Localisation manager — Izabella Kuna

Izabella explains how her linguistics and translation degrees helped her build a career managing language adaption projects in a creative marketing environment

What degree did you study?

I graduated with a BA Language and Linguistics and then an MSc Translation Studies.

How did you get your job in language and translation services?

I currently work as a language services/translation manager in a marketing agency and to get this role, I applied via LinkedIn. I had to provide a cover letter alongside my CV and then had two stages of interviews (one online and one in person), after which I was offered the job.

How relevant is your degree to this area of work?

I work within my field of expertise as I manage all localisation and transcreation projects in my company. I collaborate with freelance linguists on a daily basis, and I also provide quality assurance in the languages that I speak, which are:

• German
• Polish
• Spanish.

What's a typical working day like?

My day starts by checking emails and responding to any urgent queries. I then manage any incoming requests from the client, prepare costs, allocate the resources, update trackers, QA files and deliver jobs.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The best part of my job is working with people across different countries and languages. I also enjoy the project management side of my role. My role is very creative and allows me to think outside the box.

What are the challenges?

It's a fast-paced environment, which requires you to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. It also means you have to adapt to sudden changes of plans and stay open-minded. Since my role is positioned within client services, I also need to be diplomatic and manage expectations.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

I see myself as a localisation lead, working in a creative or technology sector and helping businesses improve their performance by providing them with expert knowledge on language services.

What advice can you give to others?

• Don't be afraid to apply for jobs even if you don't tick all the boxes. What employers care most about is your attitude and ability to think critically.
• With a degree in languages, it's crucial to develop other skills to help you stand out in the market and make you a more attractive candidate. For example, experience in digital tools, project management or sector-specific knowledge will help enhance your employability.
• Be selective about artificial intelligence (AI) trends. While many new tools are emerging to support text-based work, particularly in translation, not all live up to the hype or offer genuine value - and some have limitations in quality and accuracy.

Find out more

• Discover what you can do with a linguistics degree.
• Read about being a translator.