Interpreters convert the spoken word from one language into another, either face-to-face or remotely.
35 to 40 variable
freelance / self-employed managing your own hours
You can get into this job through:
You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject like:
You'll usually need:
You can find voluntary or paid work through councils or other organisations offering community interpreting services.
A community interpreting qualification will help you get work in the community. Local colleges and some universities have more information on this.
You may be able to get into this job if you have a non-language degree, providing you're fluent in English and a second language.
You can take a Chartered Institute of Linguists course like the Certificate in Bilingual Skills or the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting to help you to get a job in public service interpreting.
To be fluent, you should:
It may help to join an organisation like the National Register of Public Service Interpreters to build up contacts and find work.
The Institute of Translation and Interpreting has more details about training and working as an interpreter.
You'll need:
In conference interpreting, you'll be:
In consecutive interpreting, you'll be:
In public service interpreting, you'll be:
You could work at a client's business, at a conference centre, in an office, at a police station, in a court, in a prison or in an NHS or private hospital.
Your working environment may be you'll travel often and emotionally demanding.
You could become a member of a professional association like CIOL, Institute of Translation and Interpreting, or the International Association of Conference Interpreters.
If you're working in the public sector, you could join the NRPSI.
You could combine interpreting with translating or teaching. You could also move into management.
We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for an Interpreter right now.
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