Certified Localisation Professional

Skills Requirements in the Localisation Industry - Workshop 11 May 1998

Report on Work Session A - Human Resources Managers

Work Session A was attended by HR Managers, Business Managers, Project Managers and Recruitment Managers. Approx. attendance - 20 people.

The work session was chaired by Helen Wybrants (CLP Project Manager) and facilitated by Una Murphy (TELSI).

The group identified the main occupations within the Localisation Industry which pose a problem/challenge to the industry from a recruitment and skilling viewpoint.

The key occupations identified were as follows:

QA Engineer

Software Engineer

Project Manager

DTP Specialist

Language Specialist

The group then looked in more detail at each of the above occupations and attempted to identify:

the key activities within the occupation

the pre requisite core skills, knowledge and qualifications required to access each occupation

the on-the-job training available

the career progression paths available

The results are summarised in the following tables. It is important to point out that while all of the occupations identified by the group exist in all the companies represented in the work session, not all of the levels or indeed the activities within an occupation are identical.

Occupation: QA Engineer
Key Activities	Test and log bugs Track and schedule Write test scripts Interface within department, with Project Management, with Technical Support and occasionally with clients
Main focus of occupation	Product
Core entry level requirements: ‘Hard’ Skills	Good Analytical skills
Core entry level requirements: ‘Soft’ Skills	Good Interpersonal skills - oral and written Attention to detail Thorough Ability to learn
Core entry level requirements: Qualifications	Basic FAS / City & Guilds course in Computer Applications & Operation Systems and/or a working knowledge of computer applications and operation systems Leaving Certificate not a pre-requisite
Core entry level requirements: Previous experience	Not a pre-requisite
Levels within occupation	4 or 5
Training	On- the-job product training
Career progression paths available	3 or 4 levels leading to Team Leader Progression is achieved through on-the-job training and increased product knowledge Involvement in process development at senior levels

Occupation: Project Manager
Key Activities	Project Planning Team Leading People Management Budgetary Management Time Management - dynamic lead times Customer Interface Problem Resolution
Main focus of occupation	Product, Process, People
Core entry level requirements: ‘Hard’ Skills	High level of IT literacy
Core entry level requirements: ‘Soft’ Skills	Leadership and Management skills Negotiation skills Excellent Communication and Presentation skills (written and oral) Business Acumen Strategic thinker - vision Ability to handle stress Commitment - long hours, etc.
Core entry level requirements: Qualifications	Experience in successful management of large projects is more desirable than qualifications 5+ years experience in localisation industry
Core entry level requirements: Previous experience	Work experience in a multi-cultural environment People management experience Understanding of jargon - in localisation industry, IT industry and project management
Levels within occupation
Training	On-the-job
Career progression paths available	Continuous development

Occupation: Software Engineer
Key Activities	Building of Product Bug fixing Responsibility for quality of product shipped Detect and fix incoming bugs - interface with developers Interface re in-process bugs Process definition
Main focus of occupation	Product, Process
Core entry level requirements: ‘Hard’ Skills	Broad knowledge of a range of development tools, platforms and applications Understanding of programming
Core entry level requirements: ‘Soft’ Skills	Ability to visualise ‘total picture’ Time management
Core entry level requirements: Qualifications	Primary degree or diploma in Software Engineering or Computer Science or background in QA testing
Core entry level requirements: Previous experience	Background in QA testing (if no qualifications)
Levels within occupation	4 levels: Associate Software Engineer Software Engineer Senior Software Engineer Principal Engineer
Training	On-the-job
Career progression paths available	On-the-job proficiency facilitates moves upwards

Occupation: DTP Specialist
Key Activities	Manipulate text
Main focus of occupation	Product
Core entry level requirements: ‘Hard’ Skills	Test in DTP usually taken Eye for detail Spatial ability Speed and accuracy Eye for Colour
Core entry level requirements: ‘Soft’ Skills
Core entry level requirements: Qualifications	FAS / City & Guilds course in DTP
Core entry level requirements: Previous experience	Previous experience not a pre-requisite
Levels within occupation
Training
Career progression paths available

It was pointed out that due to CAT (Computer Aided Technology) the DTP function is likely to change dramatically.

Occupation: Language Specialist
Key Activities	Translation or monitoring of quality of translation (translation service is out-sourced in many cases)
Main focus of occupation	Product
Core entry level requirements: ‘Hard’ Skills	Native speaker of language required Proficiency in at least one other language Basic IT skills
Core entry level requirements: ‘Soft’ Skills	Good communication skills
Core entry level requirements: Qualifications	Degree in language required and one other language
Core entry level requirements: Previous experience	Localisation experience desirable In some cases Call Centre experience
Levels within occupation	4 levels: Entry Specialist Senior Translation Co-ordinator
Training	‘Product’ training provided in house
Career progression paths available	Progression to Project Management is possible