Valerie Webster
Personal Details
Career History
Freelance TranslatorSelf-employedAugust 2011 – present
Translation of a wide range of texts from German to English and from Spanish to English. Tools include SDL Trados Studio 2011 and Trados 2007. Specialist areas of translation include IT and technology, business and finance, marketing and publicity, websites, press releases, medicine, HR, engineering, tourism.
TranslatorSAP, Galway, IrelandNovember 2007 – July 2011
Translation of SAP Notes (technical troubleshooting documents written by developers) and training courses from German to English using SDL Trados. Primarily translation of Logistics components, but also documentation in the areas of Finance, HR and specific sectors such as the automotive industry. Work on Trados memory clean-up projects.
Clerical OfficerEastern Regional Health Authority, Dublin, IrelandApril - September 2003
Clerical work in the Superintendent Registrar's office.
Care AssistantLittle Sisters of the Poor, Dublin, IrelandJanuary 2002 – April 2003
Basic nursing duties and care of elderly and infirm residents in a nursing home.
SystemsMBNA International Bank Ltd, Dublin, IrelandMarch 2000 – June 2001
AdministratorSupport of all IT and telecommunication systems in a call centre; 200-user Novell/NT LAN with links to UK and US; Unix and mainframe; automatic outbound dialler.
Technical AccountAttachmate Ireland Ltd., Shannon, IrelandApril 1997 – July 1999
SpecialistProvision of technical support to EMEA customers for Attachmate’s connectivity solutions (for connecting PCs to multiple platforms using various protocols).
Network ConsultantQuality Software Products, Gateshead, UKJanuary 1996 – April 1997
Management and support of a 450-user LAN, Unix and mainframe systems and remote links; roll-out of Windows NT/95 on LAN; maintenance of the company website.
Network SupportEgger UK Ltd., Northumberland, UKJuly 1992 – January 1996
AnalystManagement of a 100-user Novell LAN, DG minicomputers, and Sales and Production systems for a manufacturing company; development of user documentation and training.
Technical SupportIBM, Newcastle, UKFebruary 1992 – July 199
LAN Specialist Administration of a token-ring LAN with remote links (LAN Manager-OS/2 platform); involvement in installation of a new LAN for office relocation; end-user technical support.
TechnicalNoble & Lund, Gateshead, UKJanuary 1991 – February 1992
Software EngineerResponsible for installation and administration of a new Novell LAN running AutoCAD systems and office software for a manufacturing company; end-user technical support.
Software EngineerBurnley General Hospital, Lancashire, UKAugust – December 1990
Development of a patient record-keeping database system for the X-Ray Department, programmed in DBase III Plus.
Full-TimeDublin Simon Community, IrelandFebruary – June 1989
Voluntary Worker Full-time care of residents and upkeep of a Simon Community residential house.
Computer TechnicianNIHE (now Dublin City University), Dublin, IrelandSeptember 1988 – Jan 1989
Support and maintenance of all PCs, printers and audio-visual equipment for the Computer Resource Centre in the university.
Academic Qualifications
- BA (Hons.) in Languages for International Communication(Spanish and German)2003 - 2007
at Dublin City University and the University of Granada, Spain
Applied Languages degree specialising in Translation Studies. Translation of technical, business, financial, scientific, engineering, literary, culinary, medical, tourism and marketing texts, among others. Year 3 was spent studying translation at the Faculty of Translation & Interpreting in the University of Granada in Spain.
- Higher Diploma in Software Engineering1989 -1990
at Salford College of Technology (UK)
- Technician Certificate in Electronics1986 - 1989
at Kevin St. College of Technology, Dublin
Professional Qualifications
Novell Certified Netware Engineer 5.12000
Novell Certified Netware Engineer1995
Novell Certified Netware Administrator1994
Miscellaneous Courses
Microprocessor Systems Design (FÁS)3 months1988
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL certificate)70 hours1999
Personal Effectiveness Training (DCU)35 hours2004/5
Interests and Hobbies
Language and culture, travel, cinema, cooking and nutrition, walking, reading, yoga, music, swimming