Translator is a person whose job is to translate languages in the form of a written communication.
2. How many languages do you know?
Mention only those language in which you are completely confident.
3. What resources do you use for translations?
Tell them that you use CAT (Computer assisted translation) for eg. Google Translate and you also refer dictionaries for a better vocabulary content.
4. What salary do you expect as Translator?
Do some research about how much other people in the same profession are paid and then put some numbers which are reasonable from the starter's point of you.
5. Is this opportunity a good fit for you?
It would be a great opportunity to jumpstart my career as an interpreter.
Interpreter is a person whose job is to translate languages in the form of a spoken communication.
7. What interpreting experience do you have?
I worked as a medical interpreter on weekends and evening. Normally helping with Labors and patients on need of rehabilitation.
8. What languages are you fluent in?
Spanish english american sign language.
9. What is so special about being an interpreter?
Being the facilitator of language and communication is a crucial role no matter what the information or content might be.
10. How long have you been an interpreter?
I have been working as an interpreter since April 2014
11. Do you have any questions to ask us feel free to ask?
It is recommended to ask questions, Ask something related to your job. Don't ask about the salary.
12. Share with me what is your biggest weakness?
Don't mention anything that can take your job away, a few suggestions from my side are: talkative, can't say 'NO', etc.
13. What kinds of people do you have the most difficulty working with?
The patients who is looking for control medication, and the patient who want something that is out of my hand.
14. What have you done to prepare for this job?
I researched on online what types of questions are usually asked in the interview.
15. Tell me do you feel you have what it takes to perform the role as an interpreter successfully?
I do have a very good knowledge for the thing that I am doing. Also with more study and learning more about the job description I can be very successfully.
16. Do you have any certification as a translator or an interpreter?
Explain about the courses you did and the share the certificate details such as the information about the institutes, course outcomes, time period of course, etc.
17. What have you learned from your past experience as a translator?
Give some better example about how your past experience made you learn new things and how did it help you to improve yourself even better.
18. Tell me are there any pitfalls to avoid in the translation business?
There are plenty of unscrupulous individuals, businesses and organizations out there that take advantage of translators and pay them for their work only after many months have passed, if at all. I've always found this practice to be unconscionable because translators - at least the professional ones, anyway - work hard to meet their deadlines and turn in their work on time, and the least their clients can do, if they value their translation talent at all, is to return the favor by paying them in a timely manner. Subscribe to a resource such as the ProZ.com Blue Board, the TCR List, or the Payment Practices List to find out who the prompt payers, the slow payers, and the non-payers are.
19. Suppose there was some mistake done by you in misunderstanding things, What would you do?
I will make sure that I verify things before sending them further. But in case if there is any such situation then I will come forward to apologize and correct my mistake.
Tell them that you will do it only if you are sure that you will finish it. Else you will ask the boss to assign some juniors to help you and you will work as a team with them.
21. Do you know why is this the right job/position for you?
Potential employers will try to assess how well you'd fit into the job/position for which you are interviewing. Anticipate such questions as:
► Do you have a passion for this type of work?
► Do you see yourself staying in this kind of work for a long time?
► Is this opportunity a good fit for you?
► Do you feel you have what it takes to perform the role as an interpreter successfully?
You need to be convincing without going overboard. This is important to do a self analysis of yourself and the future of your career as an interpreter. If you do not have any of the above, you would be dragging yourself into a miserable life. Do not do this for money, do this because you enjoy being an interpreter and interacting with the Deaf and various of jobs.
22. Tell us how do you handle stressful situations?
I handle stressful situations first by listening and then reasoning or giving priority to what is important.
23. Why are you interested in working with us?
You cover the area I live it and I believe that it will be convenient for my work.
24. Tell me what kinds of people do you have the most difficulty working with?
Tell them you manage to work with almost all kind of people. You can add that you sometimes face problems working with people who have arrogant behavior.
25. Tell me about a time when you failed to complete a task assigned to you on time?
This is a pure behavioral question. Give them an example where you failed to do things on time due to some external problems or issues. Do not mention the examples which can ruin your job.
