Our associates work in many different positions with a variety of tasks and roles. We recently sat down with one of our Translators to ask about his responsibilities during a typical day at work.
Name: Pierreguy V.
Title: Translator
Location: Houston, TX
How did you end up as a Translator at Reynolds?
I’m originally from Quebec City, Canada. I was living in Austin, Texas, and looking for a new job in the area, but I couldn’t find anything that met my needs. I applied for this position at the Reynolds location in Houston because I thought it was exactly what I was looking for. I got the job in 2024 and moved out here.
What does a Translator do?
The Translation Department translates documents into French, allowing customers in Quebec to operate efficiently. Around 80% of the people speak and operate in French, and language laws push companies to operate in French, as well.
We must ensure everything is translated properly. Otherwise, you might end up confusing simple mistakes like “Turkey” the country and “turkey” the bird. Occasionally, we will translate from French to English when receiving material from Quebec directed toward internal departments.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I translate helpful instructional documentation for our customers within the software. Otherwise, I regularly check Reynolds’ applications for updates – for new codes but also to align text. I also translate various texts, from our
Fuel newsletter articles to legal contracts to flyers.
What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
Since I don’t know much about cars, finding the right word in French can be challenging. Fortunately, our translation knowledge database helps quite a bit. I also use artificial intelligence (AI) sometimes for translation, but I review the text to confirm the vocabulary aligns with our practices.
My hard work is often rewarded by my managers, and I work on a great team that is open to collaborative ideas and suggestions.
How many languages do you know?
I am bilingual in French and English. I can understand and read Spanish, but speaking it is still challenging. I can make sense of something written in Italian and Portuguese, and sometimes Haitian Creole.
How do you deal with cultural differences and nuances when translating?
Online dictionaries are excellent tools for that. One must be careful in French because regional variations can make quite a big difference. Also, since our team is growing, more brains help find the right word in the right context.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Around 10 years ago, I dove into my family tree through church registries and online genealogy sites. I found that if you’re from Quebec, you will find that we’re almost all cousins if I trace far enough back. Researching my family history has made the way I see myself and my family feel more complete. I even realized that a colleague from my department is an 11th cousin of mine!
How does your personal life interact with or influence your work as a Translator?
I’m a persistent person. In the same way that I deep dive to build my family tree, I access and dig into the Reynolds knowledge base to find the page codes for instructional documentation so I can trace the path. And, when I’m stuck on a word, I also ask Spanish speakers around me how they would translate something; sometimes it rings a bell.
What’s your favorite part about working for Reynolds?
I love the work environment, especially coming from my previous job, which was difficult. Here at Reynolds, I have excellent benefits, incentives, and a good work environment that fosters a sense of belonging – which I feel especially during the complimentary mealtimes hanging out with coworkers!
Pierreguy uses his translation skills to help a variety of departments and teams within Reynolds, beyond the Translation department. Interested in putting your language skills to good use? Browse current opportunities at Reynolds here.