Frosty snowy weather which came down on us somewhat earlier than usual this year didn't prevent us from meeting up for networking lunch, this time in York.
Eight of us, Russian interpreters from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Sheffield, Leeds and Cheshire, gathered together to discuss career development, a changing job market, further training, as well as to share previous experiences.
As someone who has obtained a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting earlier this year, I personally could talk with my colleagues about the intricacies of the exam and the advantages of this qualification. One of them is, of course, the opportunity to be admitted to the National Register of Public Service Interpreters, which lists professionals who meet the strict criteria. Obtaining this formal qualification and getting on the National Register were important to me professionally and personally. We all agreed that continuing professional development enabled us to do our job better and more efficiently.
Apart from the benefit of sharing our professional expertise, the meeting provided us with a chance to enjoy the conversation informally, which makes a difference for those of us who tend to do more written work in isolation, rather than face-to-face interpreting.
And no get-together is good without a few jokes and examples from our previous experiences, which put us into a festive spirit in the run-up to Christmas.
Russian interpreters meet up in Strada, York. Anastasiya Shilonosova, Yelena McCafferty, Maria Savelieva, Mikhail Zhabin, Anna Ibrahim, Olga Wilkinson, Svetlana McCue
[Tip: To book a Russian interpreter, call us on 0207 0436940 or email enquiry@talkrussian.com]