Frequently Asked Questions for Interpreters

 

 


General

Q: How do I apply to become an interpreter?

A: All applications are to be completed online. Just click on "Apply Today!"


Q: I want to work from home. What is the process and timelines to apply?

A: Right after you submit your application, you will receive an email response verifying that we received it. If you meet our corporate requirements, you will receive an email that will describe the position in more detail. If you’re interested in continuing the process, you just need to respond to the email.

After you respond to our initial email, a recruiter will contact you to set up an interview day and time. During this interview, a recruiter will conduct a brief interview and a language proficiency screening with you.

If all goes well and you have the ideal language skills we need, we will do an interpretation assessment that consists of role-play activities designed to measure your potential as an interpreter. All of this is done over the phone.

If all continues to go well, we’ll send paperwork for you to complete and you’ll be scheduled for an over-the-phone orientation, which would technically be your first week of work. As soon as you’ve completed your orientation, you will begin work. It is just as easy as that. And you are paid to be trained.


Q: I want to work in one of your global centers, what is the process and timelines to apply.

A: It’s easy! Apply online. If you meet our corporate requirements, you’ll be contacted by one of our recruiters to set up an interview day and time. During this brief interview a recruiter will conduct a language proficiency screening with you.


Q: Is there a fee to apply to become an interpreter with you?

A: No, there is no fee.


Q: I want to work from home, is there an initial face-to-face interview with you?

A: No, we do all interviews, language screening and interpretation assessment over the phone


Q: I want to work in one of your global centers, is there an initial face-to-face interview with you?

A: Not necessarily. After you have applied online, you will be contacted by one of our recruiters.


Q: Are your interpreters employees of your company or are they independent contractors?

A: It depends. We offer both types of employment. Your recruiter will discuss with you whether or not we have positions available as actual employees or independent contractors.


Q: Where would I find a list of corporate job openings?

A: Click on “Corporate Careers” to find our current openings in Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations and Customer Support.


Q: Are there career advancement opportunities?

A: We have many, many examples of interpreters who have moved into other positions within our organization. You could become a quality specialist, a trainer, a recruiter, an ambassador (and visit our customers) and more. We will be discussing your career opportunities once you are part of the team.

In any event, you will be having so much fun helping our client's customers that you will soon realize why we consider our interpreters to be at the top of our organizational chart!

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Pay/Compensation


Q: How much do interpreters get paid?

A: We have a variety of pay programs based on your location, experience, language skills and whether you are an employee or an independent contractor. Your recruiter will discuss your pay plan with you during your initial conversation.


Q: Do you pay by the hour, or by the call?

A: We have a variety of pay programs. Interpreters can get paid by the hour or by the number of minutes they have taken calls in an hour. Once again, it depends on your location, experience, skills and whether you are an employee or an independent contractor.


Q: How often do you pay?

A: Depending upon your location and relationship with the company, it could be weekly, biweekly or monthly.


Q: What is the process for sending/receiving pay?

A: We prefer to pay all interpreters via direct deposit into their bank accounts because of its ease and timeliness.


Q: If I prefer to receive a check in the mail, is that an option?

A: If you are one of our work at home interpreters, you can still receive a check in the mail, but we prefer that you use direct deposit so that you can continue to do the things you love to do rather than making a trip to deposit or cash your paycheck.

If you work in one of our global centers, all checks are direct deposited in your bank account.

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What Kinds of Work Will I Be Doing?


Q: What kinds of work will I be doing as an interpreter?

A: As an over the phone interpreter you will listen to a limited English speaking individual, analyze the message and accurately convey its meaning to our customer. Each call is a three-way conversation between you as our interpreter, our client, and the limited English speaking person our client serves. You will be speaking in the first-person. In other words, you are speaking for the person who has limited English skills and our client.


Q: Are there performance evaluations?

A: Yes, our Quality Specialists will be monitoring your calls on a regular basis and will provide feedback to you regarding your customer service and interpreting skills as well as encouragement.


Q: Would I be doing telemarketing (calling people to sell them things)?

A: We do not do any outbound telemarketing. All of our calls are inbound calls from our customers. You will not be asked to sell anything.


