Translating Market Desires: English Job Ads as a Guide

Though rarely used in Translation Studies, job advertisements offer valuable insights into the market requirements. The present paper examines 132 English-language translation job advertisements, focusing on languages, education, work experience, soft skills, job responsibilities, and competences required within the current Finnish translation market. The results agree with the previous research on the importance of both official and English languages in the country, emphasise the significance of translator education, soft skills, and practical experience for the Finnish employers. On the other hand, a diverse range of responsibilities is directly related to translators’ competences, highlighting the vital role of translation competence, service provision, and technology. The outcomes have practical implications for the development of translator training curricula and improvement of the current certification system, at the same time generating a modern image of the professional translator from the market’s perspective. Furthermore, they also enable translators to anticipate employers’ needs and adequately prepare for their future careers.