Language Jobs - Interpreter

Today, we'll have a look at the oral counterpart of the translators, the interpreters.

Interpreter

Description

Where the translator focuses on the written word, the interpreter focuses on the spoken word. There are two different kinds of interpreting: consecutive and simultaneous. Simultaneous interpreting is the more difficult part because the interpreter has to start talking before the other person has finished the sentence. Consecutive interpreters, on the other hand, wait till the speaker has finished and start talking then.

Necessary Skills

Interpreters need to be truly fluent in the language pairs they offer. They don't have a chance to look up words or phrases, and they often work in situations where misunderstandings should be avoided by all means (that's why they pay interpreters instead of trying out their own language skills, after all). Interpreting is a skill which demands an extraordinarily high amount of concentration and is very exhausting. Thus, interpreters have to be able to concentrate and to work under high pressure. They should be able to understand a variety of different accents in their language pairs as well since they need to be able to understand spoken language from a variety of clients. Furthermore, interpreters need to know about the cultures behind their languages, and they must be sure within the field of expertise they are working in.

Income Opportunities

Good interpreters can earn well with their skills, especially since the world is becoming more and more international. However, most interpreters work as freelancers which means they might not be able to find enough work that pays well every month. They live with the same risks as every other freelancer, just with the difference that their jobs are usually paid at a high rate.

Where to Find Jobs

Many interpreters work as freelancers. Their clients are international businesses, organisations, courts, public persons like politicians and singers, TV channels and governments. And, of course, translation and interpreting agencies who bring clients and language professionals together. Some interpreters may be lucky to find a "normal" employment, especially with governmental institutions.