Profession interpretation agency manager

Interpretation agency managers oversee operations in the delivery of interpretation services. They coordinate the efforts of a team of interpreters who understand and convert spoken communication from one language to another. They ensure the quality of the service and the administration of the interpretation agency.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Investigative

Knowledge

• Spelling

  The rules concerning the way words are spelled.

• Project management

  Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.

• Customer relationship management

  The customer-oriented management approach and basic principles of successful customer relations that focus on interactions with customers such as technical support, customer services, after-sales support and direct communication with the customer.

• Grammar

  The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.

• Interpreting modes

  The various ways of translating a language orally, such as simultaneous, consecutive, relay, whispered or liaison.

Skills

• Write work-related reports

  Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.

• Speak different languages

  Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.

• Liaise with colleagues

  Liaise with fellow colleagues to ensure common understanding on work related affairs and agree on the necessary compromises the parties might need to face. Negotiate compromises between parties as to ensure that work in general run efficiently towards the achievement of the objectives.

• Translate language concepts

  Translate one language into another language. Match words and expressions with their corresponding brothers in other languages, while making sure that the message and nuances of the original text are preserved.

• Interpret spoken language between two parties

  Convert one spoken language to another in order to ensure the communication between two parties who do not speak a common language.

• Follow an ethical code of conduct for translation activities

  Carry out translation activities according to accepted principles of right and wrong. This includes fairness, transparency, and impartiality. Do not use judgement or allow personal opinions to affect the quality of the translation or interpretation.

• Manage budgets

  Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

• Assume responsibility for the management of a business

  Adopt and assume the responsibility that entails running a business, prioritising the interest of its owners, the societal expectation, and the welfare of employees.

• Assess quality of services

  Test and compare various goods and services in order to assess their quality and to give detailed information to consumers.

• Master language rules

  Master the techniques and practices of the languages to be translated. This includes both your own native language, as well as foreign languages. Be familiar with applicable standards and rules and identify the proper expressions and words to use.

• Perform bilateral interpretation

  Understand and interpret oral statements in both directions of a language pair, while maintaining the speaker’s communicative intent.

• Build business relationships

  Establish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.

• Lead a team

  Lead, supervise and motivate a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and with the foreseen resources in mind.

• Translate spoken language consecutively

  Translate what a speaker says when the speakers pauses after two or more sentences, accurately and completely and based upon your notes. The speaker will wait until the interpreter finishes before proceeding.

• Preserve meaning of original speech

  Translate speech without adding, changing or omitting anything. Make sure the original message is conveyed and do not express your own feelings or opinions. Work to keep the intended meaning.

• Translate spoken language simultaneously

  Translate what a speaker says accurately and completely at the same rate of speech without any lag time.

• Develop a translation strategy

  Perform research to better understand the subject material and formulate the right questions to get the information needed.

• Apply grammar and spelling rules

  Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.

• Observe confidentiality

  Observe the set of rules establishing the nondisclosure of information except to another authorised person.

• Manage a good diction

  Speak clearly and precisely so that others understand exactly what is being said. Pronounce words accurately so as not to make mistakes or unintentionally say something incorrect.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB