7 weeks to go!

So it is 7 weeks before I leave my job for good, should I really just be sitting back and relaxing with a coffee?? The answer is "probably not"
I have decided to make a clean break from in-house to freelance, with no transitional phase where I freelance outside of work or carry on working part time while I set myself up properly. I have decided to do it this way for reasons of simplicity; as I am moving country as well as job situation I don't want any complicated tax! Depending on how things go, I am considering looking for a part time job when I get back to the UK but I am hoping that won't be the case!

I have been thinking about making the move for a while and started my concrete plans by doing LOTS of reading! There are so many (maybe too many?) amazing resources for potential freelancers. I began by reading "How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator" by Corinne McKay and her equally useful blog Thoughts on Translation. Both have helped me to structure my preparation phase and think about where my priorities should lie. I have also found the blog on WantWords' business school page to be an amazing resource, I am so in awe of all of these translators!

So what concrete steps have I taken so far?
1) Updated my very outdated CV - as I kept being drawn back to my current place of work without ever having to go through too stringent an application process, I have never had to pay too much attention to my CV and boy does it show! Who knew that you needed a personal statement these days?!
2) Started drafting a cover letter to send out with my CV
3) Started drawing up a list of companies to contact, starting with my contacts through my current place of work
4) Updated my profiles on LinkedIn and Proz.com
5) Got an application pack for joining the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. I have heard many opinions about whether studying translation is a waste of time or not, but one thing my course instilled into me was the importance of bodies like the ITI to help maintain standards and quality in the industry. I hope that, by becoming a member, I will be able to expand my network of contacts and work with customers who understand what translation is.

At the moment I still feel relaxed, but the stress of packing up and moving could cause this to go downhill very quickly!