If you’re looking to take advantage of being multilingual by putting your language skills to use in a career, then one job you may want to consider trying is as a professional interpreter. A professional interpreter’s job is to act as a translator between two parties, which will require not only extensive knowledge concerning the language of both parties but also the ability to translate quickly and correctly. Before deciding that this is the job for you, it’s a good idea to compare the pros and cons of the job. The following are the pros and cons of being a professional interpreter.
The Pros of Being a Professional Interpreter
There are many benefits to becoming a professional interpreter, some of which include the following:
- There’s a big demand for the position – The world is growing smaller due to globalization, which means more and more companies are conducting business overseas and have a need for good interpreters. This means that there should be a lot of opportunities to get paid well for the job.
- There’s a lot of room for growth – If a company hires you as a freelancer or for very basic translation services and you do a great job, it won’t go unnoticed. Companies value good interpreters and will promote you quickly.
- The more languages you know, the more potential you’ll have – At the very least, you have to be fluent in two languages. However, if you are fluent in more than two languages, then you have a big advantage over other translators and interpreters. Many businesses are willing to pay more for an interpreter that is fluent in multiple languages because this way they don’t have to hire multiple interpreters.
- You’ll improve your language skills – Even if you are fluent, you’ll get even better at the languages your translating, whether it’s on the page or in real time between two parties.
- Job flexibility – Although you can work for a company, you can also choose to work as a freelancer, which will allow you to make your own schedule.
The Cons of Being a Professional Interpreter
The following are some of the drawbacks related to the job of professional interpreter:
- There’s no room for error – You have to be completely fluent – even the smallest mistake can chance the meaning of a sentence from one language to the next. This means that you not only have to have an understanding of grammar and vocabulary but also idioms and cultural connotations. Sometimes, different languages make use of words that simply don’t exist in another language, and you’ll have to find a way around that.
- The field can be competitive – Because of the job flexibility, the potential for high pay, the potential for quick career growth and the demand for professional interpreters in general, the interpreter and translation field can be very competitive and will only become more and more competitive in the future.
- It can be a lonely job – Even when you are translating a conversation between two parties, you won’t have an emotional connection with either one. And if you’re doing translation work, then you’ll be all on your own. This can make being a professional interpreter an isolating job. While this isn’t a problem for some people, others may require a social aspect to their work.
Determining whether the job of professional interpreter is right for you depends on how heavily you weigh the possible drawbacks against the potential benefits. However, it’s fair to see that there are many benefits that you could enjoy from becoming a professional interpreter, making it a position worth looking further into.
Interpreting and Translation Blog 