Good Practices for Freelance Interpreters
2014 is a year that has demanded more interpreters and translators because of the growing Latino and diversifying populations in majority of countries in the world. The work dynamics have changed; interpreters have made ways to top the list of highly paid jobs in the world. Yes, I’m not kidding. Interpreters and translators if hired by a corporate company are highly paid with high-end benefits and rewards. Apart from high wages and benefits, enticing career opportunities, another element that comes along is the personal satisfaction and gratification while seeing the world differently.
Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI) identified that the career that has shown tremendous growth from the year 2012 to 2013 are projected to growth by 7 percent in 2014. Interpreters at minimum are getting $22 hourly. This statistical data has been received from 90 federal and several other state sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and state labor departments, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics etc.
Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder and co-author of the book, “The Talent Equation” says, No matter how highly paid jobs these are, there is a shortage of talent accompanied with incompetence. This tells us that specialization and excellence is much needed and will take trained resources at par.
My personal attempt to be an interpreter:
I remember, I was a travelling freak and I loved travelling all the time. I wanted to be an interpreter, not because I had any specific goals about it but I wanted to talk, express, debate and travel around the world with international delegates to experience corporate luxuries. I am an Arab living in Dubai, I had expertise over Arabic and English and a little of French that I learnt from my mom. Therefore, I thought I could handle Arabic to English translations in Dubai and vice versa. I never knew becoming an interpreter ain’t a joke! I tried around 100 companies across UAE, Gulf and other regions but got no response.
Very frustrated I was, I tried to figure out where I lacked and this is what I learnt. Mr. Abdullah, you look great but you have no proper training for it – says Laura, a project coordinator at a local translation and interpretation agency.
Anna at Kwintessential Arabia said, “We only hire experienced individuals”. With all disappointing responses and feedbacks, I learnt that there is no alternative to professional training and certification, I somehow prepared for the worst. I explored Interpretation Training Programs to dig further. I learnt that a proper institutional guidance would train me for the below:
• to depict what the speaker wants to say
• to understand what lies behind the speaker’s words
• to deliver the message in context without any divergence
• to narrate it consecutively or simultaneously
• to specialize in a special note-taking techniques
• to practice concentration, discourse analysis and fast reaction
• to develop useful glossaries
• to excel in public speaking skills
• to compete competitively
• to cool-down stressful situations
• to adhere to a specific code of conduct
• to have command over spoken and written native language over a range of domains
• to have mastery of a few defined non-native languages
• to have cultural expertise and in-depth knowledge, in relevance to connect to local origins
• A friendly and collegial attitude
• To become responsive with sharp memory
Experience:
Once I knew that I needed a professional diploma or a certification to enter this challenging field, I took admission in an institute of professional translators and interpreters. While in my fourth semester, I was assigned on a task of English language to Arabic language translations in Dubai. That was a kick-start; it was the best time of my life. I had never traveled all my life in Dubai that I did in a months’ time. We went to all corporate centers, convention centers and elite reservations to attend foreign delegations.
We have been feasted at almost all top restaurants in Downtown Dubai-UAE and I could never forget my first French party at a bistro at a French restaurant – La Serre. I was compassionate to be an interpreter but I never wanted to work for any one company. I love diversity and that’s all I crave for. I became a freelance interpreter; it gave me freedom to realize my specialty and my edge to deliver. Working in pajamas till late or dressing up in a tuxedo is my choice and keeping my own schedule is a pat that I cherish the most.
Summary:
Read this article to know what is needed to be a freelance Conference interpreter. There is no alternative to a professional training, read further to know it takes you to be an interpreter.
