If I was looking for a translator I'd want someone who wrote thoughtful, high quality prose in a range of registers, who could turn his or her hand to very lyrical pieces with considerable flair, but could also provide flawless precision work in business, scientific and technical areas. Someone with the patience to research.

I'd also want someone who was utterly reliable, who'd rather walk over broken glass than miss a deadline, with lightning speed communication skills. Someone connected on Skype and iPhone, who answered any message within minutes, weekday or weekend, day or night (within reason!)

Those would be the very basics.

In terms of rates I'd want someone who knew their value, neither exorbitantly expensive nor self-deprecatingly cheap. Who knew that quality comes at a price.

Then if I was really pushing the boat out, I'd ideally want someone who was dynamic, fulfilled, friendly, funny and easy to work with. And who was passionate about, nay obsessed by, languages and communication.

Someone, in short, who was going places. Fast.

But at that point I'd probably stop looking, because I'd have found me.