Education Options for the Globalization Industry

Monterey has a graduate program in Localization management.  There are Masters degree in translation from multiple universities across the country—NYU, Kent State, Monterey.  Tim Altanero teaches localization courses in Texas.  The Localization Institute and Ulrich Henes offers courses.  People at GALA also offer courses and training.  If you are aware of other educational and training options for the globalization industry, please reply.

New Sales Hire and Heart Transplants

A successful sales person newly hired can be the heart of the success of the LSP.  Like a heart transplant, though, the host may reject the heart or vice versa.  So careful attention with a new sales hire early on may be critical to the success of the operation. (see http://www.anzuglobal.com/images/CSNV9I4.pdf )

Profit and Loss for First Year Sales hires: Loss (and the Golden Eggs)

Even when a new sales hire does 500K in sales the first year, the parent company may have negligible profits, or even report a loss.  When you add salaries, benefits, equipment and overhead costs, administrative personnel costs etc, the 150K gross margin may not cover expenses.  Hiring Sales people, though, is like Woody Allen’s comments about a successful marriage.  He says finding a good partner is like finding the goose that lays the golden eggs.   He keeps looking because he needs the golden eggs.

First Year Sales Revenue Success: $500K

What is a good revenue number for a first year sales hire for a mid-level (>$25 million) or small > $5 million) LSP: $500K.  Let’s add several assumptions.  The sales person cannot bring on board recent, previous business.  The LSP does not have a huge marketing effort and there is limited ‘existing’ business that is inherited.  To expect a $1,000,000 in revenue the first year, without the above support is: ‘magical thinking’, arrogant, ignorant…all of the above.

Global LSP and US sales person: Challenging Marriage

When hiring a US sales person from outside the US, an LSP faces many challenges and obstacles that are not always predictable or logical. Not unlike a marriage of two people from different cultures, there are surprising cultural clashes that if not addressed skillfully, eventually may lead to divorce. Please advise on what works for you to sustain your marriage/sales hire.

GILT Industry: Project Manager Salaries

In general, a localization project manager with three plus years experience would earn between 60-80K on the client side and 50-65K on the vendor side. To talk in generalities can be misleading though.  There are many factors that go into determining salaries that vary according to company and geographic location.  It is safe to say that most clients pay 20-25% higher than LSP’s.  

GILT Industry: In-House Translator Salaries

In general, client companies pay translators anywhere from 50-75K with benefits for a full time, salaried position.  Vendors would be at least 20-25% lower.  There are some companies that pay up to 85K for a translator full time.  There are only a handul of clients who now have full time salaried translators on staff.  Many game companies hire translators. The more common model, though, is to outsource the translation and editing to vendors.