Staff and freelance interpreters

Professional conference interpreters are either staff interpreters (employed by the EU, the UN, International Criminal Court) or freelance interpreters.

Freelance interpreters are self-employed; conference interpreters work at conferences and business meetings.

Community or public service interpreters work in garda stations, courts, probation, hospitals.

 

Skills and aptitudes required to be a professional interpreter

Interpreting is a very specialised skill. In order to be a successful interpreter it is not sufficient to be “good at languages”.

  • Proficiency in the mother tongue
  • Thorough understanding of the language and culture of both the language from which and into which you are interpreting
  • Ability to analyse and process information quickly
  • Great intellectual curiosity
  • Complete intellectual integrity
  • Ability to move into new areas of specialisation
  • Self-reliance
  • Self-discipline
  • Perseverance
  • Resourcefulness for dealing with the unexpected

Check out our members stories where ITIA members talk about their work as translators and/or interpreters.