Let’s talk associations

Do you consider yourself a professional, a newbie or perhaps someone thinking about returning to the profession? Are you a member of any association? Let’s talk about the benefits of belonging and actively participating in professional associations.

If you are an interpreter and/or a translator, you should know that you have to invest in your career as an independent freelancer or as a staff member as well. You must hone your skills and maintain your credentials, if you are accredited or certified.

Professional associations are organizations that offer professional development, opportunities for networking, and provide information about job opportunities. Language service providers are always looking for good professionals and the profession continues to grow amid Covid 19 times.

So, where do you go to obtain these skills now that most, if not all, in person conferences have been either cancelled or postponed?

Conferences are being cancelled or postponed until 2021 unless they are held online through a variety of virtual platforms. The American Translators Association or ATA (www.atanet.org) recently announced that they are going fully virtual this year for the first time in the history of the organization. ATA is the largest organization of professional interpreters and translators in the world!

Arizona Translators and Interpreters ATI Annual Conference (www.atiinc.org), an organization that offers professional development for interpreters and translators in Arizona, is also going virtual this year. ATI has been attracting top quality speakers at its annual event for approximately ten years.

The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators or NAJIT’s (www.najit.org) Annual Conference is also one of the most important events of the year for judiciary interpreters and translators.

Now, getting back to the benefits of attending these events, the results can be immeasurable. I have always been asked how I began my career as a translator and interpreter. My answer is always the same. I went back to school at 38 and became a members of ATA and NAJIT. The rest is history!

Most of these conferences offer a job fair with dozens of exhibitors eager to connect with professionals. There are workshops, speed networking events, social activities, and training sessions galore. So, yes. You would absolutely benefit from attending such gatherings.

Immediately after becoming a member of the ATA, the first thing I did was create a profile in the directory which, in those days, was a printed product with thousands of names of members all over the world divided by language combination, location, etc. Now, of course, the directory is available online. This benefit alone, changed my life forever. The jobs I have been able to obtained just because someone has found me on that directory are endless. Not to mention the friendships that you forge along the way. That alone is PRICELESS!

I remember the first 2 or 3 years I attended the ATA conference it was because I went to market my services. However, I realized after a few years that the real reason I went to the ATA conference was to see my friends and colleagues. OK. So I also liked most sessions, too. It is great to be able to network and acquire professional development while having a wonderful social experience at the same time. Come on, who hates that?

So I’m all for getting the maximum benefit from your local and national associations.

Also, depending on the type of interpreter you are, you may also join medical interpreting associations. They are key to staying current in your field. The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters and the Certification Commission for Health Interpreters (CCHI) are the certifying bodies in the medical interpreting arena. The International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) is also a very well-known organization in that area.

For interpreters that venture into the international scene, there is IAPTI, the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters. Also FIT, the International Federation of Translators (www.fit.org) and many other organizations.

If you want to make a name for yourself and become visible in the profession, you should definitely consider becoming a member of your local AND national organizations. It is important that you invest in your career. Additionally, if you are certified, you will want to maintain your credential by attending professional development events that offer credit educational units or CEUs. Invest in your career! Invest in you!

Until next time, be well and stay healthy.