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Sign Language Interpreter skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted Experts
Laura Polhemus Ph.D.,
Katty Kauffman
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sign language interpreter skills. We ranked the top skills for sign language interpreters based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 19.8% of sign language interpreter resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sign language interpreter needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sign language interpreter skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how sign language interpreters use customer service:
  • Provide high customer service while interpreting with insurance terminology.
  • Volunteer, Army community services Customer Service Representative/Cashier

2. ASL

American Sign Language (ASL) is a language that communicates ideas by using hand signs, facial expressions, and body posture.

Here's how sign language interpreters use asl:
  • Provided ASL interpreting services for medical interpreting and religious interpreting including funerals, religious events and services
  • Provide ASL interpreting services for members of the Deaf community in education, mental health, business, and medical settings.

3. Registry

Registry is a list of products or people, depending on the purpose. A registry listing products may be used for weddings, where guests are encouraged to buy the new couple home goods. A registry may also be used for keeping track of people registered for an event or people who may have a rare disease or be waiting for an organ transplant.

Here's how sign language interpreters use registry:
  • Maintain professional standards as delineated in the Code of Ethics of the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
  • Received CT certification from the Potomac Chapter of the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf in 1980.

4. Patients

Here's how sign language interpreters use patients:
  • Assisted doctors and patients in information interpretation for clinical diagnoses.
  • Facilitate communication among deaf/hard of hearing patients and medical staff

5. Sign Language

Sign language is a system of communication using gestures and signs. The deaf community applies sign language when communicating with each other or other people.

Here's how sign language interpreters use sign language:
  • Collaborated as a sign language interpreter with deaf education teachers assisting daily to perform duties that included mainstreaming students in hearing classrooms
  • Provided in-classroom American Sign Language interpretation and language/communicative support to elementary-aged students enrolled in Columbia County's Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program.

6. English Language

Here's how sign language interpreters use english language:
  • Converted written materials from both Czech and English language -books, publications or legal documents.
  • Assisted foreign students to integrate into an English languageenvironment.

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7. Language

Here's how sign language interpreters use language:
  • Interpreted both legal terminology and colloquial language * Accompanied foreign visitor and facilitated communication between receiving party and visitors
  • Interpreted all language necessary for student's education for the purpose of facilitating effective communication.

8. Deaf Culture

Deaf culture is referred to as the way of living of the deaf community and includes their beliefs, core values, language, behaviors, and more. The sign language is the main form of communication in the deaf culture. In America, the ASL, American Sign Language, is used while other countries like Australia have their own sign languages. The deaf culture enjoys its own sense of humor, arts, literature and experiences. In culture, deafness is not perceived as a disability. Instead, they are proud of their uniqueness and happy in their skin. Some behaviors common to the deaf culture include eye contact, touch, closeness and thumping on tables or floors.

Here's how sign language interpreters use deaf culture:
  • Have an understanding of Deaf culture and how that affects communication.

9. Facilitate Communication

Facilitating communication helps a person with a communication disability interpret and communicate with their peers. A facilitator is assigned in a medical/schooling environment who bridges the gap between a doctor, teacher, or classmates and the person with communication disability. Facilitating communication can also help a professional interpret the disabled person or help the disabled person communicate through hand gestures, motion, or eye movement. These facilitators can be employed in many settings, including a church, school, weddings, funerals and more.

Here's how sign language interpreters use facilitate communication:
  • Facilitate communication between organization representatives i.e.
  • Facilitate communication between hearing impaired student and hearing teachers and students*Tutor students in all subjects as assigned by teacher

10. IEP

Here's how sign language interpreters use iep:
  • Attend classes with student Interpret lessons and social settings Help student accomplish work task Help reach IEP Goals
  • Interpreted in multiple settings including IEP meetings, tests, assemblies, and different classroom settings.

11. RID Code

Here's how sign language interpreters use rid code:
  • Follow all procedures and guidelines as provided by the RID Code of Professional conduct
  • Maintain RID Code of Professional Conduct in all settings.

