On this beautifully sunny Friday – the last working day of the first working week of 2016 – I thought it was high time I wished you all a very Happy New Year. I hope you had the chance to relax over the Christmas holidays and are now feeling rejuvenated as we start this new year.
The last few weeks of 2015 were a little frenetic in the Worrell household, as we moved into our beautiful new home on 15th December. It was a bit of a mad scramble to get boxes unpacked and curtains put up before my husband's grandparents came to stay for Christmas, but we got there in the end, and it's certainly starting to feel like home. We have some lovely neighbours and there is a real community spirit. My new shiny office is all set up and so far, I've been very productive in it – long may that continue!
I wanted to take this opportunity to share my professional goals for 2016; putting them down on (virtual) paper and sharing them with the world seems to make them all the more real!
Attend at least one conference: Along with a group of 15 other professionals, I have signed up to attend the inaugural ELIA conference in Barcelona in February. I love Barcelona so this was a great excuse to go back, and I'm looking forward to meeting up with colleagues scattered across Europe. And who's to say I'll only go to one conference this year?!
Create a CPD log: Success! Why not head over to my newest page to see what I've been up to!
Grow my client base: I work with both agencies and direct clients, and I'm always looking to expand my client base. I heard yesterday that I have been accepted to work on an on-going project with a new German client starting in February, so watch this space for updates. I'm hoping to also gain a couple more direct clients in my favourite areas: furniture manufacturing and travel and tourism.
Start working with a proofreading partner: We're all human and mistakes happen – it doesn't matter how many times you re-read something, whether you change the font, read it backwards or indeed print it out. Mistakes will still slip through the net. That's why I want to find a proofreading partner this year, particularly someone with experience in the travel and tourism industry so that together, we are able to offer a complete solution to potential new clients. If that someone is you, please do drop me a line.
Pass the MITI exam: In June, I will have been translating professionally for four years, so I feel it's the right time to take my career to the next level. I don't know if taking the exam will lead to any extra work, but that's not really why I'm doing it. I'm hoping it will show that I have progressed since finishing my translation MA, and that I am committed to continuing my professional development.
Oh and one last one... Get creative!