Most translators not only have expertise in two or more languages, they also specialize in certain industries or disciplines to provide their clients with the highest quality translation.

A translator with an engineering degree who is a Russian native speaker and fluent in English would be the best candidate to translate English technical documentation into Russian. Similarly, a French translator who has a degree in business is well suited to handle translation for a U.S. company eager to expand to France.

Translators' biographies, which include college degrees, industry experience and particular areas of interest, are often posted on the translation company's Web site.

As businesses continue to go global, more translators are combining their proficiency in particular languages with industry-specific expertise. While finding an electrician who speaks Kazakh might never be commonplace, your chances of hiring a Portuguese speaker with experience in the biotech industry is increasing.