- 05 Jan 2021
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Career opportunities for interpreters and translators
For interpreters and translators, career prospects in the 21st century are very good. Of course, this depends on which languages the interpreter or translator speaks fluently. For Europeans, interpreters for exotic languages such as the dialects of African nations are of interest.
Important employers include international companies, European Union offices and, in particular, non-profit organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organisation, as well as environmental organisations and other relief organisations like the German Red Cross and the children's charity.
Many politicians book freelance interpreters for their respective foreign visits and, last but not least, TV broadcasters are naturally also a potential employer for simultaneous interpreters. Translators have the advantage of generally being able to work in writing by drafting speeches in companies, translating presentations and documents – or translating long contracts, such as the 2,000-page Brexit treaty, into the respective desired language.
The above-mentioned non-profit organisations mostly have their headquarters in Switzerland, many of them in Geneva. In language schools such as the SLA Basel can private individuals and business people Learn German or Private English lessons book. Interpreters and translators who want to expand their language skills with an additional language can also Learn French or in a Language course in Basel Learn English. Perhaps you'd like to brush up on the language skills you don't get to use very often in your work.
Interpreters enable communication between people
Interpreters and translators complete their training at vocational colleges or specialised academies. They must have a secure command of at least two languages and be able to translate them into the respective other. In Europe alone, 150 different languages are spoken. An interpreter enables communication between people with different native languages.
The translator, on the other hand, enables authors to make their books and all other writings understandable worldwide. It is only through the work of translators that a book can become a worldwide success and an international bestseller.
As interpreters and translators work on a freelance basis, their assignments can vary greatly. It is advisable to specialise in one or two subject areas early on. The good work of a specialist quickly gets around and leads to further new assignments from other clients.
Anyone who as an interpreter and translator is also always ready to travel will always have plenty to do. Some statesmen and fisherwomen even have their own personal interpreters under contract who accompany them on all their travels.