Career Opportunities for Foreign Language and Sign Language Interpreters and Translators

Are you an interpreter or translator who wants to work with the best in your field? Do you have documented skills in the art of interpreting or translating or are you about to graduate from an Interpreter Training Program? Are you interested in a career of foreign language translation?

If you answered “yes”, Fluent wants to talk with you. Due to the professional efforts of our staff, Fluent has doubled in size twice since 1999. We are always looking for qualified professionals who want to be a part of one of the leading Language Services Agencies in the nation.

For immediate consideration, please email your résumé and your credentials to
careers@fluentls.com.

Seeking Qualified Interpreter Candidates. Click to view PDF

What do Interpreters and Translators do?

To interpret is to take all the semantic, connotative and aesthetic content from a given 'source' language and then transfer it into another language, using the lexical, syntactic and stylistic resources of the second, or 'target' language. To interpret is first and foremost to understand the intended meaning of a message completely. It is then detached from the words used in the original source and reconstituted, with all its subtlety and intended meaning, in the words of the 'target' language. Interpreters perform this work in real time in spoken and signed form, while translators do this work with documents in written form.

What is the Difference between Interpreting and Translating?

Most simply stated, interpretation is to work between spoken or signed forms of two paired languages shared in real time. Translation is to work between the written forms of two or more languages.

For interpretation one must know both the target language and the source language. One must know them well enough to use the exact grammar, syntax and words that someone else chooses, and to convey the exact message and tone expressed by the speaker. The speaker could be someone with limited vocabulary or someone articulate and highly skilled in their field. Your knowledge of terminology in a variety of subjects must be at your immediate disposal. Interpreting requires that you enjoy working in a variety of settings, with a variety of people and while always behaving in an appropriate and ethical manner. You must also learn consecutive and simultaneous interpretation techniques and how to sight-translate. Dialects and everyday slang can be quite different from one region to another. An interpreter needs to know which dialect and register to use when and where and where they are appropriate.

For translation you must know the target language (the one you will be translating into) in great depth, and your grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation should be nearly perfect. You must love words and be detail-oriented, for you will often have to research a word or phrase diligently--in books or dictionaries, on the Internet, with friends, wherever--until you find just the right translation for the context. As a translator, you must have practical and theoretical experience and knowledge in the fields you choose to work in before you can create a consistent and adequate translation, and you must be familiar with business and technical terminology. Of course you will need specialized monolingual and bilingual dictionaries in your chosen fields. You will need to invest in computer hardware and software, and to spend time learning to use them proficiently. You may eventually want to invest in terminology management software and other translation aids. A translator must be able to communicate on the level of the target readership, whether they are school children or university professors, but the translation should faithfully reflect the original.

How can I become an Interpreter or Translator?

Anyone intending to train as an interpreter needs abundant knowledge in several languages. They also need training in analytical, social, ethical and diplomatic aptitudes. It goes without saying that sound language skills and a broad knowledge base are also pre-requisites. It is best to start the pursuit of a career in interpreting and translating by seeking out universities and colleges that have specialized programs in the areas of language study, interpreting and translating. The training programs that best meet the needs of major employers of interpreters are those which seek to teach postgraduate students already possessing the requisite language skills, the techniques of translation and interpretation. However, many skilled interpreters have built on the foundation of a bachelor’s degree and then acquired continued training and knowledge through internships, work experience and an insatiable need for more knowledge.

There are a number of universities and private institutions around the country that offer courses in translation and interpretation. Most people prefer to specialize either in translation or interpretation. Translators are usually advised to work only into their native language. But if you moved to another country as a child and were educated there, your native language may no longer be the dominant one; it might even be outdated. Take language and grammar courses in your weaker language to get it up to par with your stronger one. Read newspapers and magazines in both languages. Keep up with changes in usage.

