Business owners, managers, and event organizers may need to hire interpreters when communicating with foreigners, which can occur in various contexts, such as :
• Business presentations attended by international audiences.
• Events like international conferences, trade shows, etc.
• Workplace communication, e.g., between departments or between managers and workers of different nationalities.
The interpreter market consists mainly of two types : freelance interpreters and in-house interpreters.
A freelance interpreter is hired on a per-job basis. Their primary responsibilities include studying terminology relevant to the job and interpreting.
The primary responsibilities of an in-house interpreter are similar to those of a freelance interpreter, but they may also handle additional tasks, such as document work or other internal duties, and they receive benefits like other regular employees.
From an interpreter’s perspective, an in-house interpreter enjoys a steady income, but their work may lack variety. If the company is in the construction business, they will mostly translate construction-related matters and won’t have the opportunity to learn about interpreting in other industries unless they have a side hustle. Freelance interpreters can accept more jobs than in-house interpreters, meaning their earning potential is higher. However, this comes with the trade-off of facing higher competition.
Additionally, most in-house interpretation work involves consecutive interpretation. If an in-house interpreter has not been trained in simultaneous interpretation, it is unlikely they will be able to perform that task. Therefore, if your company plans an event that requires simultaneous interpretation, consult with your in-house interpreter before assigning them to such a task.
Interpretation requires a high level of skill—not everyone can do it, especially for simultaneous interpreting at large conferences, which usually requires freelance interpreters. Unless the translation agency the client outsourced to has in-house interpreters, clients typically hire freelance interpreters for this type of work.
For events like trade shows or business matching, consecutive interpretation is mainly used. If you have someone in your company who is already skilled in interpreting, that’s great because they are already familiar with your work and industry. However, test them thoroughly before assigning them this task. As mentioned earlier, interpreting requires a high level of skill, and not everyone can do it. Just because someone is proficient in a language does not mean they can be an The Interpreter.
So, who is better to hire: a freelancer or an in-house interpreter?
To put it simply: if you need interpretation often, hire an in-house interpreter. If you don’t need it often, hire a freelancer. If your business would come to a halt without an interpreter to assist with communication regularly, it’s better to hire an in-house interpreter. You can’t always rely on a freelance interpreter you like because they have the right to accept other jobs. No one can monopolize their skills. Hiring a freelance interpreter is best suited for one-off events or meetings, which the English term "one and done" sums up well—such as events or conferences that are held infrequently.
However, there is a type of work that seems to float in limbo: not quite a permanent job, but not a one-off job either. This refers to 3- or 6-month contracts with interpreters. Most interpreters in our market are freelancers, and very few work as in-house interpreters. If you want to hire an interpreter for just 3 to 6 months, it will be challenging to find one. Freelancers often avoid such contracts because they might miss out on higher-paying jobs that require only a few days of work. It is also difficult to find an interpreter interested in a short-term contract if they are looking for a permanent position. Furthermore, we haven't even considered the skills assessment process yet, which will further narrow down your options. We recommend contacting a Translation Service Bangkok company, as these companies already have a pool of interpreters they can reach out to and ask if anyone is interested in such a job.
BEYOND INTERPRETER CO., LTD.
If you are interested in a professional language interpreter, you can contact the interpreting company Interpreter Services as follows:
- Email : [email protected]
- Line : @beyondinterpreter
- Facebook : beyondinterpreter
