How to Become an Interpreter

I often get this question. Although there are many different paths to becoming an interpreter, I will share some tips based on my experience and the most common pathway followed by other colleagues.

If you want to skip the read, watch this video instead:

Before we dive in, please consider this:

• The information shared is from personal experience based on how most practicing interpreters I know, including myself, have become interpreters.

• There are many different ways one can become an interpreter. This is just one of them.

• This may or may not apply to you, depending on where you are located. Different countries have different regulations for practicing translation and interpretation.

1. Develop linguistic proficiency in at least two languages

Linguistic proficiency in at least two languages is the core skill needed to work as an interpreter. You can develop linguistic proficiency in many different ways:

• Native speaker: Learning a language in the place where you were born and/or raised as a child rather than learning it as a foreign language.

• Heritage speaker: Learning a language informally by being exposed to it at home, but this language often becomes secondary to the language in which you are receiving formal education and is mostly used outside the home.

• Language immersion: Living in countries where they speak the language.

• Foreign language learning: Attending formal foreign language classes.

• Self-taught: Learning the language by exposing yourself to TV, books, songs, and native speakers.

2. Prove linguistic proficiency

I think I can speak the language, but how do I know if it's enough to interpret?

That's another question I get often.

You can take a language proficiency test to prove to yourself and future clients or employers that you have sufficient linguistic proficiency to work as an interpreter in your language pair.

For example, I have a bachelor's degree from a higher education institution in a Spanish-speaking country. That alone can prove my proficiency in Spanish for most employers or clients.

However, I never took formal English classes and had never lived in an English-speaking country. So, to prove my proficiency in English, I had to take the TOEFL exam.

The NBCMI and CCHI, the two certification programs available for interpreters in the healthcare field have established the minimum scores required in various language proficiency tests accepted by these institutions.

You can use that list as a reference to decide which language proficiency test to take and to get an idea of what scores would be acceptable.

Even if you don't plan on becoming certified right now, it may be a good idea to take a language proficiency test to provide a numerical reference for how well you can speak your languages.

3. Take some classes.

This step is a must, and it's best to do it sooner rather than later. While a degree in translation and interpretation (T&I) is not mandatory to work in the field, you will soon realize that being bilingual alone is not enough to succeed.

The T&I industry is booming, but with that comes increased competition for job openings. Having some formal training will give you a competitive advantage.

Once you decide what field of expertise you want to start in (community, medical, legal, etc.), you can look for classes or courses tailored to that. Nowadays, there are many options for classes online, both self-paced and live, as well as in-person classes at colleagues and universities.

If you are having difficulty choosing the right interpreter training, you can check out this video I made on my YouTube channel with some tips.

4. Create a resume.

It's important to start working on your resume as soon as possible, even if you don't have enough experience (or no experience) working as an interpreter. Without a resume, you can’t even begin to opt for opportunities.

Preparing a resume forces you to assess your skills and dig deep into your background to pinpoint relevant experience in the interpreting world.

You may be wondering, what will I put in that resume? Well, you may be surprised by the amount of transferable experience and skills that you most likely have and that you can use to create a resume for a career change.

I highly suggest you check out this article with great resume writing tips for changing careers.

5. Create a LinkedIn profile

Once you create your resume, it will be easy to start working on your LinkedIn profile.

I can tell you that I found most of my clients through LinkedIn. To learn more about how to use LinkedIn best as a translator or interpreter, check out this video I made on YouTube.

6. Learn about the industry

They don't usually teach you who's who in the language services industry in school, but it's very important to learn from the beginning.

You can use this shortlist as a guide to starting your research about key players in the interpreting world:

• Professional associations: You can start by looking up local interpreter associations in your state or city and then expand your search to a national level where there are large associations for interpreters in different fields (IMIA, NAJIT, AAITE, etc.)

• Credentialing organizations: Find out what credentials or certifications are available in the field where you want to specialize. Visit their website, sign up for their email list, and follow them on social media to stay informed of industry events and free workshops.

• Fellow interpreters: Many interpreters have professional blogs, websites, and social media where you can learn much about the interpreting career from their shared information and experiences.

• Language services providers: Learn about the leading companies that provide language services. Find out what is the main type of interpreting services they offer (telephonic, video, in-person), what industry they serve (medical, legal, government, customer service, etc), what type of positions they offer (employees, contractors, both), etc. It's important to know this because these are your potential employers or clients.

7. Join a professional association

Joining a professional organization or association offers many advantages to new interpreters. It shows that you are seriously committed to the profession and actively engaged in your professional development.

They offer unique opportunities to connect with other industry professionals and enhance your business profile. Plus, most professional associations offer regular continuing education opportunities at no additional cost or at least at a reduced cost for their members, so that's another advantage of becoming one member.

8. Start networking

Once you become familiar with who's who and what's what, it's time to start networking. You can start posting about your new career change on social media so colleagues and potential recruiters can start noticing you.

Another way to engage with others is by reaching out, asking for advice, and asking questions.

Participating in industry events (both online and in-person) is another great way to grow your network and gain access to potential opportunities.

9. Volunteer

It's undisputable that having some volunteer work on your resume looks good across all industries, and the language services industry is no exception.

Volunteering offers great advantages because it allows you to meet new people who can become potential clients, helps you develop and refine interpreting skills, and obviously gives you the chance to gain work experience in your field (yes, volunteer work is still work), which in turn will make you more employable.

10. Apply for jobs

If you've followed the suggested steps, you should be ready to start applying for jobs. One thing you should know is that in the T&I industry, many opportunities are not what is considered traditional employment but rather contract work on an as-needed basis. Either way, the application process is very similar.

You can find out about open positions on mainstream job search websites such as Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor, LinkedIn (of course), and others.

Also, visit language services providers' websites because many times, they have special links where you can upload your resume and create a profile. You might be surprised by an offer even if there is no active listing for a position.

What about certifications?

Since this post is intended to be a simple roadmap on how to get started, I have not included certifications as one of the recommended steps for a few reasons.

This is just a general reference for those interested in becoming interpreters. Depending on your field of interest, there may not be a formal certification available. For instance, no certification is available for those interpreting in the immigration field.

However, I promote and encourage certifications as part of your career path, so I have suggested you research that. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for creating our own path, so it's up to you if you want to become certified before applying for your first job.

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Remember that patience and perseverance are key in this process. It took me weeks and weeks of research, emails, filling out forms, and tweaking my resume before I landed my first opportunity.

I hope this helps bring some clarity as you embark on this new career field. Don't forget to have fun and enjoy the whole process!