I did what is called an unpaid internship at WordExpress in Santa Monica. It turned out to be working for free. Free labour. I have to say that it was a very nice experience on a personal level, because I was able to live in Southern California for a few months. But on a professional level, I would like people to know that if you're going to do an internishp at this translation company, be prepared to work for free and be exploited.
The owner of this company is a German guy with coloured hair, a very picturesque, funny character. Manfred Bauer. He's very smart and has excellent marketing skills because in order to avoid paying real translators, he tries to lure in as many interns as possible, preferrably from different countries and who speak different languages.
Once a translation is requested, one of the intern has to do it, for free. Yes, because the intern needs to practice, of course, how generous of them. Unless there's no intern who speaks that particular language. That being the case, the text is assigned to a freelancer in their database who is usually paid very late. Very smart! So that's why he wants interns from different countries. As many as possible. He promises a certificate and a letter of recommendation at the end of the internship
There is French guy, another picturesque character by the name of Serge who has a very funny nose and has been working there for years. If you call him, he'll be happy to explain how the translation company works. 90% of his job is bitching about his job and how miserable life is and how cruel is to be forced to work there.
Now, the only problem is that interns are usually young people with little or no experience in translation. Even myself, I was studying languages in Germany, at that time, but I didn't feel prepared to do a translation for a client. It doesn't matter. As long as you're from a foreign country, this guy assumes that you can do a translation. Even if you have poor language skills. Are you a truck driver from Russia? You can translate in Russian. Are you a farmer from Beijing? Good, you can translate in Chines. Are you a plumber from Valencia? Wonderful, you can translate in Spanish! Also, there are a couple of guys who work there and they are backstabbers. A very unhealthy environment but in a very nice location. Just a few blocks from the Santa Monica promenade. And you'll get a certificate at the end of the internship!
Jasmeen
Hannover
Germany
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