adviser

Types of mortgage advice

So what are the different types of mortgage advice and where would you expect to find them?

Non-advice

This type of mortgage broker offers the least consumer protection, they will simply ask a set of questions to narrow the customers requirements and thus filtering the number of mortgages available. They then present the customer with a small list of possible mortgages for the consumer to choose one appropriate. The consumer protection here is based on the script of questions the broker asks. The script is a process determined prior to the consumer appointment, and is impersonal. Therefore specific personal circumstances are unlikely to be assessed. It also assumes that the customers answers are factually correct and the final choice is made solely by the consumer. Although no advice is offered these brokers do handle the arranging of the mortgage on the consumers behalf, and therefore dealing with all the chasing and removing stress from the process.

Where would you expect non-advised brokers to exist?

Well believe it or not many non-advised brokers are within the high street banks and building societies.

Advice-only

This type of services is where a mortgage adviser uses their knowledge and skills to provide the most suitable mortgage to suit a consumers personal circumstances. This will involve a full fact finding interview, affordability assessment, discussion on the consumers future plans and aspirations, all of which provide key facts on a consumers requirements, and therefore a means for the adviser to identify suitable products. The adviser will not however, handle the arranging of the mortgage, and therefore the consumer would need to deal directly with the bank or buildings society to arrange the mortgage.

Where would you expect advice-only advisers to exist?

These advisers generally do not exist alone this is often a service provided through the 'Independent Mortgage Adviser' type below. And often comes about when the most suitable mortgage is only offered direct through high street (i.e. not through mortgage advisers/brokers). The adviser would therefore offer an advice-only option to the client and often charge a fee for this service. Although the client must deal directly with the bank or building society their mortgage adviser often provides support to the consumer.

Tied mortgage advisers

Tied mortgage advisers come in two forms 'only offering mortgages from one lender or its own mortgages' or multi-tied 'only offer mortgages from a limited number of lenders'. This clearly limits the number of mortgage products available to match a consumers personal circumstances and in a lot of cases they may not be able to offer the most suitable mortgage product and therefore advice may result in the best mortgage they can offer, being woefully inadequate.

Where would you expect tied mortgage advisers?

High street branches. A consumer calls into their local building society branch and their in house mortgage adviser can only offer mortgage products from that building society. Consumer choice and mortgage product suitability are considerably reduced. Whats more, high street branches often offer low mortgage rates/fees as a loss leader (marketing term to bring in business) and then try to sell their tied insurance products which are often also woefully inadequate and expensive.

Whole of market advice By far the best coverage these advisers can offer mortgages from all the UK mortgage lenders (having mortgage adviser/broker routes). The vast amount of mortgages available through these advisers is likely to cover the individual circumstances of a consumer. Whole of market mortgage advisers offer advice through conducting a full fact finding interview, affordability assessment, discussion on the consumers future plans and aspirations and then can arrange the mortgage through the lender thus alleviating the stress which comes when purchasing a house.

Where would you expect whole of market advisers?

These advisers are usually separate firms often found in the yellow pages or through the internet they are sometimes linked to estate agents. On an initial meeting mortgage advisers should declare if they are whole of market and this will be disclosed in the 'Initial Disclosure Document' they provide you. If you are not sure if an adviser is whole of market then ask them.

Independent whole of market mortgage adviser

Finally this type of adviser has the ultimate scope of the mortgage market, not only can they offer mortgage advice from the whole of market (lenders with mortgage adviser routes) but can also offer an advice only process if they identify a high street direct deal is more suitable. The 'Independent' statement indicates that the adviser must offer the consumer a fee based service if required. This means that rather than the adviser taking commission as payment for the mortgage advice, the consumer can opt for paying a broker fee and any commission is rebated to the consumer. The benefit of the fee based service is the consumer knows the adviser will not be swayed by higher commission mortgage products when selecting a suitable mortgage, however these days this is highly unlikely as the mortgage adviser must prove to the regulator why a particular mortgage is most suitable. Some occasions where the commission is quite considerable this would mean the consumer could receive more money than the broker fee paid and therefore would be better off taking the fee based approach.

Where would you expect to find Independent Whole of Market Advisers?

Like the author of this document Independent Mortgage Advisers are usually separate firms often found on the high street, yellow pages or through the internet and they are sometimes linked to estate agents. On an initial meeting an independent mortgage adviser would declare that they are whole of market and that they offer a fee based approach if required and this will be disclosed in the 'Initial Disclosure Document' they provide you. If you are not sure if an adviser is independent and/or whole of market then ask them.

What do independent whole of market mortgage advisers do for consumers?

