What does a spanish interpreter do?
A Spanish interpreter specializes in orally translating Spanish to English language and vice-versa, primarily to bridge the communication gap from one person to another. Their responsibilities typically revolve around meeting with clients to determine their preferences, keeping conversations confidential, conversing according to the purpose of events, and translating documents or written materials when necessary. A Spanish interpreter may also work independently or for a company. Furthermore, it is essential to remain professional and build rapport with clients to establish a strong client base.
Spanish interpreter responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real spanish interpreter resumes:
- Provide accurate Spanish interpretation to LEP in medical, legal and social settings.
- Serve as a simultaneous interpreter between providers and patients keeping communication efficient by taking consideration of cultural differences between them.
- Make the LEP feel comfortable enough to honestly and accurately convey information.
- Create worksheets and design activities to teach an ESL student to read, write, and speak English.
- Host for the Latino parent meetings at the school with information about the community, resources, and events.
- Contract by Johannesburg government to interpret for non-English speaking defendants.
- Interpret between English and the applicable non-English language using simultaneous and consecutive modes of interpretation.
- Function as a facility interpreter working with clinical personnel as well as interfacing with Spanish-speaking patients and their families.
- Assist in the interpretation of school-parent conferences, such as, IEP, RTI.
- Attend IEP team meetings for the purpose of serving as an interpreter for parents and families.
- Create education and promotional materials relate to Latino health and wellness.
Spanish interpreter skills and personality traits
We calculated that 41% of Spanish Interpreters are proficient in Patients, Medical Terminology, and Translation Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Cultural sensitivity, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Spanish Interpreters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 41%
Served as a simultaneous interpreter between providers and patients keeping communication efficient by taking consideration of cultural differences between them.
- Medical Terminology, 13%
Certified in medical terminology and translation and demonstrated a working knowledge of medical terminology.
- Translation Services, 4%
Provide interpreting and/or translation services for Spanish speakers in an engaged educational environment.
- Spanish Language, 3%
Implement professional-level translations of all company literature into the Spanish language to allow equal opportunity and access for Spanish-speaking clients.
- Language Services, 3%
Updated the Department of Language Services information throughout the hospital.
- Health Insurance, 2%
Help in the communications with health insurance companies, banks, telecommunication companies and any other company requiring Spanish interpreting skills.
Common skills that a spanish interpreter uses to do their job include "patients," "medical terminology," and "translation services." You can find details on the most important spanish interpreter responsibilities below.
Business skills. The most essential soft skill for a spanish interpreter to carry out their responsibilities is business skills. This skill is important for the role because "self-employed interpreters and translators must be able to manage their finances." Additionally, a spanish interpreter resume shows how their duties depend on business skills: "facilitate communication during medical interviews, court hearings, therapy sessions, school and business meetings. "
Cultural sensitivity. Another essential skill to perform spanish interpreter duties is cultural sensitivity. Spanish interpreters responsibilities require that "interpreters and translators must be aware of expectations among the people for whom they are helping to facilitate communication." Spanish interpreters also use cultural sensitivity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "facilitate communication across cultural differences. "
Dexterity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of spanish interpreters is dexterity. This skill is critical to many everyday spanish interpreter duties, as "sign language interpreters must be able to make quick and coordinated hand, finger, and arm movements when interpreting." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "contracted with nexus interpreting service interpreting solutions sign language specialists able hands alpha and omega interpreting"
Interpersonal skills. spanish interpreter responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "interpreters and translators must be able to put clients and others at ease." This resume example shows what spanish interpreters do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "focused on middle-elementary students' language and communication skills in building positive interpersonal relationships. "
Listening skills. Another common skill required for spanish interpreter responsibilities is "listening skills." This skill comes up in the duties of spanish interpreters all the time, as "interpreters must pay attention when interpreting for audiences to ensure that they hear and interpret correctly." An excerpt from a real spanish interpreter resume shows how this skill is central to what a spanish interpreter does: "listen to the professional and orally translate in first person using proper medical terminology making communication clear between the two parties. "
The three companies that hire the most spanish interpreters are:
- Kelly Services143 spanish interpreters jobs
- Stoughton Trailers20 spanish interpreters jobs
- TransPerfect14 spanish interpreters jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable spanish interpreter resume templates
Build a professional spanish interpreter resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your spanish interpreter resume.
Compare different spanish interpreters
Spanish interpreter vs. Freelance translator
A freelance translator is an independent contractor specializing in translating audio or written materials into a particular language. They primarily communicate with clients to identify their needs and preferences, including project specifications such as deadlines and format. Being a freelance translator means that they can work remotely at their preferred schedule, most of the time, working from home. They are not employed under a company, which is why most freelance translators prepare their own portfolios and create client bases through websites and other platforms.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, spanish interpreter responsibilities require skills like "patients," "medical terminology," "spanish language," and "language services." Meanwhile a typical freelance translator has skills in areas such as "web content," "user manuals," "financial reports," and "subtitles." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Freelance translators tend to reach higher levels of education than spanish interpreters. In fact, freelance translators are 13.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Spanish interpreter vs. Cryptologic linguist
Cryptologic linguists are lingual professionals who are responsible for using signals equipment to identify and analyze foreign communications. These linguists must assist intelligence community analysts in translating open source and sensitive materials as well as producing comprehensive reports about the daily activities of their enemies. They are required to supervise a team of other linguistic professionals to provide transcriptions and analysis from foreign communications. Cryptologic linguists must also identify the languages spoken at target geographic areas of interest.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real spanish interpreter resumes. While spanish interpreter responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "medical terminology," "translation services," and "spanish language," cryptologic linguists use skills like "tip," "national security," "signals intelligence," and "language training."
In general, cryptologic linguists achieve similar levels of education than spanish interpreters. They're 3.5% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Spanish interpreter vs. Technical translator
Technical Translation is the act of translating materials in a specific technical or scientific subject domain. A Technical Translator understands the nitty-gritty of the subject matter and knows the specialized terms in that field in both the source and secondary languages. This individual works to produce translations and interpretations of either written or oral communications of one language to another for a specific purpose or industry. As a Technical Translator, your duties may include interpreting conferences and emails in an organization.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, spanish interpreters are more likely to have skills like "patients," "medical terminology," "spanish language," and "language services." But a technical translator is more likely to have skills like "technical translation," "technical manuals," "proofreading," and "user interface."
Technical translators earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $76,753. Spanish interpreters earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $50,558.technical translators typically earn higher educational levels compared to spanish interpreters. Specifically, they're 7.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Spanish interpreter vs. Language translator
Language translators are linguistic professionals who are responsible for converting information from one language to another to help people read the translation based on the original source. These translators must use a computer to translate the original language into their native language. They can work for software development companies as under contract independent foreign language translators. They must utilize target language to translate and transcribe critical information and performing immediate data analysis. Language translators must also provide interpretations for meetings, conferences, and administrative hearings for any sponsored functions.
Types of spanish interpreter
Updated January 8, 2025