Q: What kind of support will I have while I am working? What if I have questions?

A: You will have a manager who will follow your progress and communicate with you throughout your interpreting career. A quality specialist will monitor your development on the job. Our trainers will provide ongoing training. In addition, we provide around-the-clock technical support in the event that you have any problems with any of our technology.


Q: I work at home, how do I know if it’s a call for the company or someone calling me?

A: The phone line you use for work should be dedicated to receiving incoming calls from us only.

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Home Set-up Requirements for Work At Home Interpreters


Q: I have a cell phone. Is that okay?

A: We require that the phone you use be a regular, corded phone, with a corded headset. In order to maximize security and sound quality, we do not permit our interpreters to use cell phones, cordless phones or VoIP phones.


Q: Why can’t I use my IP (VoIP) phone?

A: We are very excited about the potential of IP telephony. However, due to security and sound quality issues, we do not allow our interpreters to use IP phones to connect with our systems at this time. We continue to explore this for future implementation.


Q: Are there other requirements besides those listed on your website?

A: There are no other requirements for your home set up. Only that you have,

 

  • Educated, native proficiency in English and a non-English language.
  • Professional, pleasant phone presence.
  • Reliably quiet and professional work environment during work periods.
  • A dedicated phone line.
  • A headset phone or corded headset with a noise canceling microphone and a mute button.
  • A bank account for us to deposit your pay.
  • Note-taking paper and writing utensil.

 


Q: Are my home set-up expenses tax deductible?

A: Please contact a professional tax advisor for the answer to that question.


Q: Does the company provide me with a headset?

A: Yes, we will reimburse you for the cost of a corded headset (some restrictions apply) after you have worked with us for 90 days. The hands free headset must meet these minimum requirements:

 

  • The headset must be comfortable
  • The headset must be hands-free
  • The headset must be corded. All cordless headsets are unacceptable. Corded headsets attached to cordless phones are also unacceptable.
  • The headset must contain a “noise canceling” microphone
  • The headset must contain a mute button.
  • We highly recommend a binaural headset to cover both ears.

 


Q: Does the company reimburse me for my dedicated phone line?

A: Yes, certain restrictions may apply

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Training


Q: I want to work at home, how will I be trained?

A: All of your training will be done over the phone. The training will be led by one of our trainers or by your manager.


Q: I want to work in one of the global centers, how will I be trained?

A: You will receive personal, face-to-face training from one of our trainers or by your manager.


Q: Do I have to pay for training?

A: No, you do not have to pay for training. Instead, we will pay you as you go through training!


Q: How long is training?

A: Our initial new hire orientation is based on various factors and varies from two to four weeks. Additional training varies in length.


Q: Does everyone make it through training successfully?

A: Even as careful as we are in selecting the “best of the best” we do sometimes have interpreters who find that they are not able to successfully complete our training classes. Our training is not particularly difficult. However, a small percent of candidates find that interpreting is not the type of work for them.


Q: Will I be required to take a test after training?

A: You will be tested at various points of your training to ensure your ultimate success once you start taking calls. At times, there will be a test at the end of training to assure that you have developed the required skills.

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Scheduling


Q: What hours are you recruiting for?

A: We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year so there are many scheduling options available. Your recruiter will discuss scheduling options with you in more detail during our initial conversation with you.


Q: Would I have to work a fixed schedule, or could I choose whatever hours I want?

A: That depends. If you are an interpreter for our most requested languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, or Vietnamese, for example, we will ask that you give us a window of time that you are available and we will set your schedule based on the business needs. If you are working from home, your schedule will be mailed to you two weeks in advance and each of the mailings will cover a two-week period. We have other interpreters who can login based on their lifestyle!


Q: How many hours do you require interpreters to work?

A: We are flexible. You may choose to work part-time or full-time as long as we have a variety of schedules available.


Q: Are your positions part-time or full-time?

A: We have full-time and part-time positions available depending on our current business needs.


Q: What is the maximum number of hours an interpreter can work each day/week.

A: There is no set maximum for a given day or week, unless stipulated by law in your state or country.


Q: Are you in need of people to work late-night hours? Weekends?

A: Yes, we operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!

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