How to Become a Translator - Basic Requirements

Maybe you've already done some translation work, paid or pro-bono, or maybe you are completely new to the business and are wondering if being a translator may be the job for you. You may be asking yourself what it takes to become a translator.
Basic Requirements
Naturally, you have to know at least two languages - that's obvious. How fluent do you have to be.
Let's talk about your source and your target languages. The source language is the language of the original text you're translating. The target language is the language you're translating into.
Most translators will only translate into their native language or mother tongue. There are exceptions, of course, especially where a translator has been living abroad for many years. Generally, though, most people only have native proficiency in, well, their native language. I am a German translator and I have been living in Canada for over 8 years. I still have my translations proofread by a native speaker. (It's good if you're married to one.)
However, just being a native speaker is not enough. If you are a good writer in your first language, you have probably come accross some writing, even published writing, that makes you shudder. Native speakers can write poorly, too! If you want to be a translator, you need superior writing skills in your target language. You need an excellent command of grammar and style. If a company pays hundreds or thousands of dollars for a translation, the document must be important to them and they will expect quality.
The requirements for your source language are not quite as demanding. You should have an excellent comprehension of your second language, of course. However, when you're translating, you hopefully have access to lots of dictionaries and reference material (more on that later).
Keep in mind, though, that having to look up a lot of words of the source text will severely reduce your output and speed in translating. I occasionally translate from French to German, but I do have to consult my dictionary a lot more. I believe that my translation is still good, but it takes me accordingly longer.
Lastly, it is good to have a broad education and general knowledge of certain specialist fields. Translation agencies and clients look for translators that are familiar with the topic of the translation. There's nothing harder to translate than a text that you don't really understand. Specializing in certain fields also gives you a more limited vocabulary you need to master, especially concerning technical terms.
You may acquire your knowledge through a formal college or university degree (I have a Bachelor Degree in Physics), or simply through reading up on the subject matter regularly.
Technical Resources
As an absolute minimum, you need to own, or have unlimited access to, the following:
* A computer. Can be Windows or Mac, but I would recommend Windows if you have the choice. You might have personal preferences, but Windows will give you better compatibility with your clients. (I don't want to get into the whole 'Bill is evil' discussion here. Unfortunately Windows has a de-facto monopoly in the market, and some important software is not available, or not 100% compatible, on Mac).
* An Internet connection. With documents getting larger and larger, broadband would be preferable, but dial-up is fine for starters too. It's important that you're able to check your e-mail several times a day, so an Internet café is not a good idea.
* An office suite. You will need at least MS Word. (DOS versions don't count here.) Excel is important, too. Powerpoint may be a good idea, but is not as commonly required. If you are translating web pages, you will need an HTML editor. FrontPage is good, but most freeware software will do just fine for this purpose.
* Fax capability. This could be a fax modem or an e-fax service. A fax machine is better because you may have to sign contracts with translation agencies and fax them.
* A mobile phone or a pager would be a good idea if you go out during business hours a lot.
* Dictionaries and reference books. You can never have too many of those. The Internet has become an excellent resource too.
* And lastly, a quiet office. It doesn't have to be large, just enough to accommodate your computer, your books and yourself. You should be able to work without distractions. If you live alone, your living room or your bedroom may be just fine. If you have a family, especially kids, or roommates, you must be sure to either have an office where you can close the door, or there must be times where your family is out (work or school)
* Other good things to have, but not absolutely required, include desktop publishing software (such as PageMaker), a translation memory (Déjà Vu, Trados, Wordfast, etc., more on that later), and more dictionaries and reference books. What software is required often depends on the field you're working in, and you'll learn as you go.