Interpreters and Translators
Career Snapshot
You may be eligible to join an elite workforce if you are fluent in more than one language. Interpreters and translators are needed in business, government, the military, the media, social services, the judicial system, travel and tourism, and other fields where cultures collide. However, simply speaking a second language is insufficient.
Employers in these areas prioritise employees with college degrees in foreign language majors. One application where these individuals are in high demand is the interpretation of medical and legal information in hospitals and legal settings, particularly in inner cities with substantial immigrant populations.
The possibilities are fascinating, with positions that send you to high-level meetings and exotic locations. You might even work from home interpreting operating manuals. Precision is essential because you are the link between people who want to deliver information and those who need to understand it.
Understanding how cultural differences effect communication might help you get your message across while avoiding embarrassing snafus for you and your employer.