Questions re work as an interpreter

[Adelaide321]

I'm not sure whether to post here on in work - hope here is good!

I have a degree in two languages from Oxford and used to be fluent in those languages. I have lived and worked in the countries that speak them and used the languages at work. I have done small amounts of interpreting using one of the languages, but it wasn't my main occupation.

I have now been off work ill for a long time, and my languages have rusted, as I've not been well enough to keep them up. I'm really hoping that my health will improve and that I'll be able to work again. I hope I will be able to regain fluency in the languages, and certainly intend to try. I'm wondering whether interpreting would be something that I could consider as a job in the future. I would be very grateful for thoughts on the following questions:

1. Is interpreting very difficult to get into, especially if you haven't grown up bilingual?
2. Do you have to do a qualification as an interpreter in order to work as one in the UK?
3. What sorts of interpreting jobs tend to be available - freelance, or what?
4. What sort of hours do the jobs tend to be? When and if I regain my health, I think I will need to work sensible, regular hours (e.g. 9-5 type hours) rather than very long or very irregular hours.
5. What is the pay like?

Thanks so much for any info on these!

Hi OP. It might depend on what part of UK you are in, but generally speaking now you need a Community Interpreting qualification. This is relatively new, and is a part time six week course and costs around £600. NHS interpretation now requires training that is provided by them, for free, if your language is desired.
Where I am most interpreters get work through agencies. It could be medical appointments,women in labour, police custody, courts etc. It used to be good money but I think it's only about £15-20 per hour now. The agency send you a job and you can either accept or reject it, so you choose your hours.
I know quite a few who do phone line interpreting, it works out at £15 per hour (although they pay you per minute) but it's handy for women who are at home with dc and want a bit of extra money. I don't know anyone now that interprets and earns a full time wage, but again that is dependent on your geographical area and demand for your languages. I'd work backwards and contact local agencies and see if there would be a demand first before committing to any courses.

Sorry, it's not hard to get into. Anyone can register to do the course, there will be another person there 'testing' your language proficiency. I know quite a few interpreters who don't have great English and their quality of interpretation is very poor, but they learned vocabulary by rote for their assessment and managed to pass.

Thank you very much for your reply. I’m in the southeast of England. Whereabouts are you, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m interested to know whether the pay might be any higher in the southeast than where you are!

Do you know whether pay rates are higher for some languages than for others?

Also, do you know whether there is any difference in pay between phone line and in person interpreting, and whether either one is in more demand?

I don’t have children, and through illness have spent more than enough time at home by myself, so I’d really prefer to work out of the home!

@Adelaide321 I'm way up north, so it's very possible you might get more in SE. Again in the agencies I know it's a flat rate (plus mileage) so language doesn't make a difference, but if its in demand you'll get more work obviously.
Telephone work works out less per hour simply because you'll never be on for a full hour. It could be a 30 second call to tell someone an ambulance is on it's way. The phone line (can't remember the name) is busy as it will be for all over UK, not just your locality.

Thanks for your reply!

Very grateful for any more info anyone may have!

The community interpreting qualification is a minimum OP it is at level 3.

What languages do you have? Community languages like Urdu are more often needed than Spanish or French, community interpreters do things like Dr's appointments.

If you want to interpret conferences or work in the business world you are looking at a masters qualification.

https://www.iti.org.uk/discover/career-in-translation-and-interpreting/universities-and-courses.html

@sashh Thanks for your post. My languages are French and Russian.

Do you know what the pay is like for interpreting at conferences and in the business world? Thanks.

Talk to the institute of linguists, they can advise on all aspects of translating and interpreting.

Thank you!