Interpreters are critical in many fields. Without them, deals could fall through, and doctors would struggle to give patients adequate care. However, if you want to be an interpreter, you need the right skills. In this post, we’ll discuss how to discover interpreter employment opportunities and which roles are in demand.
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How To Find Interpreter Employment Opportunities in Any Industry
Job openings for interpreter roles are usually only available for people with a degree or specific interpreter certification. Your first step to discovering these opportunities should be to gain some kind of qualification in a language.
Once qualified, it might be worth volunteering to build up your professional portfolio. You could ask around at a nearby hospital, for example. They might have patients who would prefer to communicate in another language.
Job boards could also help. Sites such as Indeed might point you toward a nearby opportunity. Interpreter/translation services such as Rapid Translate also usually build up their team with freelance remote linguists.
Interpreters are in demand across many industries. Knowing another language can open many new doors for you. However, long-term (and non-freelance) positions at a company may be hard to come by.
What Are an Interpreter’s Main Skills?
You need a good range of soft and hard skills to take advantage of interpreter openings. Simply knowing another language might not be enough. Here are the skills you need to become a successful interpreter:
- Language proficiency: Above all else, interpreters must know more than one language. Fluency and a vast vocabulary will help you offer your services in any situation.
- Personal skills: Interpreters need empathy and teamwork to handle different scenarios that require live translation. Your personability will help you get along with clients.
- Cultural understanding: You also must understand the culture you’re translating into. If necessary, you may need to adjust the speech itself to match a new audience.
- Focus: Live translation will mean keeping up with people who speak at the same time as you. You must be able to concentrate while this happens and avoid slip-ups.
- Active listening: Interpreters must listen out for a speaker’s tone, not just their words. In live situations, you must convey the nuances of each speaker’s response.
- Discretion: Clients usually call upon interpreters to help them with sensitive situations. If you’re a part of this, practice discretion and keep everything you hear confidential.
- Stress management: Similarly, these situations can be very stressful. Interpreters must be able to keep translating under pressure while maintaining a rapid pace.
Languages in Demand for Interpreters
You might be unsure about which language to focus on as an interpreter. It’s worth selecting one with a high number of native speakers. If you wish to stay local, check the demographics in your area. For example, there may be a thriving Italian community nearby that could use your help.
The most in-demand (and possibly most lucrative) languages for interpreters include:
- Spanish
- Mandarin
- Arabic
- Italian
- German
- French
- Hindi
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, interpreters earn $57,090 per year on average. However, you need steady and consistent work to achieve this.
Sign language is another branch of interpreting that’s in high demand. The National Association of the Deaf recommends earning a Certified Deaf Interpreter qualification before you begin.
Ultimately, you must pick a language you can learn (or that you already know) fluently.
Growing Sectors for Interpreters
Beyond the language you’ll speak, the sector you’ll work in is another major consideration. Your skills could help manage complex international deals or help patients communicate their health needs. Here are just some of the industries you could find yourself working in:
- Healthcare, where language barriers could massively affect treatment.
- Law, where sworn interpreters can help with complex legal jargon.
- Entertainment, where sign language helps Deaf people enjoy a show.
- Banking, where deals and negotiations can happen in many languages.
- Insurance, where translating small details could make a big difference.
- Tourism, where visitors to a country need help with the native language.
- Government, where officials may need help conveying vital messages.
Any one of these fields could require your services. You could also work remotely, delivering live translations via video conferencing software. A language barrier can emerge in nearly any field, meaning there’s always a place for interpreters.
The Importance of Medical Interpreter Employment Opportunities
Healthcare environments need interpreters because even minor miscommunications could have serious consequences. For example, in 1980, an inaccurate translation led to a misdiagnosis for a teenager. Without proper treatment, he developed quadriplegia.
In the medical field, live interpreters can make a massive difference. They can help patients who default to their native language in shock. Interpreters also help people navigate jargon that even native speakers struggle with.
If this interests you, search for medical interpreting certificates. These courses focus on general medical knowledge and communicating health terminology. They also look at healthcare ethics, which helps maintain trust with patients.
You can apply for roles once you’re a Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI). Look for jobs at local doctor’s offices, hospitals, and mental health clinics. You may be at the mercy of what’s open nearby for entry-level positions. Medical translations usually happen in person.
Get Professional Translations on Short Notice With Rapid Translate
There are many interpreter employment opportunities across every industry. If you need urgent translations in your field, Rapid Translate can help. Our team of expert linguists has experience in over 60 languages. Order now to break down the language barriers in your sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to become an interpreter?
Interpreters often need language degrees. Many services also offer general or industry-specific interpreter certificates. However, you may need to translate your diploma into another language when working abroad.
Why do medical interpreters study ethics before certification?
Interpreters will be privy to a patient’s private medical information. They must know exactly how to handle this. Interpreters also need to convey a patient’s options without biasing them.
Do specific languages earn higher wages?
Yes, interpreter roles for high-demand languages usually pay more, especially in complex settings. However, this is always subject to the availability of work.
