If you have an international conference coming up, and people from other cultural and linguistic backgrounds will be attending, then you absolutely have to think about how to, well, bridge the language gap. And, as you probably already know, the solution is clear. You have to hire interpreters and let them help you bridge that gap, ensuring that everyone understands everyone clearly.
Overcoming those language barriers can help companies dip into the global talent pool as well, as discussed here: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/09/10/how-companies-can-overcome-language-barriers-to-tap-into-global-talent-pools/
Anyway, let us stick to those conferences. Basically, it is clear that you need to use conference interpretation services in order to ensure that everything will run smoothly. While you may know that already, chances are that you are a bit worried about the actual process of getting those services, as you want to ensure that you’re getting good ones. And, it is completely normal for you to be a bit concerned and to want to learn how to do this the right way, instead of rushing into things and just making random decisions.
So, what we are going to do right now is talk in a bit more details about how you can get great conference interpretation services. In other words, we are going to share some steps you’ll have to take, and talk about the things you need to take into account, in an effort to help you make the right decisions. Without any further ado, thus, let us get started.
Find More Agencies
As you may very well understand by now, what you will have to do is find and partner up with an interpretation agency that will be able to offer you the services you need. Clearly, though, you shouldn’t just randomly pick one or the other. Quite on the contrary, you will have to make a careful choice, and in order to be able to do that, you will first need to find more potential candidates – that is, more agencies that can offer you this.
Start by talking to some other business owners and checking if they have any kinds of recommendations to share, in the event that they have already used these services in the past. But, don’t stop there. Instead, take your time to also search for these agencies online, as most of them will have their own websites, which will allow you to easily find them, as well as to easily check what it is precisely that they can offer. These two steps should, clearly, help you make a list of potential candidates.
Check the Languages Offered
Once that list is made, you’ll be ready to start digging deeper for information. And, of course, one of the first things you should check is which languages are offered by specific agencies. To get great Conference Interpretation Services, you’ll have to check the languages offered by different agencies, and determine which ones offer the pairs that you need.
Remember, though, that it is always a good idea to partner up with those professionals that offer plenty of languages, because, even if you only need one language right now, you may expand your business in the future, and thus wind up requiring other languages as well.
Check for Certifications
Clearly, you’ll also have to check if the interpreters working with particular agencies are actually properly certified. After all, you will be paying for these services, and you want to get the best ones. So, hiring someone who is bilingual will not be enough, as they won’t be trained for interpretation, and they may not be able to do a great, efficient, job, even if they do understand everything that is said. Therefore, you should always choose those experts that are certified for interpretation work, so don’t forget to check that.
Check Experience
We cannot fail to mention the fact that you’ll also want to check the level of experience. The more experienced certain agencies are in this line of work, the higher the chances that they will be able to connect you to amazing interpreters, and thus provide you with great services.
So, take some time to find this piece of information on their official sites, or elsewhere online, or get in touch with them and inquire about this directly, in case you can’t find the info using the World Wide Web. The point is that you should check experience, and how you’ll do it is up to you.
Assess Subject Matter Expertise
The next thing you want to do is, of course, assess whether the interpreters you’re considering are knowledgeable on the actual topic of your conference. Subject matter expertise is important, because you want the professionals to know their way around a topic, to be able to, well, get the message across successfully.
So, check if they have interpreted at similar events and in similar industries before, and inquire about how they get prepared for specialized terminology. Perhaps this could also help you make the right choice.
Check Out the Equipment and Tech Solutions Used
Whether you are looking for on-site or virtual interpreting, one thing is for sure. You will want the professionals you hire to be using top notch equipment and the right tech solutions to support their work and help them be efficient and successful. Microphones, headsets, control units, mixers etc. Check what the professionals are comfortable with, and what kinds of tech solutions they use, so as to be able to make a smart choice.
Read Some Reviews
Reading reviews written by previous clients is also important. This will help you determine the actual quality of the conference interpretation services you can get from one agency or another. As well as, of course, their general reputation, which is also important for making the right choice.
Have Interviews
Finally, you should have a few interviews. In other words, talk to a few different agencies you are considering. Ask any questions you have, evaluate their answers, and assess the general quality of communication. Of course, don’t forget to check the fees as well, and compare them, aiming at ultimately getting the most reasonable solution.
