Professional Entry Preparation: Getting Started

Things to Consider:

1. Per Salary Ranges, consider the following:

a.       ITP training: A.A., A.A.S., A.A.S.T., B.A., etc.

b.      Certification: NIC or EIPA written &/or performance;

additional certifications: legal; theatre

c.       How long have you been interpreting?

d.      How many years have you been certified?

e.       What are other interpreters in your area with similar education, certification and experience charging?

f.        What would agencies charge?

g.       Is the assignment of a technical nature?

h.       Does the assignment involve highly specialized knowledge, training, or vocabulary i.e., legal, medical, scientific, PhD level etc

i.         Is the assignment a non-profit, a for-profit, agency or individual?

j.        Is the assignment all day? All week? Half day? On-going? (multiple dates involved)

k.      How far do you have to travel?

l.         Will parking and/or mileage be included? (Find out if parking will be free, ticket validated and discounted, etc)

m.     “Start-up fee”: charge for services rendered up to first two hours. A “per hour” fee can then be charged for every hour thereafter.

Next consider a half-day rate (up to four hours), full-day rate (up to eight hours), Any time worked after eight hours can either be billed per half-hour (half your hourly fee), per hour, or per half-day rate.

n.      This is also a good time to consider what is called a “Mutual Cancellation Policy.” This is an agreement between the interpreter and the hiring source, to set up cancellation and reimbursement policies for committed times in the event that there is a “last minute” cancellation. See p. 36

o.      Due to Taft-Hartley Anti-trust Act of 1947, it’s illegal for RID to establish wages or salaries that interpreters should or could charge/receive.

p.      However RID has published a Suggested Fee Schedule (revised 1973)

(see overhead) Please keep in mind that the cost of living and inflation were a lot less in 1973 than they are today.

            q. Fee Schedule Worksheet p. 37 (overhead)

2. Getting Started:

            a. Getting Out There:   

1.      Make yourself known personally and professionally to agencies, organizations, and individuals who hire sign language interpreters.

2.      Get a RID directory. It is a good idea to become a member. Contact your region’s representative and contact the Chapter President, call or email that person and introduce yourself. Ask for a schedule of meetings, application form to join the local chapter, and a copy of the most recent newsletter. Attend meetings. NETWORK!

3.      Attend community events, plays, clubs, dances, parties, sporting tournaments, and so on. Introduce yourself, meet people, make new friends, run into old friends, and make business contacts. Always be sure to have plenty of business cards with you!

4.      Contact your local vocational rehabilitation office. Find out what the requirements are for the hiring of independent contractor sign language interpreters. Initiate paperwork NOW so that everything will be in place when an assignment does arise.

5.      Ask your interpreter trainers and mentors for references and referrals.

6.      Contact other organizations and agencies that tend to hire interpreters i.e., schools for the Deaf, mainstream programs, universities, colleges, police stations, rehabilitation centers, and so on. Find a contact person’s name, title, address, and telephone and FAX numbers. Call and introduce yourself. Follow up with a short letter thanking the person for the time they spent with you and for their future consideration of hiring you. Enclose a copy of your resume and at least three business cards. Usually the person will keep one for their files, and pass the others along to a supervisor and/or to Deaf clients.

7.      Contact former ITP graduates and classmates who are in the same area. Ask them for suggestions and referrals. Remind that you are available for substitute work (“subbing”) in the event that they are not able to honor a commitment. Also ask them to think of you in the event they are in need of a teammate.

8.      Contact local schools, colleges and universities. When you speak to the location’s operator, ask him or her to transfer you to the office that provides services to deaf or “disabled” students. Find out the name, title, address, and telephone and fax numbers of the person in charge of the department. Also ask if this same person “dispatches” interpreters. If it is another person, find out his or her information also. Call and introduce yourself. Set up an appointment.