Interpreters and Translators

Career Description: Translate or interpret written, oral, or sign language text into another language for others.

Industry: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Other Job Titles for Interpreters and Translators:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
• Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
• Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
• Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
• Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
• Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
• Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
• Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
• Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
• Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
• Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.
• Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
• Discuss translation requirements with clients and determine any fees to be charged for services provided.
• Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
• Educate students, parents, staff, and teachers about the roles and functions of educational interpreters.
• Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
• Travel with or guide tourists who speak another language.
• Examine and test paintings in need of restoration or cleaning to determine techniques and materials to be used.
• Create graphics, illustrations, and three-dimensional models to be used in research or in teaching, such as in demonstrating anatomy, pathology, or surgical procedures.
• Brush or spray protective or decorative finishes on completed background panels, informational legends, exhibit accessories, or finished paintings.
• Trace drawings onto clear acetate for painting or coloring, or trace them with ink to make final copies.
• Apply solvents and cleaning agents to clean surfaces of paintings, and to remove accretions, discolorations, and deteriorated varnish.
• Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects.
• Collaborate with writers who create ideas, stories, or captions that are combined with artists' work.
• Provide entertainment at special events by performing activities such as drawing cartoons.
• Render sequential drawings that can be turned into animated films or advertisements.
• Perform narration of productions, or present announcements.

Emerging Tasks

• Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
• Review and detail shop drawings (i.e., millwork) for construction plans.
• Use computer aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
• Set up exhibitions of artwork for display or sale.
• Submit artwork to shows or galleries.
• Teach artistic techniques to children and adults.
• Monitor the academic eligibility of student athletes.
• Oversee the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as participating in community outreach activities, meeting with media representatives, and appearing at fundraising events.
• Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, and/or tours.
• Teach instructional courses and advise students.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• communicate visually or verbally
• ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
• obtain information from individuals
• transcribe spoken or written information
• translate written or spoken language
• understand second language
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• estimate costs of design materials or construction
• estimate materials or labor requirements
• fabricate craft or art objects
• identify color or balance
• make presentations
• manage contracts
• monitor contract performance
• negotiate business contracts
• organize commercial artistic or design projects
• prepare contract documents
• prepare cost estimates
• purchase furnishings, artworks, or accessories
• sketch or draw subjects or items
• use computer aided drafting or design software for design, drafting, modeling, or other engineering tasks
• use creativity in designing interior spaces
• use creativity to art or design work
• use creativity in industrial artistry
• use creativity to art or design work
• use film production techniques
• retrieve or place goods from/into storage
• sell merchandise
• stock or organize goods
• use creativity to art or design work
• use telephone communication techniques
• wrap products
• use creativity in graphics
• use creativity in industrial artistry
• use creativity to art or design work
• use engraving techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use spot or tack welding techniques
• use spray paint equipment
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• use computer graphics design software
• use creativity in graphics
• use graphic arts techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use stage lighting controls or instruments

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$18.02
• Average annual wage (2007) - $37,490.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 23.60%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 9,722
• Employment (2006): 41,193

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