Translation is about more than just being bilingual. Translators must be able to render someone else’s ideas in a way that conveys their original meaning just as effectively in the second language. Finding the perfect words so that a reader understands the original authors’ intentions and feelings is a fascinating, and delicate, process.
As a Translator at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, my work falls under the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM). I am one of approximately fifty staff at the Russian Translation Service who convert all official United Nations documents such as Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Secretary-General’s reports, notes and letters , into Russian from three of the Organization’s five other official languages; English, French and Spanish. Our documents have to be comprehensible to anyone who reads them, and because they also serve as an historical record, our work records the legacy of the entire Organization.
All United Nations translators translate into their mother tongue (or principal language of education) and must be capable of doing so from two other official languages. I create Russian translations of English and French documents. I studied English and French at university and after graduating in 2004, I joined the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs as a translator and interpreter. One of my projects there was rendering the rules and guidelines for the United Nations Competitive Language Exam into Russian. Many people on this project were young professionals, and we were encouraged to take the exam ourselves. I saw this as a tremendous opportunity, and after the exam and interview rounds –which took over a year to complete entirely– I joined the Russian Translation Service in New York in 2007. More.
See: UN Careers
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Comments about this article
India
Local time: 23:09
Member (2011)
Russian to English
+ ...
When I did not get a call for the interview, I realised that the Russian part had done me in.
Looking back, I feel sad but have no regrets because I have used my knowledge of Russian in commercial ventures which have given me total satisfaction
Nevertheless it would have been something, working for the UN ▲ Collapse
Local time: 13:39
Russian to English
+ ...
The UN is a hornet's nest of inefficiency, intrigue and backstabbing. Consider yourself lucky you have never had to experience it firsthand.
[Edited at 2014-12-07 16:37 GMT]
Indonesia
Local time: 00:39
English to Indonesian
+ ...
Thanks for the article, which gave insight on translation work at an international, global level organization. Could you perhaps provide information on the translator recruitment process and contacts or links. I am really interested in working for them. My native language is Indonesian, but I have accreditations for English > Indonesian and Indonesian > English. Thanks in advance.
Angela
Vietnam
Local time: 00:39
English to Vietnamese
+ ...
That's why, I quite as full time, but consultant contract basis with UNICEF to work for other company and continued to w... See more
That's why, I quite as full time, but consultant contract basis with UNICEF to work for other company and continued to work as freelancer for UNICEF.
Until now, I know that that are still employing the full-time translator on consultancy contract basis.
Lucky for you that you work their full time and as a staff member of UN. ▲ Collapse
Brazil
Local time: 14:39
Portuguese to English
+ ...
I applied for a job at the UN once and they asked for over ten different documents scanned AND sent by post. With the tight deadline I had to send it express mail and this alone cost me 60 Brazilian Reais (about 25 USD). I never heard from them again.
Yesterday I attended a translators' event and one of the speakers touched on the subject saying that three languages are normally required and that Portuguese is given little value. Maybe this is why ... See more
I applied for a job at the UN once and they asked for over ten different documents scanned AND sent by post. With the tight deadline I had to send it express mail and this alone cost me 60 Brazilian Reais (about 25 USD). I never heard from them again.
Yesterday I attended a translators' event and one of the speakers touched on the subject saying that three languages are normally required and that Portuguese is given little value. Maybe this is why I never got a reply (I offer only English and Portuguese, not French, for example). ▲ Collapse
United States
Local time: 13:39
Russian to English
+ ...
I think all of them have to be the official languages of the UN. Two on the top level, one on a slightly lower level--just fluent.
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