Translator Interview Questions And Answers

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Refine your Translator interview skills with our 80 critical questions. Our questions cover a wide range of topics in Translator to ensure you're well-prepared. Whether you're new to the field or have years of experience, these questions are designed to help you succeed. Access the free PDF to get all 80 questions and give yourself the best chance of acing your Translator interview. This resource is perfect for thorough preparation and confidence building.

80 Translator Questions and Answers:

Translator Job Interview Questions Table of Contents:

Translator Job Interview Questions and Answers
Translator Job Interview Questions and Answers

1 :: Why should we hire you as an interpreter?

Tell them that you are very good at your speaking skills. You comfortable is fluently speaking the languages you know.
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2 :: Tell me how did you land your first translation job?

I got my first job through Georgetown University right after I'd graduated from their program. A prestigious law firm needed a freelancer to translate some correspondence that was going to be presented in an international lawsuit, so they called Georgetown asking for the names and phone numbers of the most recent graduates of the Spanish to English program, and contacted me.
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3 :: Where did you gain experience as Translator?

You'll always be asked about your interpreting experience. You can prepare ahead of time by asking yourself the following questions, and being prepared to provide this information to your interviewer when asked.

► Did you attend ITP or take interpreting classes to understand how it works in the interpreting world?
► Have you taken classes/workshops to expand your education and skills that will help as an interpreter?
► Have you trained in positions that are relevant to the interpreting assignments (ie. medical, legal, workshops, etc)
► Where did you work?
► What interpreting experience do you have?
► How long have you been an interpreter? Specifically, certified? State credential?
► Did you take on any additional responsibilities as an interpreter to enhance your skills?
► Did you identify problem areas and improved those areas to enhance quality service?
► What have you done that will show me that you can do this job?

Many companies are curious what your past experience or what you have done to enhance your education or learning for improvement. When someone takes the time to go to workshops/classes or accept feedback (both pro/con) graciously and improve upon it in an effort to provide better service is something that companies do look for.
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4 :: Tell us somthing about your education?

Tell about the education degrees you have completed in your past. You can also mention the status of your current education if you are doing some higher degrees such as PhD. or some other.
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5 :: What have you learned from your mistakes in your last job or project taken?

Do not committed mistakes, be honest and just share a small mistake which is not more related to your job and share about what all positive things you learnt from it.
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6 :: Did you perform a job shadow or mentor-ship/internship?

As an interpreter no, but I did shadowed language tour guides to learn how to conduct tours in foreign languages.
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7 :: What would you do if you were interpreting and a person used gestures which are not understood in the culture of the other person?

In medical training program, I learned that we have to interpret everything the patient say or what ever gesture they do. In the role of interpreter, I just interpret exactly what ever gesture they make.
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8 :: When did you decide to become an interpreter and why?

When I discovered that I was good at several languages, and a good experience, I decided to become an interpreter. My first aim is to help break language barriers while making some money.
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9 :: Do you want to keep learning and developing yourself?

Definitely, I am a life long learner; and I have received several certificates in languages and communication.
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10 :: Do you have a passion for this type of work?

Yes, I have a passion of languages; therefore interpretation is a passion for me.
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11 :: What can you do for us that other candidates can not?

I am a native Spanish speaking , I have work my way up to learn and graduate from school not knowing English when I came to this country , I am strong and take seriously my job, my life, everything and I put 110% to get the things done and learn everyday .
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12 :: Tell us can you be an ambassador for our organization?

Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company's "About" page. So, when an interviewer asks you this, she isn't necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission-she wants to know whether you care about it, and she's looking for who in the applicant pool can most effectively discuss the organization's work and its impact.

So, in addition to doing your research on the company's work, think about concrete ways it relates to your passions and experiences, and weave them into your answer.

