What major should I choose if I plan to be an interpreter? This question, although frequently asked, is quite irrelevant as interpreters do not need to major in anything, but need to minor in many things. This blog will show you 3 steps to prepare yourself for the interpreting profession.
1. Self-assessing
It is fantastic that you are proficient in multiple languages, but being a good interpreter is an entirely different story as it requires many factors that you need to revise and sharpen every day. Interpretation is a highly demanding job, but it is also interesting and full of development opportunities. If you are interested in meeting people, travelling and accuracy, this is a job opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. But if you have struggles dealing with stressful or unexpected situations, you may need to reconsider choosing interpreting as your primary profession.
2. Decide what kind of interpreter you want to be
Now you’ve made your mind up, you must next be aware of two dimensions of specialization: industry and type.
Industry refers to the event’s theme, such as economics, manufacturing, banking, healthcare, education, etc. There are way too many fields for you to become well-versed in so instead, it is advised that you need to pick out a couple of key industries to specialize in (finance, banking, etc. always pay well), however be aware that where the demand is high and the pay is good, supply often gets crowded out and you will be in a red ocean with fierce competition.
Types, such as business meetings, M&A meetings, exhibitions, factory visits, MC, etc., are the format of interpretation. You will also be required to be familiar with some vocabularies and etiquette specific to each type.
3. Expose yourself to real-world opportunities as soon as possible
If you are fluent in more than one language, you already have an advantage. Yet becoming a good interpreter can take years, so our advice is that while still in school, you should look for opportunities to perform translation or interpretation works on campus for whomever you can. By starting early, you can gain valuable experience and get recommendations for when you need them later.
Even better, getting out of your comfort zone and take volunteer opportunities. Turn to community organizations or events that have international participants and see if you can just help with the translating tasks. Practicing and experiencing will be a good start for your interpreting career in the future.
Don’t know where to start? Well, give it a try at Freelensia, a platform where interpreters can advertise their services to businesses looking for short-term interpretation during events. The platform provides a safe community for interpreters to post their listings and find an appropriate customer to work with. Let us be the stepping stone to your dream of becoming an interpreter.
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