In Hungary, university-level training of language mediators began at the Faculty of Humanities of Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) fifty years ago. To commemorate this anniversary, the Department of Translation and Interpreting at ELTE has conducted a comprehensive survey of graduate students' career development, their employment status in the language industry and their feedback on the training they received in light of their professional experiences. The research was published by Edina Robin, Réka Rebeka Gabányi and Boglárka Fanni Tóth.
The online questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms and the Department's alumni mailing lists, gathering 381 responses from former students.
The survey results shed light on the challenges and difficulties faced by translator and interpreter graduates as they enter the profession. Respondents voiced concerns about livelihoods and future prospects due to the rapid advancement of technology—particularly the growing role of AI, which has emerged as a key trend in the European translation market. The results show that despite the transformation of the language mediation profession and the rise of AI in translation services,
the vast majority of graduates start their careers in professional translation and interpreting.
At the same time, there is a significant dropout rate among recent graduates and novice language mediators —especially those who find independent freelancing difficult and uncertain, or those who are unable to specialise in a particular field, or do not receive sufficient support at the start of their career.
The insights gained from this study can inform the development of translator and interpreter training programmes, helping to better align curricula with the realities of the language industry. By incorporating more practical, market-relevant components—such as specialisation options, business training, and international project experience—training institutions can better prepare students for the challenges of the profession. Furthermore, fostering long-term engagement through alumni networks, postgraduate opportunities, and collaboration with professional associations can enhance graduates’ resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing industry. Ultimately, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the structural and individual factors that influence career sustainability in the field of language mediation. They also offer practical recommendations for improving graduate employability and supporting the long-term sustainability of the profession in Hungary and beyond.
The research data are freely accessible in accordance with the principles of Open Science:
Robin, Edina; Gabányi, Réka Rebeka; Tóth, Boglárka Fanni; Nagy, Gabriella (2024). Fordító és tolmács hallgatók pályakövetése / Career path survey of translator and interpreter graduates (ELTE Eötvös Loránd University). figshare. Dataset.
Find the publication here.