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Understanding The Advantages of an Interpreter

What are the main advantages of interpreting?

Interpreting is an exciting and rewarding career choice for those who are multilingual and have a passion for languages and cultures. In this blog, we’ll explore the many benefits of working as an interpreter, including job satisfaction, good earning potential, growth opportunities, and much more.

Rewarding work

Interpreting is a challenging but highly rewarding field. Interpreters have the satisfaction of knowing they have made a positive difference in people’s lives, and they get to work with a variety of individuals and organisations, particularly public services. interpreters are required when somebody is struggling to access vital services such as medical care, benefits, career routes, housing and social services and the work interpreters do literally make a difference to the lives of those they help.

Helping people

Interpreting is a highly rewarding field, as it involves helping people communicate and understand each other. Whether it’s helping a patient communicate with their doctor or helping someone get a house for their family, the work of an interpreter can have a significant impact on people’s lives.

Highly skilled professionals

Interpreters are highly skilled professionals who must have excellent language skills, specialism knowledge, interpreting skills, subject matter, cultural awareness, and the ability to remain calm, impartial and neutral while interpreting.

Good earning potential

Being a public service interpreter in the UK also offers a competitive salary. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median annual wage for interpreters and translators in the UK was £29,230 in April 2019, with the top 10% earning more than £52,980. This salary can increase with experience and specialised skills, making public service interpreting a lucrative and attractive career choice.

Job growth

The demand for interpreters is growing, and is expected to continue to do so in the coming years. According to various reports and industry experts, the language services industry, which includes interpreting, is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. The market is projected to increase due to factors such as increased migration, the rise of global communication and technology, and growing demand for multilingual services in various industries, including healthcare, legal, and government.This presents many job opportunities for those with the skills and qualifications to work as an interpreter.

Cultural learning

Being an interpreter provides the opportunity to use your cultural knowledge – about customs, traditions, and lifestyles to those from other cultures to understand things that they would have no hope of appreciating otherwise. This can broaden your horizons and help you gain a deeper appreciation for the world around you.

Excellent listeners

Interpreters are required to listen carefully to both parties in a conversation, ensuring that they accurately interpret the message being conveyed. This skill not only helps in the interpreting process but also in everyday life.

Growth potential

Interpreting is a field with many opportunities for growth and advancement. Interpreters can expand their skills, increase their language proficiency, and develop their specialties over time. Interpreters often start with a Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting, which is the entry level for paid interpreting and opens the door to a wide variety of opportunities. When they have qualified and gained experience, some interpreters move to Level 6, where they can interpret for law enforcement, courts and immigration. Other interpreters go on to work for commercial organisations and even political and celebrity circles, including the United Nations.

Orally fluent

Interpreters must be orally fluent in at least two languages, including English, and many are proficient in even more. This fluency is highly valued by employers and can open many doors in the interpreting field and beyond.

Travel opportunities

Interpreters can have the opportunity to travel to different parts of the UK countries and even work on international assignments. This can be a great way to see the world and gain experience in different cultures and environments. Conversely, if you have no wish to travel, many interpreters can work from the comfort of their own home on telephone or video remote interpreting assignments without the need to accrue any travel time.

Understanding colloquialisms

Interpreters must be familiar with the colloquialisms and expressions used in each language they interpret, as well as their cultural context. This can lead to a deeper understanding of the language and culture.

Understanding regionalisms

Interpreters must also be familiar with the regional variations of each language they interpret, such as dialects and accents. This knowledge can also deepen their understanding of the language and culture and provide a great deal of personal growth and satisfaction for those who love language.

Varied work assignments

Interpreters have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, from courtrooms to medical offices to international conferences and will often work in a variety of settings in one day. Even within the same setting, there are often a large number of subjects that can be covered and this means individual assignments are often unique. This variety keeps the work exciting, interesting and challenging.

Wider social network

Interpreting can bring you into contact with a wide variety of people, from clients to coworkers to other professionals in the field. This can lead to a wider social network and many opportunities for professional and personal growth.

Career opportunities

Interpreting is a field with many career opportunities, from freelancing to working for a large interpreting agency. Interpreters can also specialise in a particular field such as legal, medical, or technical interpreting, which can lead to even more opportunities for growth and advancement. Interpreters may also choose to work face to face, telephone interpreting or via video remote interpreting.

Training and up-skilling

Interpreting is a highly skilled profession that requires ongoing training and up-skilling. Interpreters can continue their education by taking continual professional development (CPD) courses in specialised fields, improving their language skills, and staying up-to-date with industry trends and technology.
A good starting point for interpreters is a Level 3 certificate in Community Interpreting which is the entry level qualification for those to embark on a paid interpreting career and can be achieved in as little as 4 weeks.

In conclusion, being an interpreter can be a fulfilling and rewarding career choice with many advantages. Interpreters have the opportunity to learn about different cultures, earn a good income, and make a positive impact in people’s lives. With job growth in the field and many opportunities for career advancements, interpreting can provide a challenging and rewarding career path for those with a passion for language and for helping those who are truly in need.

Learn Q Interpreter Training and Qualifications

If you would like to start a career in interpreting, Learn Q recommend the Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting. It teaches you everything you need to know about how to be an interpreter and is the entry level for getting paid interpreting work. If you choose one of our money saving bundles, it includes the course, exam and certificate.

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