How can I learn about different translation technologies/programs, etc.?

Like in any profession, i.e., if you consider yourself a professional, it is important to keep up on current events and the latest technologies in your industry.  With that in mind, below is a short list of ideas to make this happen for you in language services:

1. Industry publications: For translators and linguists in general, a very good resource I have mentioned in the past is MultiLingual (www.multilingual.com). Each month's edition has interesting and stimulating articles on the state of the industry.  Other publications include the ATA Chronicle (www.atanet.org/chronicle), ATA's Language Technology Division (www.ata-divisions.org/LTD), and others.
2. Conferences / seminars: People and companies who exhibit and present at such events often present the very latest.  Of course, if you are based in the US, ATA (www.atanet.org/conf/2010) attendance is important.
3. Technology providers: Most technology providers offer free information about and training for their products.  This would include (but is not limited to) SDL Trados, Across, Wordfast, etc.
4. Webinars / online training: Countless training opportunities are available, both free and fee-based.  For quick list, check out www.proz.com/about/overview/education.
5. Colleagues: Ask your friends!  Word can spread fast and as you develop your skills and pool of trusted associates, friends are often the first people to know about the very latest.

Do you have ideas?  Please share them with us!

How do you get started? Most companies require 5 years of experience or more?!?

Admittedly, it can be difficult and slow getting started in translation. I didn't have a mentor and it probably took me a good two years before I had a steady flow of work.  Below are a few things you can do to speed up the time it takes you to get into translation.

1. Memberships: All translators should join their local and/or national translators association(s).  If you live in the United States, there is the American Translators Association (www.atanet.org). Apart from the obvious benefits, membership in such associations shows the companies you work for that you are interested in current events and the current state of the industry. All things being equal, I am more likely to hire a translator who can demonstrate active membership in their relevant translator associations.
2. Find agencies: Another benefit of memberships is they often help find local, national and international agencies that you can the contact about translation and getting registered in their translators' databases.  In addition, if you are not already a subscriber, downloading MultiLingual magazine's annual resource directories (http://www.multilingual.com/resourceDirectory/) is free.  This is an easy way to find and contact agencies.
3. Translation test: Once agencies begin to respond to your inquiries, offer to take translation tests for them.  Many agencies are willing to work with new(er) translators if they have an opportunity to evaluate your translation skills and the quality of your work. In addition to editing your translations anyway (which every agency should do if they are reputable, i.e., there should be a 2-step process at a minimum), agencies may be willing to send you a translation test. The great thing about a translation test is that you can have as many other people review your translation (e.g., kind of like having several people review a term paper in college) before submitting it.
4. Competitive pricing: When you first get started, give yourself an obvious advantage over others by offering competitive prices for your work.  Of course, you don't want to be half the price of your "competitors" because agencies may not take you seriously. On the other hand, you do want to be equal to or less than your competitors. Margins in the translation industry can be very small and anytime an agency can save even 2% on the cost of working with you, for example, it will be just that much more in your favor. How do you know what your competitors' pricing is? In addition to asking colleagues, translators often list their prices on sites such as Proz.com.

These are just a few things you can do to get started.  Please share with us your thoughts and what other things you have found helpful in getting started.

If the majority of those who work in translation are not actual translators then how do I profit by studying translation/interpretation?

First, I personally would not say that most "who work in translation are not actual translators".  If you define "actual" as "professional" (certified in some way) or "full-time" (being their sole source of income), this may be the case.  Not being certified or translation not being their source of income may often be the case.  However, it does not mean that they are not very good or not professional.

As I mentioned and probably cannot emphasize enough, the profession of a translator or interpreter (and I dare to say most language-related jobs) is like an "apprenticeship".  You cannot expect to be a good translator from the start.  Good translators are those who (1) recognize their weaknesses and (2) make the commitment to continuous learning and to expanding their knowledge.  In other words, good translators recognize their weaknesses (e.g., subjects, styles, technologies, etc.) and are willing to do over time what it takes to make those weaknesses into strengths.

A good translator, for example, is a good writer in their own language. Too many times have I worked with translators who may in fact be very fluent in their first and second languages, but have little idea how to even write in their first language.  How can a translator expect to deliver quality text when he/she doesn't even know how to punctuate a complex sentence? With this in mind, for example, it becomes clear why it is important to study writing, grammar, common/excepted uses, etc. in your native (target) language.

If you get a chance, you might read a couple discussions on ProZ.com:

• http://www.proz.com/forum/professional_development/143908-what_makes_a_good_translator.html
• http://www.proz.com/forum/translation_theory_and_practice/55956-what_makes_a_good_technical_translator.html

Enjoy and add your comments.