Interpreter

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I am a full-time interpreter. My working languages are Finnish, Finnish sign language and English. 

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

I ended up in this profession because of a friend's recommendation. They said this profession could suit me. When I applied for interpreter training in 1996, I did not know anything about deaf or sign language. In the entrance exams, I got a taste of studying Finnish sign language, and I fell in love with the language immediately. 

Describe your typical working day or week.

Customers, interpretation sites and topics change every day. I open working hours in my calendar and the interpreting agency places interpretations on my calendar, according to orders. I conduct community interpreting, for example, during visits to doctors and official services, study interpreting at all levels from pre-primary education to doctoral studies, working life interpreting, as well as legal interpreting when dealing with the police, the judiciary and the Finnish Immigration Service. My tasks also include media interpretation at the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), where I sometimes interpret Parliament question hours and election broadcasts, for example. In addition, I work as an interpreter in lighter occasions related to people's everyday lives, such as family celebrations, hobbies and workplace Christmas parties. Sometimes, I travel abroad to interpret on work and leisure time trips of persons who speak sign language. 

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

Work environments vary daily. I interpret in delivery rooms, studios, homes, lecture halls, the Government Palace, various cultural sites, day care centres, churches and on mobile vehicles. Come up with a place and ask: I've probably interpreted there too! 

As an hourly worker, I can define my working hours quite freely, but as I still have school-aged children, I mainly work from eight to four. Though, in the evenings, there would be plenty of interpretation jobs available. 

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

An interpreter is required to have fluent command of their working languages, the ability to quickly assimilate large entities, discretion, adaptive mind and calmness even in unexpected situations. In addition, an interpreter needs social intelligence, as well as self-direction and patience to grasp new texts year after year. The fact is that large portion of interpreter's working time is spent preparing for interpretations. 

What is the best thing about your profession?

In my opinion, Finnish sign language is one of the most beautiful and fascinating languages. I learn something new about it every day. I see different realities, and I enable encounters between people, which is wonderful. 

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

Preparing for work assignments is rewarding, but I often run out of working time, and I have to use my leisure time for preparing. For example, for theatre interpreting, the interpreter usually only receives a fraction of the time they would actually need to prepare. Then, you must either go to work poorly prepared or prepare well using your own free time. 

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a interpreter?

This may be the profession of your dreams. At least it is for me! Working as an interpreter gives a lot, but it also requires quite a lot. As an interpreter you must have the enthusiasm to be interested in any subject. At times, you also need to convincingly interpret matters, such as political opinions, that you do not believe in yourself. If you seek reputation and glory or want to be an active helper, interpreter's profession is not for you. Interpreters are facilitators, language experts and act as bridges between different languages and cultures. 

How do you see the future of your profession?

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising the whole world. It will change so many things that the crystal ball of an individual interpreter is blurred. At the moment, a competent and experienced Finnish sign language interpreter has more work than they can do, in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Although the number of deaf sign language Finns has decreased in recent years, many implanted hearing-impaired also use interpreters. However, immigration slowly increases the number of deaf people in Finland. I have confidence in the future.