Volume 29, Issue 4, 2020
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.881
Industry Requirements for Translators across China Before COVID-19: Analyzing 51job Listings through Web Scraping
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The first purpose of this study is to present the detailed requirements from employers; the second is to share a powerful data collecting and visualization method with translation scholars and practitioners.
Method: We proposed a new method of data collection and data analyzation. The technology of web scraping, such as programs written in Python can retrieve the first-hand data in a faster and more convenient manner than traditional questionnaires or interviews; the technology of data visualization, such as Tableau Desktop, can show the results between graphic marks and data values in a graphic representation. With these technologies, we collected, cleaned, analyzed, mapped, and visualized 46144 listings from 51job, an online recruitment website, across China in terms of translators.
Results: After analyzation, we find: (1) employers value applicants’ bilingual competences most; (2) employers require applicants should have some working experience; (3) employers require applicants should have relevant knowledge in specific fields; (4) office software and translation technologies are required.
Conclusion: Job listing is an important source to analyze industry requirements. With the help of web scraping and visualization technology, a new world will be opened to scholars and practitioners in translation studies.
Keywords
Industry requirements, Web scraping, Python, Data visualization