Translation and interpretation jobs come in a few varieties. They can be over the phone positions, where you are helping people communicate with a business. They can involve written translation. You may be helping individuals communicate with a business or provide business to business services.
Qualifications/Training Needed?
To be a translator or interpreter, you need to have great language skills in the two languages you will be working with. In the United States, that will mostly be English and one other language. You will need good computer skills and the ability to use whatever software your employer uses.
If you’re working over the phone, you will also need great customer service skills.
Job Duties
For over the phone interpretation, you may be speaking for the client to a business. You need to express as closely as possible what the client is saying.
Similarly, you need to keep the meaning as close as possible when doing written translation work.
Translation and interpretation are not as simple as merely translating the words. You need to get the concepts across as well. You may choose to specialize in a particular subject area so that you can do the best possible work.
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Conference interpreters work at conferences that have non-English-speaking attendees. This work includes international business and diplomacy, although conference interpreters interpret for any organization that works with foreign language speakers. Employers prefer high-level interpreters who have the ability to translate from at least two passive languages into one active (native) language—for example, the ability to interpret from Spanish and French into English. For some positions, such as those with the United Nations, this qualification is mandatory.
Much of the interpreting performed at conferences is simultaneous; however, at some meetings with a small number of attendees, consecutive interpreting also may be used. Usually, interpreters sit in soundproof booths, listening to the speakers through headphones and interpreting into a microphone what is said. The interpreted speech is then relayed to the listener through headsets. When interpreting is needed for only one or two people, the interpreter generally sits behind or next to the attendee and whispers a translation of the proceedings.
Guide or escort interpreters accompany either U.S. visitors abroad or foreign visitors in the United States to ensure that they are able to communicate during their stay. These specialists interpret on a variety of subjects, both on an informal basis and on a professional level. Most of their interpretation is consecutive, and work is generally shared by two interpreters when the assignment requires more than an 8-hour day. Frequent travel, often for days or weeks at a time, is common, an aspect of the job that some find particularly appealing.
Judiciary interpreters and translators help people appearing in court who are unable or unwilling to communicate in English. These workers must remain detached from the content of their work and not alter or modify the meaning or tone of what is said. Legal translators must be thoroughly familiar with the language and functions of the U.S. judicial system, as well as other countries’ legal systems. Court interpreters work in a variety of legal settings, such as attorney-client meetings, preliminary hearings, depositions, trials, and arraignments. Success as a court interpreter requires an understanding of both legal terminology and colloquial language. In addition to interpreting what is said, court interpreters also may be required to translate written documents and read them aloud, also known as sight translation.
Literary translators adapt written literature from one language into another. They may translate any number of documents, including journal articles, books, poetry, and short stories. Literary translation is related to creative writing; literary translators must create a new text in the target language that reproduces the content and style of the original. Whenever possible, literary translators work closely with authors to best capture their intended meanings and literary characteristics.
This type of work often is done as a sideline by university professors; however, opportunities exist for well-established literary translators. As with writers, finding a publisher and maintaining a network of contacts in the publishing industry is a critical part of the job. Most aspiring literary translators begin by submitting a short sample of their work, in the hope that it will be printed and give them recognition. For example, after receiving permission from the author, they might submit to a publishing house a previously unpublished short work, such as a poem or essay.
Localization translators constitute a relatively recent and rapidly expanding specialty. Localization involves the complete adaptation of a product for use in a different language and culture. At its earlier stages, this work dealt primarily with software localization, but the specialty has expanded to include the adaptation of Internet sites and products in manufacturing and other business sectors. The goal of these specialists is to make the product to appear as if it were originally manufactured in the country where it will be sold and supported.
Medical interpreters and translators provide language services to health care patients with limited English proficiency. Medical interpreters help patients to communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Translators working in this specialty primarily convert patient materials and informational brochures issued by hospitals and medical facilities into the desired language. Medical interpreters need a strong grasp of medical and colloquial terminology in both languages, along with cultural sensitivity regarding how the patient receives the information. They must remain detached but aware of the patient’s feelings and pain.
Equipment Needed
A computer is a must for both positions. You may also need an additional phone line and a headset. A quiet place to work if you’re doing interpretation is also vital.
Where to Search for Jobs
Translation job listings at Home with the Kids
Craigslist (beware of many, many scams!)
Hire My Mom
Go Freelance
Telework Recruiting
Related Scams
Any legitimate translation or interpretation work at home job is going to be very interested in your qualifications. If they aren’t, run away. Quality should always be a major factor in any sort of translation position.
Scammers may also want you to buy their software. They will not want you to buy it from elsewhere, even if that is possible. Always be careful if a potential “employer” wants you to buy something from them before they give you any work or if you have to pay to apply for the job in any way.
Other signs of a scam include poor grammar, a free email address, no identifying information and little information about the actual work you would supposedly be doing. A free email address isn’t a perfect indicator of a scam, as many individuals will use them, but it should make you be more aware.
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