Land a Linguistic Job at Lunch
MSU students attend luncheon with Bromberg & Associates

In spite of the current troublesome state of Michigan’s economy, some Michigan students have great potential for employment upon graduation. Continuous globalization is requiring students to gain new skills, such as bi- or multilingualism, cultural insight and international business knowledge. Students, who recognize and embrace the changing demands in today’s economy, have more opportunities in the marketplace after graduation. For example, one of the top 10 growing professions according to the Department of Labor is interpreting and translating. Of course, becoming a professional interpreter and/or translator is more than simply possessing bilingual skills. Becoming a professional interpreter means mastering three modes of interpretation, knowing and being able to apply code of ethics and standards of practice, having tremendous terminology resources available momentarily, in-depth knowledge of various topics, and so on.

This topic was at the center of discussion last Friday, December 7th at the Michigan State Land a Job at Lunch program. Jinny Bromberg, of Bromberg & Associates, met with the students to share her experiences as a 14-year veteran of the language industry. Students majoring in literature, international business, economics, political science, and English and foreign languages flocked to the luncheon eager to learn about the logistics in linguistics. “Being bilingual and able to understand other cultures, does not only offer an individual a great competitive edge,” – said Bromberg. “Soon it will become a prerequisite for success in the global market.” This is the reason why the job market for interpreters and translators is expanding and studies show a great potential for further growth in the 21st Century.

The luncheon was a great success. It celebrated the growing interest of the younger generation in professional interpreting and translation. Twenty-four students came to the event and stayed for almost 2 hours instead of the usual 45 minutes. Students asked in-depth questions about ethics, modes of interpreting, training opportunities, internships and volunteering, classroom vs. practical approach and more. Of course, the students were interested in the job market for language industry professionals. Bromberg offered an insider’s look at some of the opportunities currently available for interpreters and translators, beginning with medical interpretation, where qualified language access is one of the key components in assuring quality of care and overall patient satisfaction. With the ever-growing number of people with limited English, healthcare organizations are seeking professional interpreters of Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic and even Tagalog languages. On the other hand, many federal agencies, such as DOD, Department of Homeland Security, and CIA are now looking for professional translators of many languages, including Arabic, Farsi, and Pashto. Many students asked about gaining some practical experience in the industry. Bromberg & Associates offers internship opportunities and undoubtedly will be seeing some of the MSU students in the future!

As the general attitude towards interpreters and translators shifts from “anyone who speaks another language can do it” to a deeper understanding and respect for the complex nature of these professions, more aspiring interpreters and translators will help to further bridging the gap between continents and globalizing our small world as well as present job security for language professionals.