Careers Talk on Conference Interpreting

The event will be held online and hosted by the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Interpreting.
Join the event using this link: https://ec.interactio.eu/nl1z-c95k-i4zp
 

Please note that the link only works using Chrome and have a read through the guidelines for participation before connecting.

 Code of Conduct for Remote Speakers in Multilingual Meetings and Conferences
 Interactio Guidelines for Remote Participants
 Interpretation Disclaimer

Are you a native speaker of English? Or a native speaker of Irish? Are you studying EU languages?
Maybe you’re interested in interpreting as a career? Or, maybe you don’t know much about it yet?

Well, this event will tell you all you need to know about becoming a conference interpreter and what career opportunities are available at the European institutions.
 

Staff interpreters of the Commission’s English and Irish Interpreting Unit will discuss what a conference interpreter does, the qualities we are looking for in graduates, and how to embark on a career working for the EU institutions. We’ll cover postgraduate courses of study, language requirements, and the process of becoming an accredited freelance interpreter. Our aim is to present to you the career opportunities that exist – for both English and Irish native speakers, for colleagues based in Brussels and those living abroad, and for freelance and staff interpreters. 

We’ll share our own experiences of starting out and discuss what it’s like to work for the biggest interpreting service in the world. The talk will be held in both Irish and English, with interpretation into English.

A little bit of background information:
The Directorate-General for Interpretation (DG SCIC) is the European Commission’s joint interpretation and conferencing service. It provides interpretation for more than 6000 meetings per year and for a range of customers including other Commission Directorate Generals, the Council of Ministers, the European Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. With about 50 staff and 90 active freelancers working regularly in the English and Irish booth, we are part of the biggest interpretation service provider in the world.
 

The Knowledge Centre on Interpretation (KCI) is the reference platform for interpretation, in which DG SCIC manages, shares and disseminates knowledge and standards for interpretation. It also offers collaborative spaces for knowledge-sharing and discussion. While the main focus is on conference interpreting, there are also sections dedicated to other types of interpreting (public service, legal and humanitarian interpreting), as well as to sign language interpreting.

Event Schedule
6.00-6.20pm Welcome & an overview of the event by:

• Morag Neath, Head of the English and Irish Interpretation Unit, European Commission DG SCIC
• Mike Williams, EU General Affairs & Institutions Section, Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU
   

6.20-6.55pm A day in the life of an interpreter

• Skills and qualifications needed to become an interpreter
• Pathways into interpreting & job opportunities with DG SCIC interpreters Kevin McCarthy & Aisling Ní Chatháin

6.55-7.25pm Q&A session for all participants

7.30pm End of event