Interpreters & Translators

information artistic translation language meaning technical term english language content

Interpreter, Medical Interpreter, Sign Language Interpreter, Translator

What they do:
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
On the job, you would:
  • Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
  • Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
  • Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.

Knowledge

Arts and Humanities

  • English language
  • foreign language

Business

  • customer service
  • administrative services

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Skills

Basic Skills

  • talking to others
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • order or arrange things
  • notice when problems happen

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Independence
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Web platform development software

  • Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
  • Hypertext markup language HTML Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Foreign language software

  • AceTools.biz Ace Translator
  • Stormdance CatsCradle

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about interpreters and translators.