To make a name for yourself in your profession, it’s important to make yourself known to others. The interpretation industry is no different. As an ASL interpreter, your job involves serving as a link between the Deaf community and the hearing community. You facilitate communication and, therefore, your communication skills are probably top-notch. However, it’s important to ask yourself this- are you using your skills in the right ways and in the right places?
Don’t just use your communication skills to be of service to others, be sure to help yourself too! Networking can help create new avenues for you while helping you grow personally and professionally. Through it, you can ensure that you find more than just job opportunities; you can build a career that has a strong foundation. Whether you have spent years interpreting or are only beginning your journey as a professional interpreter, you mustn’t overlook the benefits of networking.
First, let’s look at some of the places in which you can network.
Networking As An ASL Interpreter
When you are thinking about networking, it’s best to not restrict yourself to any one group to mingle with. Fostering relationships with different groups can be beneficial to you in different ways.
As an ASL interpreter, the groups that you can look to network with can be broadly classified into three categories:
- The Deaf and hard-of-hearing community
- Fellow ASL interpreters
- People from other professions
Deaf and hard-of-hearing community
Fostering relationships within the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community can be significant for your career in many ways.
- It can make you culturally competent, which can help you interpret more effectively. When you immerse yourself in the community, you become aware of various things that you otherwise would have not known. You may learn about terms, jokes, idioms and phrases, and trends that only people within the community may have been aware of. Through this knowledge, you can understand them better and, therefore, interpret things with enhanced accuracy.
- The best way to hone your linguistic skills is to socialize with people who use it in their daily lives. By actively participating in the community, you expose yourself to people who use ASL as a language. Consequently, you can become more confident in your language abilities.
- There can be a lot of interpreting opportunities that you can find within the Deaf community, making it a great avenue for networking if your goal is to find your next interpretation job.
Fellow ASL interpreters
The benefits of networking with other professionals are quite straightforward-
- You get to learn from other people’s experiences. Interpretation is a varied landscape that can be challenging to navigate all by yourself. Connecting with others in the profession can guide you through the ups and downs.
- You could find a mentor, or become aware of training programs that can help you upskill.
- Other interpreters could refer you to clients that they are unable to take at the moment and vice versa.
People from other professions
Building relationships with people outside the Deaf community and the interpretation community can help you spread the word about what you do. You never know who can turn into your next client. To network, you can meet event organizers, businesses, educators, doctors, and artists, among people from other professions. The possibilities are endless.
How to start networking in the interpreting industry
Now that you know where you can build connections, let’s look at tips on how you can do it.
ALT Text: A woman in a gray blazer talking to a woman in a black blazer as they both sit by the windowpane.
Boost your social media presence.
You can’t undermine the power of social media. Instead, leverage it to make yourself known as an ASL interpreter. The great thing about social media is that you don’t have to wait for anyone to give you the exposure that you need to excel in your career, you can do it yourself. Use various platforms to make your proficiency as an interpreter known. Create a brand for yourself so your work speaks for you. Further, you can connect to relevant people across the globe effortlessly.
Create a website
Another effortless way to network is to create a website that can serve as your portfolio. This can be especially useful if you are a freelancer. On your website, you can add any information you think is relevant, such as
- Educational qualifications
- Contact information like your professional email address
- Past experiences
- References from past clients
- Specializations
- Willingness/Ability to take on new interpretation jobs and gigs
- The kind of projects you are looking for
Websites can let potential clients know more about you and your work without going through the hassle of contacting you. This ensures that only the right people with the right opportunities contact you.
Tip: You can link your social media accounts to your website to increase visibility and engagement.
Attend events
If you prefer the traditional route, you can attend events that offer ample opportunities to network. The Deaf community often hosts interesting events like silent dinners, workshops, happy hours, coffee chats, and many more. Attending such events is a great way to immerse yourself in the Deaf culture and network while having a good time!
You can also look for interpreting networking events that are hosted for the sole purpose of networking. In such events, you can meet interpreters with varied experiences, opinions, and skills.
Generally speaking, any event can be a great opportunity for you to network, whether it is with Deaf or hard-of-hearing people, working interpreters, or people from other professions.
Ensure that your confidence shines through in the conversations that you strike. If you appear nervous, people will catch on, and your networking exercise might not go as smoothly as you expected it to. If you feel the nerves creeping up on you, remember to take a deep breath and fake it till you make it!
Tip: Follow up with the connections that you make at these events. Connect with them via social media.
Join professional affiliations
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), and other organizations often have committees, task forces, and councils you can join. Becoming an active member of such organizations can connect you with numerous stakeholders.
Conclusion
Whether you dread it or love it, networking is part of being an interpreter. It can help you take your career to the next level. Sometimes, networking might mean time away from your actual job. It’s best to think of networking as a marketing effort that will help you expand.
If you are a skilled ASL interpreter looking to join a community of interpreters while working on projects, look no further. Unspoken Language Services is a boutique agency owned and operated by ASL interpreters. The agency culture centers around fostering meaningful relationships that can help deliver better results. Join us today to experience a people-first approach to interpreting.
Thumbnail Credit: Photo by RDNE Stock Project
