In recent years, the number of people who have been learning sign language has increased significantly and it is now considered to be one of the fastest growing professions in the world.
You may think that sign language would, in a way, serve a single purpose, but you will find that there are many opportunities and different avenues of work that this skill plays a huge role in.
The demand for sign language interpreters is increasing as more and more businesses are starting to use sign language to communicate with their customers.
This means that if you want to work in this field, then you may need to make sure that you get your qualifications before applying for any job, otherwise you could end up wasting time and money on training courses.
What sign language jobs are there?
The variety of jobs available in this career may surprise you. From notetakers to lip-speakers there's much more out there than just your standard sign language interpreter position.
There are a fair few types of sign language jobs available, including:
- Sign language interpreter - These individuals use their extensive knowledge of multiple languages to interpret the meaning from one spoken or signed language to another spoken or signed language
- Sign language translator - A sign language interpreter translates spoken words into sign languages or vice versa.
- Lip-Speaker - A Lip-Speaker silently speaks the words to the lip-reader using clear lip movements. They often use facial expression and body language to communicate their messages.
- Sign language teacher - A teacher is someone who is rightly qualified to educate learners and teach students how to sign.
- Teacher for the deaf - In this role you would be educating deaf students whether it be in ordinary subjects or sign language.
- Deaf blind interpreter - Using their knowledge of a spoken language and a sign language a deaf blind interpreter translates between a deaf blind person and another individual.
- Note taker - Someone who takes handwritten notations which a deaf person reads and may take away for review or reference.
Can I do Sign Language for a Career?
Yes! And you can absolutely make a living from a career in sign language – and that’s not just because it is one of the fastest growing professions. The fact is, there are many different ways to earn money as an interpreter or translator.
If a career as a sign language interpreter is what you are after, you may want to consider working at public gatherings or conferences translating what is being said and speeches that are made. grade schools or universities, business settings and technical fields. And theatre or television productions quite often need interpreters to translate for viewers. Or, you could perhaps work in the mental, legal and medical fields, although further certifications or training may be required for this to be possible.
You don’t have to be fluent in another language to work as an interpreter – all you need is a good understanding of the English language and some basic knowledge of the target language.
There are no formal qualifications required to enter the profession of sign language interpretation but you must have a good level of communication skills.
In order to qualify as a sign language interpreter you must have:
- An excellent command of both written and spoken English
- Good listening skills
- Ability to read lips
- Knowledge of the target language
- Fluency in the target language
- Experience of working in a professional environment
However, your salary will depend on the type of position that you apply for and the experience that you have gained.
If you are looking for a high paying job then you should consider working for a company such as British Sign Language Interpreting Services Ltd (BSLI). BSLI offers a wide range of services including interpreting at sporting events, conferences and meetings, court hearings, schools and universities, hospitals and clinics, prisons and other institutions.
An alternative option would be to become a freelance interpreter which could be a very lucrative business if you have experience and knowledge of your subject area.
You could start off by volunteering in centres or clubs for people who are deaf and gain some relevant training and experience before then moving onto paid positions.
Although the best way to get started with this career path would be by starting out as an apprentice. This will give you the opportunity to gain work experience whilst earning money.
Entering the career of sign language can sometimes mean travelling the world for some with amazing opportunities presenting themselves due to the vast range of positions and needs for signers out there.
Sign Language Interpreter Jobs
So you've decided you want to become a sign language interpreter? But where are the best places to look for available jobs? Let's find out...
You can get into this role via completing a relevant university course or through gaining experience in a trainee scheme.
The first place to look for sign language interpreter jobs is most obviously online. There are plenty of websites offering opportunities to those wanting to work in the field.
Working freelance or through agencies is a common thing among interpreters and a lot of work tends to come from previous customers coming to you for more work or recommending you to friends. A useful quality in this field would be an insight into the challenges and needs of those who are deaf.
Sign language interpreter jobs can be found on popular job seekers websites like 'Indeed', 'National Careers' and 'Glassdoor'. The key to being successful in your job search is to be persistent and don't let any opportunity pass you by.
Here's a list of job sites with the most traffic that we have put together to aid in your search -
- Indeed
- Glassdoor
- Job search
- Monster
- ZipRecruiter
- SimplyHired
- CareerBuilder
- Snag
- LinkUp
- Craigslist Jobs
Some sites offer a searchable database of vacancies while others allow you to create your own profile and upload your CV.
It's important to remember that these websites are only able to provide you with information about current vacancies so you'll need to keep checking back regularly to see what new roles are becoming available.
Another great resource for finding sign language interpreter jobs is through social media.
Alternatively, going in person to establishments who you know require a sign language interpreter and leaving them with your CV and a good impression goes a long way and shows that you're willing to put in the effort with your work.
Jobs for Deaf People
Being deaf shouldn't stop anyone from working if that's what they wish to do and with these amazing job seeking sites for the deaf that are coming up it's certainly more than possible to find yourself a job regardless of your disability.
Although, yes, some jobs are definitely off the table for those who are deaf or have issues with their hearing.
For example, most jobs operating or working around heavy machinery are not suitable and unless your hearing is above a certain level then being in the armed forces, being a police officer or a pilot won't be possible.
Also anyone working on a ship out at sea (known as seafarers) or working on the railways as a railway engineer is required to have full hearing.
But very minimal compared to the large pool of all the jobs that a deaf person is allowed to do and can carry out perfectly well or even better than a hearing person.
The majority of health and safety worries in regards to deaf employees can be easily remedied and it is the employers who are required to make adjustments under the equality acts and make sure that their deaf employees are safe at work which can be done by using technology to alert the deaf person with a flashing fire alarm or a fire alert message sent to their phone in case of the alarm being set off.
Employers sometimes require you to take a fitness for work or health and safety assessment to ensure that you and everyone else in the workplace can stay safe.
There are a number of sites specified for those in the deaf community to find work. Some of the largest and oldest of these sites include:
- Deafunity.com - This website has been around since 1996 and provides information about the industry and also lists vacancies. It's easy to navigate through the site and search for jobs based on location, skills required and languages needed.
- ASLInterpreters.com - This site was set up back in 2005 and is trusted by many big companies and organisations to supply experienced interpreters.
- Interpreters International Association (IAI) - This site lists over 200 companies across the globe that offer sign language interpreter jobs. It also has information about what qualifications are required for each position.
- British Sign Language Interpreting Service (BSLIS) - This is the largest provider of sign language interpreter jobs in the UK.
Some alternative options:
- interpals.com
- signlanguagejobs.co.uk
- translatingcareer.com
- singlang.org
- interpretersource.com
In conclusion, there is a lot of support and avenues out there for those who are deaf and looking for their next employment opportunity, and now you know where to look!
Summarise with AI:
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
