The Couch: Is There Still a Lane for Newcomers?

The Couch: Is There Still a Lane for Newcomers?

If you’re new to The Couch series, check out some of our previous posts:

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (February 2025): A colleague is seeking advice on overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence while navigating the demands of interpreting and translation.
• Starting Fresh – Advice for New Graduates (January 2025): A recent graduate seeks guidance on breaking into judiciary translation and interpreting
• The Couch: Are “Translator Headphones” Giving You the Ick Too?(March 2026):  A conversation about “translator headphones” sparks an uncomfortable realization about how the public misunderstands interpreting and what that could mean for the field.
• For more posts, please explore: The Couch Series

These discussions continue to shape our understanding of best practices in judiciary translation and interpreting.

Seeking Guidance: Breaking Into the Profession

A question from one of our readers:

Hello NAJIT Community,

I currently work as a lash technician, but my long-term goal is to become a language access professional.

I’ve started reaching out to local court systems to learn more about opportunities and pathways into the profession, but I haven’t had much success connecting with the right people.

One challenge I keep running into is the experience question.

I understand that certification is an important step, but many opportunities seem to require experience. At the same time, gaining experience can be difficult when you’re just starting out and don’t have a formal educational pathway into the field.

I have a few questions for the NAJIT community:

• How did you gain experience when you were first starting out?
• What resources, training programs, or opportunities helped you build your skills?
• What advice would you give someone looking to transition into language access from a completely different career?
• If you were starting over today, what would you do first?
• Where do you see the profession heading over the next few years?
• Do you believe there is still a strong lane for newcomers entering the field today?

Thank you for any guidance you can share. I hope to learn from your experiences and one day join you in the field.

Thank you to this week’s Couch contributor!

Keep the Conversation Going

If this topic resonated with you, be sure to check out our previous blog posts for more insights on the realities of our profession, and the evolving world of judiciary translation and interpreting:

• Finding Your Clan — In a profession that can feel isolating, how do we build the trusted networks that help us grow, survive, and thrive together?
• Wait… So What’s the Difference Between The Blog, Cybernews, and Proteus? — Ever wondered what the difference is between The NAJIT Observer, CyberNews, and Proteus?
• Be a Swan, Not a Duck — What does being a swan, not a duck, look like in your interpreting practice?

You can find these and more in our blog archives!

Interested in sharing your insights with our community? Check out Writing for The NAJIT Observer to learn how you can contribute.

The images used in this post are sourced from Unsplash, Pixabay, AI generated, and/or credited to their rightful owner. They are used for illustrative purposes only.

The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position, policies, or views of the NAJIT Board of Directors or the organization as a whole. Content published in The NAJIT Observer is intended to encourage professional dialogue, reflection, and community engagement. Reader discretion is advised where topics may involve complex ethical, professional, or emotionally sensitive subject matter.