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Working as an in-house localization engineer or QA tester - your experience or thoughts?
Thread poster: localiser2011
localiser2011
localiser2011
Local time: 06:25
Apr 10, 2011

(Please move this to a more relevant forum if this is not the best one, but from my point of view it's about a possible new part of my career.)

Hi, I've been working for years as a freelance translator and localizer. I've been recently approached by an HR agency, they suggested providing my CV to a well-known international IT company - located in Cork in Ireland (the one with the fruit business to be cryptically specific) - so I could eventually apply for the position of an in-house... See more
(Please move this to a more relevant forum if this is not the best one, but from my point of view it's about a possible new part of my career.)

Hi, I've been working for years as a freelance translator and localizer. I've been recently approached by an HR agency, they suggested providing my CV to a well-known international IT company - located in Cork in Ireland (the one with the fruit business to be cryptically specific) - so I could eventually apply for the position of an in-house localization engineer or QA tester (for 6 months, with the possibility of extension).

I'm aware that many phases would follow and nothing is granted, but still I would like to know something more - rather earlier than only when having the contract in hand - about what to consider etc. My freelance business is doing quite well so no big harm if this won't work out, but on the other hand this could be a nice refreshing experience and a possibility to learn new things and I would not mind to go through this for a change, and whatever happens I could always return to my freelance business.

I know this is primiarily a translation/interpretation portal, but I thought perhaps some of the translators here have their own experience (or know such people) with working as a full-time loc. engineer or tester and could share some of their opinions.

So I would like to ask:
- What are your opinions about this kind of work in general?

- If there is someone with direct experience from that company, is this company OK? I know it's all modern and "hype" etc., the thing I'm slightly concerned about is some reviews from employees at glassdoor.com, they were not too happy about the Cork site environment or (un)fair approach to employees - but then these were customer support or production line workers, so I can't say how much relevant would that be to language specialists.

- The offered salary is about EUR 140 a day, how good or bad this is compared to the average in the loc. testing industry (I'm not able to judge salaries in the field too well, I see various job ads in the range from less than 30 to more than 40 thousand euros per annum, but that may not mean much to reality, and that bracket is quite wide anyway), or in general?

Of course I appreciate any other thoughts or suggestions you might have... Thanks! ▲ Collapse
 
Xenoglossy
Xenoglossy
Local time: 07:25
English to Spanish
+ ...
... Apr 14, 2011

localiser2011 wrote:

(Please move this to a more relevant forum if this is not the best one, but from my point of view it's about a possible new part of my career.)

Hi, I've been working for years as a freelance translator and localizer. I've been recently approached by an HR agency, they suggested providing my CV to a well-known international IT company - located in Cork in Ireland (the one with the fruit business to be cryptically specific) - so I could eventually apply for the position of an in-house localization engineer or QA tester (for 6 months, with the possibility of extension).

I'm aware that many phases would follow and nothing is granted, but still I would like to know something more - rather earlier than only when having the contract in hand - about what to consider etc. My freelance business is doing quite well so no big harm if this won't work out, but on the other hand this could be a nice refreshing experience and a possibility to learn new things and I would not mind to go through this for a change, and whatever happens I could always return to my freelance business.

I know this is primiarily a translation/interpretation portal, but I thought perhaps some of the translators here have their own experience (or know such people) with working as a full-time loc. engineer or tester and could share some of their opinions.

So I would like to ask:
- What are your opinions about this kind of work in general?

- If there is someone with direct experience from that company, is this company OK? I know it's all modern and "hype" etc., the thing I'm slightly concerned about is some reviews from employees at glassdoor.com, they were not too happy about the Cork site environment or (un)fair approach to employees - but then these were customer support or production line workers, so I can't say how much relevant would that be to language specialists.

- The offered salary is about EUR 140 a day, how good or bad this is compared to the average in the loc. testing industry (I'm not able to judge salaries in the field too well, I see various job ads in the range from less than 30 to more than 40 thousand euros per annum, but that may not mean much to reality, and that bracket is quite wide anyway), or in general?

Of course I appreciate any other thoughts or suggestions you might have... Thanks!


If you like localization I think it's a great job. Regarding salaries, it depends on the country you live. 140 €/day may be good or not so good depending on the prevailing salaries on the country you are living.
 


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Working as an in-house localization engineer or QA tester - your experience or thoughts?







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