26. Describe about your typical work for the position of an translator?
The job of a translator is to convert a given content from one language to another in a written format, Convert concepts in the source language to equivalent concepts in the target language and Compile information, such as technical terms used in legal settings, into glossaries and terminology databases to be used in translations.
27. Why do you want to join this translator's/interpreter's job?
Companies are searching for people who work with full efforts and are passionate about their job. Tell them about how your skills are best for this job.
28. Do you feel you have what it takes to perform the role as an interpreter successfully?
I do have a very good knowledge for the thing that I am doing. Also with more study and learning more about the job description I can be very successfully.
29. Interviewer and Interviewee Questions for Interpreters:
► How well can you understand different dialects and accents?
► What do you think about people who speak different dialects or who, for example, code switch? (Sometimes this may be called "Tex Mex" or "Pocho").
► What would you do if you were interpreting and a person said something that you did not agree with?
► What would you do if you were interpreting and a person became very angry and used profane language?
► What would you do if you were interpreting and a person became very angry and used profane gestures which are not understood in the culture of the other person?
► When you are interpreting, do you try to establish a bond with the person or do you try to keep the relationship formal and more detached?
► What would you do if additional cultural information or an explanatory comment is needed to aid comprehension or for a culturally appropriate translation?
► What do you do if a person is going on and on, and you can't remember exactly everything that person said, but you did get the general "drift?"
► Do you try to translate every single word or idea expressed, or do you try to summarize what was said?
► If a client has confidence in you and asks for advice on how to answer a question during an interpretation session, what do you do?
► What, if anything, would you do before an interpretation session?
► What, if anything, would you do after an interpretation session?
► What would you do if you were asked to interpret or translate something for which you do not feel qualified or prepared?
► What would you do if you made a mistake in interpretation or did not understand a term?"
30. Behavioral Language translator interview questions:
► Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
► Have you done this kind of work before?
► What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
► Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?
► What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
31. Communication skills Based Language translator interview questions:
► Time when you made a suggestion to improve the work.
► What assignment was too difficult for you?
► What do you think this position involves.
► What do you consider your most significant accomplishment?
► What's most important to you in a new position?
Just confine your words to better opportunities. Say something relevant to the objective line in the resume. Be prepared to discuss in detail and with examples your five or six main attributes.
32. Situational Language translator interview questions:
☛ How would you weigh a plane without scales?
☛ Situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise.
☛ What parts of your education do you see as relevant to this position?
☛ Which subjects did you enjoy during your qualifying degree?
☛ What relevant experience do you have?
33. Competency Based Language translator interview questions:
► Who was your favorite manager and why?
► Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
► What were your annual goals at your most current employer?
► What are your expectations regarding promotions and salary increases?
► What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
Be very thoughtful about your answer. Your answer should be focused on what you can bring to the role that will be of benefit to the company. Focus on positive achievements and views.
34. Strengths and Weaknesses Based Language translator interview questions:
► Describe a time you were faced with stresses which tested your skills.
► Do you have the qualities and skills necessary to succeed in your career?
► How do you see your job relating to the overall goals?
► Tell us about the last time you had to negotiate with someone.
► What do you believe are your key strengths?
Never use any adjectives for these sort of Language translator interview questions.
Prepare a list of things you want to say in the interview. The interviewers want to know the real you, the potential candidate they may accept in.
35. Translator Job Interview Questions:
► What types of clients do you typically work with?
► Would you ever want to work on your own and start your own freelance translation business or translation agency?
► What kinds of people do you have the most difficulty working with?
► Do you have a certain area of specialization or do you work on generic translation projects of many types?
► Do you hold any translation certifications?
► What type of ethical dilemmas have you encountered as a translator and how did you deal with those?
► How well can you understand different dialects and accents?
► What would you do if you were interpreting and a person said something that you did not agree with or found upsetting?
► What would you do if you were interpreting and a person used gestures which are not understood in the culture of the other person?
► When you are interpreting, do you try to establish a relationship with the person or do you try to keep the relationship formal and more detached?
► What do you do if you didn't hear exactly what a person said but you get the general "gist"?
► Do you try to translate every single word or idea expressed, or do you try to summarize what was said?
► Do you do anything to prepare for a translating session?
► What would you do if you made a mistake in translation or did not understand a term?
