The quality, range of expertise and reliable availability of our worldwide linguists is the lifeblood of our business, and is essential to the accurate and natural-sounding written and verbal communications we produce.
The Basic Essentials
Working with mother-tongue (native) speakers of every language pair in the world - preferably based in the country where the content will be used, to assure cultural knowledge.
Qualified / pre-tested in written translation and / or interpreting and tested by us at induction stage and on an ongoing basis.
Linguists chosen specifically for their experience in the required client sector and terminology knowledge.
Confidentiality is always a priority.
Recruitment
Talking Heads attracts many applications from linguists due to the Company’s profile and the excellent reputation we have. Talking Heads only advertises for linguists where there is a requirement for an unusual language or noticeable under-representation.
When approached by a linguist, we review:
Type, form and level of education; school, university, vocational, etc. (always taking into consideration the country in which they were educated)
Qualifications gained, and if continuing to work towards
Security clearance/s
Commitment to languages as a career
Experience in translating / interpreting
Experience in a particular industry or area
Self-testing methods and continuous self improvement - CPD
Client list
References
Supporting Linguists
Online resources provided for specific content / sectors
Per Client / Project Inductions / Training Packs
Onboarding
All new linguists take part in our intensive induction programme which includes:
Online induction / training covering
Confidentiality
Expectations
Code of Conduct
Communication and Relationship
Safeguarding
Assessments:
Induction Self Assessment
Language Assessment
Induction Test (80% pass rate)
Interpreters: Safeguarding Assessment
Translators: Translation tests on Social Care, Legal, Marketing, Marketing with Technical, Technical, Food, Fashion and Cosmetics (providing an overview of their skill and content type they are best suited to)
Data Protection / Security / Public Sector Requirements
Security check; proof of eligibility for work in UK
Face-to-face / video interview to verify identity and avoid common scam techniques
DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check where required / requested
Diploma certification as base level
Adherence to GDPR
Agreements:
NDA
Terms & Conditions
Ongoing Quality Management
Via our proprietary online system, ProjectLSP.com, we record and review all quality issues:
This links all parties and provides quantifiable data, e.g. clients and proof-readers providing a quantitative ‘Out of 10’ score as well as qualitative reviewing
All graded feedback is automatically calculated to form a linguist’s score.
If this score drops below 80%, they are automatically made not available for live projects, until the drop in quality level is assessed and rectified.
Selective / random testing - interpreters and translators
Proof-reading by a second linguist included in our ‘Standard Translation’ process
Ongoing monitoring via customer feedback
Encourage continuous training and revisits to the online induction provided by Talking Heads
Refresher communication to remind linguists of the importance of our beliefs
Client feedback and client reporting using structured, quantifiable methods
In our linguists' own words...
“Talking Heads is one of the very few decent, fair interpreting companies.”
- Zita, Hungarian
“An agency to work with. My experience with them: demanding but scrupulous, interesting projects. Great PM.”
- Fernando, Italian
“Amazing. aProfessional, fun, responsive, payments on time, would love to welcome more projects.”
- El, Finnish
“Just FYI, Talking Heads is my favorite office to work for. I love all of the guys - they are super-duper great! I wish for a long relationship. You are the best! :)”
- Barbro, Swedish
“It has always been a pleasure to work with Talking Heads. Clear instructions, friendly PMs and on time payment.”
- Fenny, Gujarati
“Everyone is so friendly and professional. Interesting projects, good communication and prompt payment. It’s a great pleasure to work for Talking Heads!”
- Vinicius, Portuguese
EVERY MEMBER OF OUR TEAM IS 100% ON-BOARD WITH OUR MISSION; TO PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE, AND TO MAINTAIN OUR REPUTATION AS INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTS.
Thanks to this brand focus, we ensure everything we do is of the same consistently excellent quality. From small translation requests to large-scale conversion projects, our team are equipped to get the job done; with everyone working towards the same goal, fulfilling your needs and making us an even more effective unit.
With decades of collective experience in producing world-class translations, at Talking Heads we know the importance of a competent, friendly and professional team when it comes to serving our customers. That's why we always strive to provide a happy, productive and efficient environment thanks to our leadership and team-building strategies. We offer native translation for every language on Earth, making us uniquely placed for the perfect blend of different cultures, lifestyles and ethics.
Every member of our team is equipped with the skills and experience to create a powerful unit of knowledge and guidance, whatever your area of business. With our unique setup, everyone from our founders to our administrative staff is equipped with the skills to speak to our customers, wherever they are in the world. With team members and linguists from Europe, America, Africa and beyond, we're ideally placed to offer a service you'll love; from people that you'll like working with.
Our business is equipped with over 11,000 extended team members that help Talking Heads run like clockwork. With both our internal team and our wider network, we work together to ensure our service is the best out there.