How do I build confidence in job skills when learning about a new career field?

8 Comments

1. LauraMay 4,2025 at 12:38AM UTC

   Find people who work in the career field and reach out to them. Setting up informational interviews to truly learn what the necessary skills are, how they got to where they are and insider information from people who know their stuff can be immensely beneficial!

2. Candace CoreyMay 4,2025 at 4:45PM UTC

   Thanks Laura! I will definitely try that out.

3. Candace CoreyMay 4,2025 at 4:44PM UTC

   I've studied Spanish from high school to college and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Arts for foreign language. So I believe that I have the skills of writing and understanding. I just lack confidence in translation being that I've never really done it for others before. Thank you for your feedback, Elizabeth ?

4. Megan LeasherMay 5,2025 at 12:09PM UTC

   Love the suggestion of talking to people in the field! I also suggest doing some research on what the job is like. There seem to be some great resources out there to give you a feel for what you might be entering into. Here's one I found: https://www.atanet.org/starting-your-career/you-want-to-be-translator/

5. KatMay 7,2025 at 2:16PM UTC

   Good advice so far. I have a few more suggestions. Have you looked into medical or legal translation jobs? A former co-worker was bilingual (Spanish/English) and had a side job translating at a hospital for patients with limited English. There are also victim advocacy groups that need translators for court appearances and to meet with police and attorneys for legal matters. Check to see if any of them are hiring. In the meantime, brush up on your Spanish skills to build your confidence. Read newspapers, volunteer with Spanish speaking organizations, find friends that speak Spanish, or tutor high school students.

6. Fred NewmanMay 7,2025 at 8:01PM UTC

   Building confidence in job skills when exploring a new career field takes time, practice, and the right resources. Start with small, achievable goals, take online courses, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek feedback. Surround yourself with supportive communities and use platforms like MyPaperHelp https://mypaperhelp.com/ to manage academic or professional writing tasks while focusing on your skill development. Consistency and self-belief are key to long-term growth.

7. AnonymousMay 13,2025 at 12:20PM UTC

   Like some have already suggested, you may be looking toward a career that is dying, because of software translators, but it will take some time for them to be efficient at the task. I have gotten incomprehensible instructions in English because they were so poorly translated, either by a human or AI (not sure which). Part of the problem with translation is the nuances of colloquialisms, as things are rarely written (even in a scientific sense) in a pure grammatical language. That said, the suggestions here are good. I especially like the suggestion of working within the medical or legal communities, or in areas where a good translation can be highly impactful, and a poor one deadly, as they will be less likely to be taken over by AI in the short term.

   If you are technically able, you may also want to look into the software companies that do AI translation as an AI "teacher" or those that use them as a proofreader of AI outcomes.

8. Robert RainJune 17,2025 at 3:34PM UTC
   Well, then the option of learning with promova.com is right for you. You can download their app and learn whenever and how you want. You can also learn English with a tutor here, so you can see concrete feedback. I studied with their tutor and it was the best time of my life. I was so looking forward to our lessons, it was fun and informative. But I didn't forget about the app either, I did all the exercises. With promova - learning English is like a fun adventure.