Q&A with Alumnus Taylor Liff, a Project Manager at TransPerfect
Looking ahead to your future career? We understand your excitement because great things lie ahead! To give you some insights on a possible career path, we interviewed program alumnus Taylor Liff who now works as a project manager at TransPerfect. Give it a look to see what might be awaiting you!
1. Can you describe your current job and how it relates to your field of study?
I currently work as a project manager at TransPerfect, a leading global translation and localization company. I previously worked as a senior project manager at Questel Language Solutions alongside many other MCLS alumni from my same class.
Being a PM in the language industry means dealing with translation buyers as well as providers of linguistic services to successfully complete projects. But beyond these personal skills, being a PM requires you to use all of your knowledge and experience to be an expert advisor and problem solver.
2. How did your time in the MCLS program prepare you for your current career?
The MCLS program provided invaluable insight into the language services industry and opened doors to wonderful opportunities for me. I was already working as a freelance translator prior to pursuing the M.A., however, earning this credential greatly boosted my standing.
With the knowledge I gained, I was able to successfully navigate the industry, first winning clients as a freelancer and eventually transitioning into a project management role, which I fell in love with.
3. What skills or knowledge gained from the program do you find most valuable in your professional life?
There are too many to count, but I will mention that the training provided by MCLS comes in handy almost every single day. Sales associates, clients, and other non-linguists rely on us for support and advice on how to best approach a linguistic endeavor, and it is our duty to draw upon our training and experience to provide a solution.
The MCLS program teaches you how to use key tools, while “walking the walk” and “talking the talk” of language industry professionals, giving you the instincts needed to know how to best handle language projects.
4. Are there any specific projects, research initiatives, or collaborations that stand out from your time at Kent State?
I often think back on my case study and how much work I put into producing and defending it. I was and still am very proud of my case study on French intellectual property laws, and lately have been thinking more about maybe trying to write further on the subject and get published now that I have more of a foothold in the industry.
I would also like to research certain topics regarding translation practices not related to my own second language, and use the skills I learned at Kent State to dive deeper into what I find truly interesting about translation.
5. What advice would you give to prospective students considering the program?
I would highly recommend that you do as much research as possible into what career you would like to have in the future. The language industry offers a multitude of career paths you could potentially explore, and so specialization and “finding your niche” is especially key.
This industry is truly one where you can combine what you are passionate about with what is valuable to others, i.e., facilitating communication between language barriers. There are so many different avenues to explore in the field, so try and find where you will be happy ten years from now.
6. Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently during your time in the program?
Looking back, I wish I had taken more opportunities to write and perform research on topics that really interest me. As I mentioned, I’m beginning to think a lot about attempting to get published in the near future and have already begun researching a few topics for a case study.
Now that I have had real experience working in the industry for almost a decade, I can apply that to my writing. However, I will need to sharpen my skills since leaving MCLS, because I might be a little rusty.
Hone Your Translation Skills at Kent State
Kent State’s M.A. in Translation program can prepare you for fulfilling roles in the language field, and we’re here to help you grow and develop. If you’re ready to get started, be sure to request more information from our team or apply today!