Exploring the World of Freelance Linguistics

An Interview with Marc Chambers 

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving language services industry, freelance linguists like Marc Chambers play a vital role in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps. With a specialization in English and German into French translation, Marc brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his work, handling diverse projects ranging from IT and marketing to tourism and medical content. 

In this interview, Marc shares his journey into the world of translation, the challenges and opportunities he faces as a freelancer, and what it’s like to collaborate with Argos Multilingual. From the rewarding experience of tackling large-scale projects to navigating industry changes like the rise of AI, Marc offers valuable insights into the daily life of a linguist. 

The Interview 

Participants: 

• Marc Chambers – Freelance Translator/Proofreader 

• Stephanie Harris-Yee – Global Marketing Director, Argos 

• Paola Stefaneli Mormandi – Supply Chain Manager, Argos 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Can you tell us about yourself and your role in the language services industry? 

Marc Chambers: Of course. I’m a freelance linguist specializing in English and German into French translation. I’ve been freelancing since March 2022. Before that, I worked as an in-house translator in France for five years. I focus on IT content, marketing, tourism, sports, and general medical translations. I’m based in France, where I work remotely. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Wonderful! What got you interested in this field? 

Marc Chambers: It’s really my love of languages and cultures. I come from a bilingual background, which gave me a foundation, and I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. Those interests naturally led me to translation, which I now do every day. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: How did your partnership with Argos begin? 

Marc Chambers: I first worked with Argos while I was an in-house translator at my previous job. After I transitioned to freelancing, Argos reached out to reconnect, and I was happy to continue working with them. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Why do you continue working with Argos? What do you find valuable about the collaboration? 

Marc Chambers: One of the main reasons is the steady flow of work. I regularly receive projects, which isn’t always the case with other clients. The variety is great too—I handle translation, proofreading, LQA, and occasionally subtitling. Communication with project managers is smooth, and they’re responsive and flexible, especially when I need an extension. It makes working with Argos efficient and enjoyable. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Are there any challenges or areas for improvement? 

Marc Chambers: Nothing major, but occasionally I receive too many project requests at the same time, which can be tricky to manage. Also, even when I mark myself as unavailable in TMS and emails, I sometimes still get project requests. 

Paola Stefaneli Mormandi: That’s great feedback, Marc. We’re actually working on an integration to address this—our system will notify PMs when a linguist marks time off in TMS, so they can avoid sending new job requests during those periods. 

Marc Chambers: That sounds really helpful. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Do you have any memorable projects or experiences with Argos? 

Marc Chambers: I’ve worked a lot on one large end client’s releases, which come regularly. Earlier this year, I handled my biggest project yet—a large release in June. It was challenging to meet the deadline and manage the volume, but the process went smoothly, with timely query responses and no negative feedback. It was rewarding to see I could handle such a significant project successfully. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: That’s fantastic. What are some of the biggest challenges you see in the language services industry overall? 

Marc Chambers: AI is a big topic right now. While it’s a useful tool, there’s a misconception that it’s a solution for every linguistic challenge. As human linguists, we need to demonstrate our value by balancing our expertise with adapting to new tools and innovations. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: How do you see the industry and your role evolving in the next three to five years? 

Marc Chambers: I think linguists will need to diversify their services—like doing more post-editing—and specialize even further to provide expert value. It’s about adapting to the tools while maintaining relevance. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Are there any innovations or technologies you’re excited about? 

Marc Chambers: Text-to-speech technology intrigues me. I haven’t tested it yet, but it could be a productivity booster and a break from typing all day. I’m also curious to see how CAT tools and online platforms evolve with new functionalities. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: How does Argos support your work and growth? 

Marc Chambers: Argos provides a steady workload and diverse tasks, which keeps things interesting. I also appreciate the training sessions and meetings for big projects, as well as the regular feedback to improve my work. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Can you describe a situation where collaboration led to a successful outcome? 

Marc Chambers: The regular big client releases come to mind. They involve large volumes, strict deadlines, and lots of communication with PMs. We’ve consistently delivered high-quality work with no negative feedback, which feels like a big success. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: What do you think makes a strong partnership in the language services industry? 

Marc Chambers: Communication is key. I like that Argos PMs are very responsive, and they often give me a heads-up about upcoming projects so I can prepare. That level of transparency makes a big difference. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: What’s the most interesting or unexpected thing you’ve learned in your career? 

Marc Chambers: Deadlines that seem impossible at first can sometimes bring out your best. You find ways to meet them and surprise yourself. Also, projects that look simple can sometimes turn out to be the most challenging. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: What advice would you give to someone starting out in language services? 

Marc Chambers: Be curious, practice your language skills, and don’t be afraid to explore different tasks or specializations. It’s all about finding what works for you. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: How do you envision the future of your partnership with Argos and the industry as a whole? 

Marc Chambers: I hope to continue delivering quality work for Argos. It’s great to have opportunities with different clients and tasks. As for the industry, we’ll see how it evolves with mergers and new tools. I’m ready to adapt. 

Stephanie Harris-Yee: Thank you, Marc.  

Marc Chambers 

Translator/Proofreader 

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