Interpreting: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering interpreting
Interpreting clients need an accurate interpreter who understands their setting and prepares for the topic. Show that you ask about the setting and the speakers first, and that you are clear about your experience and the modes you work in.
What customers ask
- Which mode do you use, consecutive or simultaneous?
- Do you have experience in my setting?
- Can you work by phone or video?
- Can you prepare with the material before the session?
- Do you work in a team for long sessions?
- What is your cancellation policy?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the setting, the length, the speakers, the languages and the topic, then recommend a mode in one sentence.
- Ask for the material or agenda in advance, and review the terms so you arrive prepared.
- State your experience and credentials in your first reply, accurately, and say which settings you do not cover.
- Put the length, the mode, the team size and the preparation time into the quote, so the client knows what the booking includes.
- Confirm the session format and the equipment needed, and agree how the speakers will pause for consecutive work.
- Explain in writing what happens if a phone or video connection fails, so the client knows the plan before the session.
What to put on your profile
- Your languages and the regional varieties you interpret in.
- Settings you interpret in, such as medical, legal, business, education or community events.
- Your preparation process: material review, term lists and team planning.
- Your equipment and remote setup, for phone and video work.
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a short review with the client after the session, if they want feedback on how it ran.
- Suggest a standing booking for recurring meetings or appointments in the same setting.
- Offer a brief guide for the client's staff on working with an interpreter, so sessions run smoothly.
Licenses and permits
Interpreting is not commonly licensed as a general business, so you usually do not need a license to offer it. Check with your state or local licensing agency for business registration, and confirm any certification the settings you work in require, since some courts and medical providers ask for a certified interpreter.
Questions
How do I show I am qualified to interpret?
State the languages and the credentials you hold, accurately and with the dates. Describe your experience in each setting, and say what you do not cover. Do not claim a credential you do not hold.
Should I interpret for a friend or relative?
Think carefully. A personal relationship can create a conflict of interest and affect privacy and accuracy. Tell the client about the relationship and let them decide whether another interpreter is better.
How do I prepare for a session on a topic I do not know?
Ask for the material and a list of terms before the session, and say if there is not enough time to prepare. Tell the client plainly if you cannot interpret the topic well, and suggest another interpreter.
Pro reviewers
Pros who offer interpreting remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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