Start with one line that shows you understand the mission, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, "I'm personally drawn to this mission because…" or "I really believe in this approach because…" and share a personal example or two. For example, if you're interviewing at a school that stresses character, share some specific character-building education activities you've led for students in your last job. If you're interviewing for a position at a hospital, talk about the 5K you recently ran to raise money for leukemia or your passion for volunteering your time to help children with cancer.
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13 :: Do you find this job challenging?

Say that there are challenges in this job, but you will work hard to overcome them.
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14 :: What have you done to prepare for this job as Translator?

This part is important to prepare for any jobs you desire to work. If you have an interest for a job and prepare, you would be interested in staying longer (possibly or not)

Did you meet with other people in the line of work?
Did you perform a job shadow or mentorship/internship?
Did you meet with any of the interpreters who works for the agency?
Have you made every effort to learn as much as you can about the company and its operation?
Do you know much about the owner of the agency and how they are?
This is very important to understand information about the company itself. Companies are interested in what you know and how much you know. Many wants to see potential employees to have an interest in working with them and take pride in working with the company by taking extra time in learning who and what the company is about.
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15 :: Describe about your typical work for the position of an interpreter?

As an interpreter I will be given some content which may be one language and I will have to translate it orally into some other language, Relay the style and tone of the original language and Render spoken messages accurately, quickly, and clearly.
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16 :: Why should we hire you as an translator?

Tell them that you are good at your literary and vocabulary skills which fits you best for this job.
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17 :: What do you know about our company, if yes then what?

Please note that you should know at least 80% about the functions performed by the company. You need to do a little homework well in advance.
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18 :: Tell me any of your funniest translation story?

I find plenty of little things to giggle about in my job on a daily basis because Spanish and English are, to me, two of the funniest languages on earth, so I can't think of any one incident that would top the others in funniness. That said, I do get a laugh out of the reaction I get from clients when they find out what my ethnic background is and find out that I acquired my foreign languages exclusively through my education and travels. I'm Middle Eastern, not Latina, so I have no family connections to the Spanish-speaking world, and I grew up in a household that spoke only English.
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19 :: What types of clients do you typically work with?

My work clients are patients. Which I have to give them all the patients and I have to show them empathy and sympathy.
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20 :: Have you taken classes/workshops to expand your education and skills that will help as an interpreter?

I have never took any classes for that, its kind of thing that I like to do.
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21 :: Tell me what makes you the best person for this job?

I am a fast learner,and desire to provide service to those people who struggle for services because of language barriers.
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22 :: Explain to me do you care about our work?

Hiring someone is an investment, and interviewers believe (as you would expect) that someone genuinely interested in the organization's work will be the better hire. So, what she really wants to know is whether this particular job and company is part of your career path, or whether you'll be jumping ship in a year once you land your "real" dream job.

So how should you answer? If the position you're interviewing for is on the track to your goals, share that, plus give some specifics. For example, if you're interviewing for an account executive position an advertising firm, and you know your goal is to become an account supervisor, say that. And then add specifics about the sort of clients you hope to work with, which will help your answer sound genuine, not canned-and again show why this particular company will be a good fit.

If the position isn't necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations, the best approach is to be genuine, but to follow your answer up by connecting the dots between the specific duties in this role and your future goals. It's OK to say that you're not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision, or that you're excited about the management or communications skills you'll gain.
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23 :: How good are your speaking skills?

Tell them you can speak languages such as English, Spanish, etc. (Any language you are comfortable with) fluently. You can also share about a few debate or declamation competitions that you may have participated or won.
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24 :: Tell Me Who Are You?

One of the most common interview tactics is to ask you to tell the interviewers something about yourself.

► Keep it factual
► Keep it honest
► Keep it simple and to the point
► Keep it related to the job you are interested in
► This is not the time to share your life story or any other personal stories

Just what kind of person are you? Be honest about who you are. Employers will truly look into that when hiring someone. Employers are always looking for employees to match with other people who you interact with, how you interact with other people, how you respond about yourself.
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25 :: Explain to me what are your strengths?

Tell them that you are a good communicator, you are hard working and try your level bests to complete your tasks.
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