The quality of our finished work is decided most fundamentally at one moment: whom we allow to translate it. Clients reasonably ask how our translators are chosen, and this article explains the answer in full, from the initial application to the first completed assignment. We take the process seriously because it is the single most effective quality control the company operates.
What we expect from the start
Applicants are asked to provide a curriculum vitae describing their education, professional experience, language pairs and specialist fields. We look for translators who work into their native language, hold relevant qualifications or substantial documented experience, and can demonstrate genuine subject knowledge in the areas they wish to work in.
Applications that claim dozens of language pairs or impossibly broad specialisations are treated with scepticism. Professional translation is a focused craft, and credibility rests on realistic, well-evidenced claims.
The translation test
Promising candidates are invited to complete a translation test relevant to their declared specialism. The test is deliberately designed to reveal judgement rather than merely dictionary skills: it includes ambiguity, terminology choices and register decisions of the kind real projects contain.
Submissions are evaluated by experienced reviewers against the source text. We look for accuracy first of all, then for natural, polished target language, consistent terminology and appropriate handling of the text's purpose. A candidate who produces fluent prose at the cost of meaning, or literal accuracy that reads badly, has not passed; professional translation requires both.
Checking credentials and references
Qualifications and stated experience are verified, and references may be requested, particularly for sensitive specialist areas. For work involving regulated content, we may require evidence of relevant professional background, confidentiality commitments and, in some markets, the legal status needed to provide certified translations.
Onboarding: how new linguists begin
Successful applicants are admitted to the network rather than immediately entrusted with major projects. Onboarding introduces them to the practical systems they will use:
- our CAT environments and file-handling conventions;
- quality expectations and the required review process;
- policies on machine translation, confidentiality and data security;
- client style guides and terminology procedures;
- communication standards and how queries are raised.
Initial assignments are typically modest and closely reviewed, with structured feedback. Confidence grows as reviewers see consistent, reliable work, and project managers gradually assign more demanding content. The early period protects clients while giving new linguists a fair opportunity to demonstrate their quality.
Ongoing evaluation
Selection is not a one-time event. Every project contributes to a linguist's internal record: reviewer assessments, client feedback and how deadlines and communications were handled. Strong performers receive more work in their specialisms; persistent quality problems lead to reduced assignments or removal from the network. This continuous evaluation is how a roster remains genuinely trustworthy over the years rather than merely on paper.
Why translators stay
A network is only genuinely strong if linguists choose to remain, and retention follows predictable principles. Above all, people value being treated as professionals: briefs that respect their expertise, realistic deadlines, and feedback that is specific and fair rather than vague criticism. Reliable systems matter too, because nobody enjoys fighting poor files, confusing instructions or uncertainty about what is expected.
We also find that good linguists appreciate access to interesting, well-matched work in their specialisms and project managers who know their strengths. Over time, these elements combine into something simple: working with Etrans feels predictable and respectful. That is the environment in which quality work is produced consistently, and it is why we treat translator retention as a quality metric rather than merely an administrative concern.
Our commitment to translators
The relationship runs in both directions. If we expect professionalism from linguists, they are entitled to the same from us: clear briefs, workable deadlines, prompt answers to genuine questions, fair terms and respectful feedback. The best translators choose their partners as carefully as we choose ours, and we aim to be a company that skilled people are pleased to work with.
That, in the end, is what the selection process is for: not merely excluding poor work, but building a network in which clients can place their confidence and linguists can build lasting professional relationships.