Translator Interview Preparation Guide

Download PDF

Tell them that you are very good at your speaking skills. You comfortable is fluently speaking the languages you know.

I got my first job through Georgetown University right after I'd graduated from their program. A prestigious law firm needed a freelancer to translate some correspondence that was going to be presented in an international lawsuit, so they called Georgetown asking for the names and phone numbers of the most recent graduates of the Spanish to English program, and contacted me.

You'll always be asked about your interpreting experience. You can prepare ahead of time by asking yourself the following questions, and being prepared to provide this information to your interviewer when asked.

► Did you attend ITP or take interpreting classes to understand how it works in the interpreting world?
► Have you taken classes/workshops to expand your education and skills that will help as an interpreter?
► Have you trained in positions that are relevant to the interpreting assignments (ie. medical, legal, workshops, etc)
► Where did you work?
► What interpreting experience do you have?
► How long have you been an interpreter? Specifically, certified? State credential?
► Did you take on any additional responsibilities as an interpreter to enhance your skills?
► Did you identify problem areas and improved those areas to enhance quality service?
► What have you done that will show me that you can do this job?

Many companies are curious what your past experience or what you have done to enhance your education or learning for improvement. When someone takes the time to go to workshops/classes or accept feedback (both pro/con) graciously and improve upon it in an effort to provide better service is something that companies do look for.

Tell about the education degrees you have completed in your past. You can also mention the status of your current education if you are doing some higher degrees such as PhD. or some other.

Do not committed mistakes, be honest and just share a small mistake which is not more related to your job and share about what all positive things you learnt from it.

As an interpreter no, but I did shadowed language tour guides to learn how to conduct tours in foreign languages.

In medical training program, I learned that we have to interpret everything the patient say or what ever gesture they do. In the role of interpreter, I just interpret exactly what ever gesture they make.

When I discovered that I was good at several languages, and a good experience, I decided to become an interpreter. My first aim is to help break language barriers while making some money.

Definitely, I am a life long learner; and I have received several certificates in languages and communication.

Yes, I have a passion of languages; therefore interpretation is a passion for me.

I am a native Spanish speaking , I have work my way up to learn and graduate from school not knowing English when I came to this country , I am strong and take seriously my job, my life, everything and I put 110% to get the things done and learn everyday .

Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company's "About" page. So, when an interviewer asks you this, she isn't necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission-she wants to know whether you care about it, and she's looking for who in the applicant pool can most effectively discuss the organization's work and its impact.

So, in addition to doing your research on the company's work, think about concrete ways it relates to your passions and experiences, and weave them into your answer.

Start with one line that shows you understand the mission, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, "I'm personally drawn to this mission because…" or "I really believe in this approach because…" and share a personal example or two. For example, if you're interviewing at a school that stresses character, share some specific character-building education activities you've led for students in your last job. If you're interviewing for a position at a hospital, talk about the 5K you recently ran to raise money for leukemia or your passion for volunteering your time to help children with cancer.

Say that there are challenges in this job, but you will work hard to overcome them.

This part is important to prepare for any jobs you desire to work. If you have an interest for a job and prepare, you would be interested in staying longer (possibly or not)

Did you meet with other people in the line of work?
Did you perform a job shadow or mentorship/internship?
Did you meet with any of the interpreters who works for the agency?
Have you made every effort to learn as much as you can about the company and its operation?
Do you know much about the owner of the agency and how they are?
This is very important to understand information about the company itself. Companies are interested in what you know and how much you know. Many wants to see potential employees to have an interest in working with them and take pride in working with the company by taking extra time in learning who and what the company is about.

As an interpreter I will be given some content which may be one language and I will have to translate it orally into some other language, Relay the style and tone of the original language and Render spoken messages accurately, quickly, and clearly.

Tell them that you are good at your literary and vocabulary skills which fits you best for this job.

Please note that you should know at least 80% about the functions performed by the company. You need to do a little homework well in advance.

I find plenty of little things to giggle about in my job on a daily basis because Spanish and English are, to me, two of the funniest languages on earth, so I can't think of any one incident that would top the others in funniness. That said, I do get a laugh out of the reaction I get from clients when they find out what my ethnic background is and find out that I acquired my foreign languages exclusively through my education and travels. I'm Middle Eastern, not Latina, so I have no family connections to the Spanish-speaking world, and I grew up in a household that spoke only English.

My work clients are patients. Which I have to give them all the patients and I have to show them empathy and sympathy.

I have never took any classes for that, its kind of thing that I like to do.