The benefits of opting for an independent whole of market mortgage adviser include but are not limited to the following: -

Treat customers fairly.
Take time to gain key factual details of the consumers personal circumstances and aspirations.
Support and inform the consumer from initial enquiry right through to completion and beyond.
Provide an informed view on the housing market in general (price negotiation, leasehold issues etc).
Provide a individually tailored service specific to the customers needs, not a faceless "one size suits all" (non-advised) service.
Advise consumers to thing about their long-term interests as well as the short-medium term thus minimising risks.
Work for the consumer - estate agents, lenders and insurance providers have a different agenda.
Explain the features and benefits of different mortgage and protection options.
Free to act based on conscience and fairness as not usually directly targeted on specific areas.
Protect consumers data and privacy.
Provide general support during what is acknowledged to be one of the most stressful events in life.
Provide a knowledgeable "Ally" in what can be a very worrying process.
Provide proficient, impartial, examination of mortgage products.
Identify when specific lending criteria restricts consumers personal circumstances.
Expert guidance in complex scenarios (shared ownership/shared equity, right-to-buy, adverse credit).
Identify the potential lender in unusual situations, thus avoiding the need for multiple credit checks.
Select the best protection providers for consumers with health issues or unusual insurance histories.
Choose the most appropriate products, from the whole of market for each aspect of a consumers mortgage and protection needs, and thus increasing their ability to afford their commitments, even when things go wrong.
Highlight unusual exclusions on protection and general insurance products.
Ensure the provision of appropriate and customized protection products.
Quickly find an alternative lender if declined without wasting the consumers time.
Can arrange property insurance in ample time to be ready for exchange of contracts on purchases.
Encourage competition and innovation from lenders.
Assist in calculating affordability, ensuring that consumers can afford their mortgage and protection commitments, along with their other commitments.
Perform data input/entry for the consumer, reducing errors, omissions and most importantly non-disclosure.
Take responsibility for the advice and recommendation provided, thus increasing consumer protection.
Protect the consumer from corporate sales tactics used by some lenders and estate agency chains.
Understanding the urgency of some transactions and "go the extra mile" to meet deadlines.
Collate, verify and supply documentation for the lender, thus reducing delays in processing and expedite the process for the consumer.
Liaise with third parties in the transaction, tracking progress and any developments updating consumers throughout.
Use past knowledge and awareness to predict problems and resolve them in advance.
Act as advocate for the consumer during the application process.
Explain the mortgage offer and assist in fulfilling the offer conditions.
Can find appropriate lenders and insurers for unusual properties ( thatched roof, flying freehold flats etc).
Protect consumers from aggressive third-party marketing.
Often personally available outside of normal working hours to answer questions or resolve issues.
Care about consumers and provide an ongoing long-term service, often several generations of the same family.



Steve Wentworth formed his firm Wentworth Financial Services Ltd in November 2007 and has been in the Mortgage Industry since November 2002. Visit his website if your require an Independent Mortgage Adviser.

Top Ten Mortgage Companies

It is not very easy to top the list of the best mortgage companies in the country. You have to have the best service, a large network, and the infrastructure to maintain that kind of a reputation. The best top 10 mortgage companies according to the Forbes list are all giants in terms of mortgage. They have operations in many countries in the world. Let us take a look at some of them.

Citigroup

These guys top the Forbes list for the best top 10 mortgage companies. The company started in America and now has operations in 54 countries outside the U.S. Most of these are countries that have never used mortgage as a financing option. The annual revenue is estimated to be $108 billion.

The Bank of America

America's leading bank, it started to offer mortgage services and small loans and has now become a leader in credit cards as well. The Bank of America ranks second in the "best top 10 mortgage companies" in the Forbes List.

Wells Fargo

One of America's leading mortgage providers, they have an amazing network with more than 1000 branches across the country. Their revenue was estimated to be $33 million.

Wachovia´s

They are ranked fourth in the best top 10 mortgage companies. Since they have taken over the Western Financial Bank, they have increased their chances considerably to go higher up in the rating.

There are many other organizations as well--like BB&T, Golden West Financial, Popular, and M&T--who also are not quite far behind in the Forbes list of best top 10 mortgage companies.

A Decent Broker Will Help Find the Best Mortgage Deals

For the best mortgage deals, borrowers almost always engage the services of a trained and registered mortgage broker or financial advisor. The process of obtaining the right mortgage can be a long and complicated one and the sheer scale of the financial undertaking means that a trusted expert is a very important companion on the journey. The potential borrower should also acquaint themselves with the basics of mortgages and the mortgage market itself.

As with most purchases, the best mortgage deals will be found after a little shopping around. Although there are fewer products on the mortgage market than before the recent credit crunch, one can still find around 2,500 different kinds of home loans. A price comparison website is a perfect first port of call for anyone interested in the best mortgage deals, as it will swiftly compare the various interest rates and mortgage fees.

Although such first steps are a good idea, when it is time for the actual nitty-gritty of the mortgage sale to take place, it is best to hand over to the professional broker, who can not only hunt down the best mortgage deals but also increase the chances of a mortgage application's acceptance. This gives the borrower increased protection in the event of any mishaps.

Before engaging their services, the potential borrower should ask the would-be broker if they compare mortgage deals from a picked selection of the leading mortgage lenders or if they are "whole of market". The former type of broker works to find the best mortgage deals from within this selection, whereas whole market brokers - as the name suggests - make a more thorough search among all possible lenders. Although this increases the chances of getting the best mortgage deals, a "whole of market" broker will usually cost more than the other kind and the search will naturally take longer.

Mortgage brokers earn their pay in one of two ways: either by charging an upfront fee or by skimming commission from the final transaction itself. A commission-based broker tends to charge the client between a quarter and a half-a-per cent of the total value of the mortgage. If they are assisting a borrower with a bad credit history though, a broker may end up charging a full percentile.

A fee-based broker will charge the borrower, claiming up to 1 per cent of the mortgage value. Both kinds of broker have their strengths and weaknesses, but if you have the budget, engaging a commission-based broker who scans the whole market is the best chance of getting the best mortgage deals.