Sign language interpreter to interpretation agency manager
A sign language interpreter already meets 25% of what the interpretation agency manager role asks for. The move turns on 19 required skills not yet in the profile.
76.5/ 100
1 How much of what an interpretation agency manager is expected to do is already part of a sign language interpreter’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the interpretation agency manager role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An interpretation agency manager role treats 6 of its required skills as things a sign language interpreter already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- grammar
- interpret spoken language between two parties
- speak different languages
- translate language concepts
- translate spoken language consecutively
- translate spoken language simultaneously
What stands in the way is 19 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 11 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An interpretation agency manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a sign language interpreter background worth leading with.
- already held interpret spoken language between two parties communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held translate spoken language consecutively communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held translate spoken language simultaneously communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held preserve original text communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held translate language concepts communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held linguistics arts and humanities
All 11 carried skills, including the 6 the interpretation agency manager role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 31 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn follow an ethical code of conduct for translation activities required
- still to learn manage a good diction required
- still to learn perform bilateral interpretation required
- still to learn preserve meaning of original speech required
- still to learn apply grammar and spelling rules required
- still to learn build business relationships required
- still to learn liaise with colleagues required
- still to learn master language rules required
- still to learn write work-related reports required
- optional, not held perform sight translation optional
- optional, not held perform sworn translations optional
- optional, not held provide advocacy interpreting services optional
- optional, not held liaise with financiers optional
- optional, not held liaise with government officials optional
- still to learn assume responsibility for the management of a business required
- still to learn lead a team required
- still to learn manage budgets required
- optional, not held motivate employees optional
- still to learn interpreting modes required
- still to learn spelling required
- optional, not held chuchotage interpreting optional
- optional, not held tape transcription optional
- optional, not held unseen translation optional
- optional, not held phonetics optional
- optional, not held technical terminology optional
- still to learn project management required
- still to learn customer relationship management required
- still to learn develop a translation strategy required
- still to learn assess quality of services required
- still to learn observe confidentiality required
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an interpretation agency manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 develop a translation strategy practise this
- 02 follow an ethical code of conduct for translation activities practise this
- 03 manage a good diction practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 11 skills that carry over
- already held grammar knowledge
- already held interpret spoken language between two parties skill
- already held speak different languages skill
- already held translate language concepts skill
- already held translate spoken language consecutively skill
- already held translate spoken language simultaneously skill
- already held linguistics knowledge
- already held preserve original text skill
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held show intercultural awareness skill
- already held write research proposals skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held manage office facility systems optional
12 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held chuchotage interpreting optional
- optional, not held perform sight translation optional
- optional, not held perform sworn translations optional
- optional, not held provide advocacy interpreting services optional
- optional, not held tape transcription optional
- optional, not held unseen translation optional
- optional, not held liaise with financiers optional
- optional, not held liaise with government officials optional
- optional, not held manage office facility systems optional
- optional, not held motivate employees optional
- optional, not held phonetics optional
- optional, not held technical terminology optional
20 held skills the interpretation agency manager role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role analyse text before translation skill
- not needed by the target role body language knowledge
- not needed by the target role communicate using non-verbal language skill
- not needed by the target role communication related to hearing impairment knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct scholarly research skill
- not needed by the target role consult information sources skill
- not needed by the target role court interpreting knowledge
- not needed by the target role fingerspelling knowledge
- not needed by the target role hearing disability knowledge
- not needed by the target role interpret languages in conferences skill
- not needed by the target role lipspeaking knowledge
- not needed by the target role screen reader knowledge
- not needed by the target role semantics knowledge
- not needed by the target role sign language knowledge
- not needed by the target role support people with hearing impairment skill
- not needed by the target role translate spoken language skill
- not needed by the target role translate texts skill
- not needed by the target role use word processing software skill
- not needed by the target role voice interpreting knowledge
- not needed by the target role write scientific publications skill
9 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn project management required
- still to learn customer relationship management required
- still to learn interpreting modes required
- still to learn spelling required
- optional, not held chuchotage interpreting optional
- optional, not held tape transcription optional
- optional, not held unseen translation optional
- optional, not held phonetics optional
- optional, not held technical terminology optional
Common questions about this move
Can a sign language interpreter become an interpretation agency manager?
Yes, and it is a career change move. A sign language interpreter already covers 25% of what an interpretation agency manager is expected to do: 11 skills carry over, 6 of which the interpretation agency manager role treats as required.
What skills does a sign language interpreter need to become an interpretation agency manager?
19 required skills are missing, plus 12 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is develop a translation strategy.
How hard is the move from sign language interpreter to interpretation agency manager?
Its learning distance is 76.5 out of 100, which is the career change band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.