RosNOU Graduates Expected to Join Major Companies Doing Business in Russia

In 2009 senior students of RosNOU Humanitarian Technologies and Foreign Languages Department, studying translation and the theory of it went to many companies and firms doing business in Russia for practical training course specified by their curriculum.

Dmitry Dragaitsev, assistant professor who is in charge of practical training of the translation speciality students, said: “Our students take four weeks practical training courses during their fourth and fifth year at the University. Thanks to our well-established connections our students are able to work for prominent companies and firms while doing practical training. Every year the number of companies that engage our students is growing. In 2009 there were 12 such organizations where our students had an opportunity to actually apply their knowledge and skills. A remarkable thing is that after their practical training some of our students are offered a full-time job with these companies”.

And what do the students themselves think of their practical training? Let them speak for themselves.

Where did you do your practical training and what were your responsibilities there?

Elena Gorlanova: I went for my practical training to the International Recruitment Agency “Kelly Services”. My responsibilities included calling a potential candidate to invite him or her for an interview. I also interviewed some of the candidates by telephone, processed acquired data and added their résumés to the data base.

Aleksey Tshesnokov: I had my practical training at “Kelly Services” too. My duty was to interview the applicants by telephone, type their résumés in Russian and English. Besides, I sometimes assisted during the meetings when applicants were interviewed.

Anna Snyatinskaya: I did my practical training at the Science and Technology Centre of the Defense Corporation “Compass”. I made annotations of some technical articles in English.

Elvina Esanova: I also did my practical training at STC “Compass”. I translated technical documents, made annotations of technical articles.

Irina Ushakova: I did my practical training at the Embassy of Costa Rica. I processed documents, pamphlets, and business letters and translated them from English and Spanish into Russian.

Mikhail Becknazarov: I had my practical training in the representative office of Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited. This is a prominent law company. I worked as a secretary-translator. My duty was to translate legal documents, add law cases to the electronic data base, and translate certain passages of the Civil Code.

Diana Isakhodjaeva: I worked as secretary in the Translation Department of Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited. I filed legal documents, registered translation requests and distributed them among the staff.

Ekaterina Braslavskaya: I did my practical training at the Investigation Committee at the Russian Federation Prosecutor’s Office. I translated business correspondence between the Russian Prosecutor’s Office and similar bodies in other countries, and I also translated some legal documents.

Anastasia Maslovskaya: I went for my practical training to the Russian State Broadcasting Company “The Voice of Russia”. My duty was to make sure that the Russian text read by broadcasters was equivalent to its English translation.

What are your impressions after the practical training? Was it useful for you? Was the knowledge received at the University sufficient?

Elena Gorlanova: I have conflicting impressions from my practical training at “Kelly Services”. The work was monotonous, non-creative, not a job for a translator as I see it. But I always fulfilled my duties in time. In the end I was given a half-page résumé which I was to translate from Russian into English. And that was all.

Aleksey Tshesnokov: It was rather hard work. The workload was serious, with a full-time working day from 10 a.m. up to 6 p.m. Fortunately a good knowledge basis received at RosNOU helped me to cope with the work. I think that “Kelly Services” is one of the best companies for translating practice. And I liked the work there because I‘ve got an opportunity to communicate with people.

Anna Snyatinskaya: It was difficult for me to work for the STC “Compass”. I don’t know much about technology and engineering. During my practical training I had to deal with technical terminology. But the crew members were very friendly; they supported and helped me whenever I faced any difficulties. Of course, I could rely on the knowledge I had got at RosNOU as a translator student. And every day I learned something new, which is really important.

Elvina Esanova: As I don’t know much about engineering, it was not easy for me to grasp the main point of the text to make an appropriate translation. But the knowledge which I received at RosNOU helped me to overcome difficulties. Of course, when encountering technical vocabulary, I had to consult a dictionary. But I learnt to grasp the main idea, which is essential for a translator.

Irina Ushakova: I’d rather say it was neither hard nor easy to work at the Embassy. It was, so to say, moderately hard. Anyway, I managed to cope with my work.

Mikhail Becknazarov: Working for a law company gives a lot of experience.

Diana Isakhodjaeva: The work didn’t seem hard to me. Perhaps it turned out to be so because by my fifth year of studying at RosNOU I had acquired profound knowledge of my speciality. During my practical training I gained useful experience and made connections among lawyers.

Ekaterina Braslavskaya: As far as translating documents for the Investigation Committee is concerned, the most important thing is how promptly a translator can do his work. But it is also a great responsibility. I was anxious about doing an adequate translation, especially when the translation was to be completed within a brief space of time. The knowledge and skills acquired at RosNOU helped me to avoid mistakes. I enriched my vocabulary with new terms, learnt how documents are filed, how meetings are arranged, how cases are processed.

Anastasia Maslovskaya: It was not hard to cope with my duties, perhaps, because our teachers at RosNOU paid much attention to listening comprehension. It was very useful to listen to native speakers.

Did you like to work for the companies and firms that provided you with practical training? Is there a chance of getting a full-time job there after you graduate from the University?

Elena Gorlanova: Now I know for sure that office work is not my cup of tea. Thanks to the practical training I learnt about the labor market preferences. I also learnt what the most required vocations and specialists are, how to draw up résumés, and what interviewers usually pay attention to most of all.

Aleksey Tshesnokov: The people of the staff there were very friendly. They helped me to overcome difficulties and gave advice. I made good acquaintances. I’m satisfied with the practical training results, the time was not wasted. They wanted me to go on working at the office. I’m expected to join the company after I graduate from the University.

Anna Snyatinskaya: The practical training appeared to be quite useful for me. At the end of it my senior colleagues thanked me for good work. Perhaps I will apply for a full-time job at “Compass” after I graduate.

Elvina Esanova: I have most positive impressions of my practical training. The team was very friendly. I would like to get a job at “Compass”. I feel they liked me there.

Irina Ushakova: The Embassy staff was very friendly. It was pleasant to work in a good atmosphere. On September 15^th we celebrated Latin America Independence Day. I met the Ambassador of Costa Rica and his family. He has a very nice family. We seemed to like each other. After my practical training I understand that I am willing to work as a translator in a tourist agency. It’s easier for me to communicate with people. I would like to get a job as a Mexican Embassy employee and I will do my best to achieve this goal.

Mikhail Becknazarov: I’ve got positive references as a potential staff member. I suppose I have a chance of getting a job at Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited.

Diana Isakhodjaeva: Baker & McKenzie is a large system where everyone is preoccupied with his own work. There is complete silence in the office. The staff is very friendly. The cultural level of the staff there is very high. You could feel it was in the atmosphere of the office. I worked side by side with professionals, and we had rather friendly relations established. I was expected to work on there. They even advised me how I can pass the test to get a full-time job after I graduate.

Ekaterina Braslavskaya: After getting into professional community I realized at once that I would have much to learn. Now I am going to study law to get a second university postgraduate degree.

Anastasia Maslovskaya: I did very interesting work together with an excellent team of colleagues. I acquired new knowledge and skills, and the company boss offered me a full-time job at “The Voice of Russia” after I graduate from the University.