12. Sign-To-Voice

Here's how sign language interpreters use sign-to-voice:
  • Worked with students and staff/faculty to interpret sign-to-voice and voice-to sign.
  • Interpret from sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign in a variety of educational settings.

13. Mediation

Here's how sign language interpreters use mediation:
  • Developed Excellence In Business Mediation and Teacher training courses.

14. Hearing Individuals

Here's how sign language interpreters use hearing individuals:
  • Provided interpretation services to facilitate phone communication between Deaf or hard of hearing and hearing individuals.
  • Provided communication between Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Hearing individuals using video relay services.

15. Interpretation Services

Interpretation services refers to the process of translating information from one language to another. These services can be for languages that are spoken or signed and require the translator to be fluent in both languages and even the tones necessary to convey the messages.

Here's how sign language interpreters use interpretation services:
  • Collaborate w/fellow interpreters to provide high-quality interpretation services.
  • Obtained clearance from Department of Homeland Security to handle asylum and immigration related remote interpretation services for the USCIS.
top-skills

What skills help Sign Language Interpreters find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What Sign Language Interpreter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Laura Polhemus Ph.D.

Advanced Assistant Professor, Bethel University

We are continuing to see more and more virtual interpreting. Knowing how to use technology, how to set up a background and lighting for optimal viewing, and having strategies for making interpreting happen smoothly on various virtual platforms is essential. The Center for Atypical Language Interpreting offers many resources that will prepare you to work with individuals from a variety of language backgrounds. There are many Deaf individuals obtaining advanced degrees and working in high level positions. Knowing how to behave with the utmost professionalism in a multitude of work settings and having strong academic language skills in both American Sign Language and English are important in working with these individuals.

What type of skills will young Sign Language Interpreters need?

Katty KauffmanKatty Kauffman LinkedIn Profile

US-based Freelance Interpreter, member of AIIC, representative of the VEGA Outreach and Mentoring Network, International Association of Conference Interpreters

Interpreters need a range of skills, which fall roughly into three categories:
- Skills covered by your university program. These include technical skills in Simultaneous Interpreting, Consecutive Interpreting and Sight Translation, as well as professional ethics. Ethics are increasingly important at the moment when, because of Covid-related health restrictions, many of us are, unfortunately, having to work without a boothmate until normality returns, and still need to maintain a high level of trust with agencies and clients.
- Skills you may not have covered in school, which are vital as a freelancer. You need soft skills to help you network and engage with potential clients. Applying for pre-candidacy and subsequently joining AIIC as a full member can also raise your visibility within the industry.
An understanding of how to run your own business is also essential. Know what contract you are being offered, how to write an invoice, and which tax structure is best for you. If you are planning on working for yourself, be aware of what is happening with the PRO Act (H.R.2474) and the consequences it may have for freelance workers.
-Technical skills. On the business side, you are creating your own brand, so nowadays, you need a website and a social media presence. Understanding the workings of various RSI platforms and the equipment you need is also fundamental.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about Sign Language Interpreter

List of sign language interpreter skills to add to your resume

Sign Language Interpreter Skills

The most important skills for a sign language interpreter resume and required skills for a sign language interpreter to have include:

  • Customer Service
  • ASL
  • Registry
  • Patients
  • Sign Language
  • English Language
  • Language
  • Deaf Culture
  • Facilitate Communication
  • IEP
  • RID Code
  • Sign-To-Voice
  • Mediation
  • Hearing Individuals
  • Interpretation Services
  • Language Services
  • Public Schools
  • K-12
  • Rehabilitation
  • Support Services
  • Mental Health
  • Translation Services
  • Educational Environment
  • Education Plan
  • Vice Versa
  • Deaf Community
  • LEP
  • Disabilities ACT
  • Social Services
  • Deaf-Blind
  • Emergency Situations
  • Classroom Lectures
  • Target Language
  • Medical Appointments
  • Hearing Consumers
  • Community Events
  • Law Enforcement
  • Message Content
  • Government Agencies
  • Doctor Appointments
  • Thai

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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