It is essential that you join professional organizations, both national and local. Go to their meetings, read their literature, and find out how business is done in your chosen profession. You can't expect others to give you free advice on how to set yourself up as their competition, but you can offer to work in exchange for mentoring. Find out what the ethics and standards of conduct are for the translation or interpretation professions, and follow them. Be honorable with your clients and colleagues, and don't diminish the profession by your actions. Remember too that interpreters and translators, like professionals in any other field, can be held legally liable for their work.

Below are local colleges and universities, professional organizations and licensing bodies listed to give you further information regarding training, certification and standards in the interpreting and translating field. Following this list of resources is a list detailing the qualifications you must have to become one of Fluent’s NC foreign language translators or interpreters.

Central Piedmont Community College
Interpreter Education Program (American Sign Language)
www.cpcc.edu/degrees/a55300.htm
CPCC announces a new certificate program, Interpreter Education with a Specialization in Foreign Language Interpreting, is being offered in the Interpreter Education Program. This certificate is designed to introduce individuals, with competency in two languages, to the interpreting field: interpretation models, cognitive processes, certification, ethics and protocol.
www.cpcc.cc.nc.us/interpreter_education

North Carolina Interpreters and Transliterators Licensure Board
Information about the process for obtaining a license to to interpret or transliterate in the state of North Carolina
www.ncitlb.org

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Graduate Certificate In English to Spanish and Spanish to English Translating and Translation Studies (TTS)
www.languages.uncc.edu/Sp/Ma/GradCertFlier.doc
www.uncc.edu/gradmiss/prospect.html

Berkana Language Center
Practical self-study materials and English/Spanish specialized dictionaries for interpreters and/or translators.
www.eberkana.com

AIIC
Association of professional conference interpreters
www.aiic.net

American Translators Association
Largest professional association of translators and interpreters in the US. ATA's primary goals include fostering and supporting the professional development of translators and interpreters and promoting the translation and interpreting professions.
www.atanet.org

Atlanta Association of Interpreters and Translators (AAIT)
P.O. Box 12172
Atlanta, GA 30355
tel: 404.729.4036
AAITInfo@aait.org
www.aait.org

Carolina Association of Translators and Interpreters (CATI)
9304 Bonita Lane, #1617
Charlotte, NC 28262
tel: 919.577.0840
catiweb@pobox.com
www.catiweb.org

What are the qualifications neeeded to join Fluent Language Solutions interpreting and translating staff?

1. Demonstrated fluency in both American English and another paired language in both spoken and written forms required.
2. At least a bachelor's or equivalent from American and/or foreign university required; bachelor's or equivalent from both American and foreign university preferred. Master's or equivalent in interpreting, translating or related field from an American or foreign university preferred.
3. Training specific to the field of interpreting and/or translating required.
4. At least 3 years experience required.
5. For American Sign Language interpreters, certification from the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf or the National Association of the Deaf required; licensure from the North Carolina Interpreters and Transliterators Licensure Board required.
6. For Spanish interpreters, Federal Court Certification or Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification preferred.
7. For Arabic, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese interpreters, Court certification from the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification preferred.
8. Proven ability to work in interpreting teams required.
9. Ability to work with minimal supervision required.
10. Ability to understand a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, schedule or other form.
11. Basic mathematical skills required.
12. A Valid driver's license, reliable transportation and the facility to navigate through large metropolitan areas is required.
13. Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
14. Knowledge of and adherence to the RID, NAD, AIIC, ATA Code of Ethics and/or other relevant professional codes of ethics required.
15. Basic computer skills, continuous and reliable access to the internet required.
16. Availability is an important requirement for interpreters especially during office hours. Availability after office hours is also preferred to meet the needs of emergency services.

If you meet these qualifications and are interested, please forward your résumé, vitae and a sample of previous translation work to Fluent Language Solutions at careers@fluentls.com We will keep résumés on file, review them regularly and will contact candidates if and when staff positions are available that meet your qualifications.

Thank you for interest in Fluent Language Solutions, Inc.