Reflect the respect that you deserve

To quote Shakespeare, “apparel oft proclaims the man”.

It has taken me over a year to finally have the courage to write this blog. The reason for my delay was that I did not wish to offend anyone. I realized that many interpreters believe that their skills and professional etiquette are sufficient for any presentation.

But is that enough?

Many times, in the past, I have witnessed interpreters entering the venue with attire that, in my opinion, was “less than par.” There’s no question that our skills and services are the most important part of our profession. But how can you expect people to treat you professionally when you don’t look professional? How can you expect your clients to pay you according to the standard that we are all trying so hard to raise when you can’t meet one of the basic requirements, which is to look professional?

On one occasion, a dear friend of mine, one who works in a different field altogether, attended one of the big conferences where I was working. My friend mistook a fellow interpreter for the venue service personnel, apparently due to her attire.

A question that followed was “Do interpreters not see themselves as professionals? Because if they do, they sure don’t show it.” That statement made me think. Maybe some interpreters are not doing their due diligence in this respect.

In the corporate world, what was previously known as “casual Friday” has somehow taken over the other days of the week. This was exacerbated by the pandemic, which forced society to work from home. But once the pandemic was over, the casual culture remained.

A colleague from NAJIT, David Gilbert, summed it up beautifully “There are a range of possible reasons for some interpreters adopting a casual attitude, but it is my opinion that one cannot expect to be paid and treated as a professional unless one acts and presents themselves as a professional.”

Of course, the court is not a runway and there are no spectators in our booths. However, when we are on a judiciary assignment, we are officers of the court. We are professionals working amongst other legal professionals who make an effort to look business-like when at work. This should apply to us as well.

To follow, here are two examples of dress codes in particular courts:

The guidelines of the District Court of New Jersey state that “interpreters should dress in a manner that reflects the dignity of the court.”

District of Columbia Court clearly cited in their Professional Code of Conduct and Courtroom Protocol that

“All freelance interpreters are expected to maintain a professional image at all times while performing official duties at the court or in the community. It is, therefore, necessary for each interpreter to be well-groomed and appropriately dressed so as to engender the respect of co-workers and the public for that interpreter and for the District of Columbia Courts.

Proper Attire for Women

A business suit, pants suit, dress, or a skirt/slack ensemble with blouse or sweater top is considered proper attire. Sundresses and open-back, off-shoulder, or single-shoulder clothing styles are not regarded as appropriate attire. Athletic shoes or slippers are not appropriate in the workplace.

Proper Attire for Men

A business suit, or dress slacks and sport jacket, with a dress shirt and necktie or dress slacks with a sweater or dress shirt and tie is considered appropriate. A man ’s attire also includes socks and dress footwear. Cloth top or athletic shoes, slippers and sandals are not appropriate in the workplace”

It’s pretty straightforward and clear-cut, right?

So why do many of us still fall short of this simple requirement?

One can’t deny that there’s a bias towards beauty in every culture and well-dressed people usually benefit from that bias in different situations. We all know that a job interview can be influenced by how good one looks when showing up for the appointment. Regardless of how skilled you are at work; would you wear sweatpants to a high-profile hearing that is going to be on national television?

Dressing professionally doesn’t just affect people’s perception of who you are. It can boost self-confidence and help individuals feel more capable and ready to tackle challenges.

For those who’d like to take advantage of this “beauty bias,” here are a few tips for you to create a capsule work wardrobe that can simplify the process of dressing professionally and be easily integrated into your normal routine

I am an outfit capsule junkie and tend to have one prepared for different occasions or work trips. I suggest that you pick out a combination of five business outfits that you can grab and go without having to think about mix and matching when you get called in for court work. The reason for five is so you will have enough to take you through the week if you have to work for that long. Not to mention that these advance preparations may even help stay in control of your busy personal life.

Not keen on mixing and matching or running out of ideas about what and how to pair up different pieces? Pinterest is a good place to check. There are many boards and blogs on Pinterest that offer you a good selection of ideas. Some may have links for you to purchase the items directly from the website.

Other places where you can find some good outfit pairing advice are the retail catalogues that many of us consider to be junk mail. For women’s attire, different retailers like J. Crew, Ann Taylor, and Banana Republic are affordable and fun to browse through. Favorites for men’s attire would be Charles Tyrwhitt, Brooks Brothers, and Johnston Murphy. You may find that you already have something in your closet that is similar to their stylist’s selections.

Another tip that never fails me is to have an all-around jacket in the car. I usually opt for a plain navy blazer with gold buttons that is very conservative and will go with anything. If challenged by a long commute or public transportation, a sweater blazer, a cardigan, or a trench coat are also good options.

Last but not least, don’t forget that footwear is also part of the entire package. I am a fan of comfy shoes and always wear them when walking to the courthouse. After years of searching, I finally found a great “courthouse shoe” that is now part of my “uniform.” There may be times when I don’t have them within reach, therefore, I always carry an additional pair of work shoes.

Personally, creating a capsule wardrobe puts me in the mindset of having a work uniform, which I find really saves me some time having to think about what to wear.

In a nutshell, I think the saying “overdressed is better than underdressed” is a good one. So, when in doubt, just dress up. We may work mostly in booths or in a corner with our portable devices, but we are still walking to and from that workstation. For all of us who are contract interpreters, we never know when the next all-star client or career opportunity will show up. Be ready for it.

 Ann (Jiraporn) Heath-Huynh grew up in a bilingual Thai-English household, using both languages in day-to-day life. Having lived on four continents, she now calls the U.S. home. Following the birth of her daughter in 2010, the chance to work in the language field afforded her an opportunity to change career directions; what began as a part-time job became a career that she is passionate about. After being added to the Maryland Judiciary’s roster of interpreters in 2015, many opportunities opened up to her, eventually leading to Department of State Conference Interpretation for Thai and English. Although she works mostly as a conference interpreter, she has always considered Maryland courts to be her home. Whenever an assignment is offered, she is always pleased to accept it and proudly wear her first-ever interpreter’s badge as a Maryland Judiciary Court Interpreter.  Contact: ann.h.huynh@gmail.com

Main Graphic Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash, Body Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash