It wasn't too long ago that the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) predicted that employment of interpreters and translators would grow an astonishing 46% between 2012 and 2022.  This number alone, which dropped to 29% in 2015, has attracted new individuals to pursue a career in this field, while those of us who are veterans, knowing full well what our job markets have been to this point, have been scratching our heads wondering when and where these T&I jobs would appear.  Anyone working as a freelancer, regardless of the industry, is well aware of the feast or famine phenomenon - you either have so many projects at once that you attempt to juggle them all like a seasoned fire juggler or you would be ecstatic if you received an automated call from that pleasant robotic woman's voice assuring you there are no problems with your current credit card account because, frankly, you haven't received a client call (or a check) in several weeks.  Alas, the freelancer's conundrum.

This year in particular, I have been feasting, which has come as a pleasant change from the trends of years past.  I have added many new clients, acquired new projects, established new collegial connections, and expanded my professional repertoire to include simultaneous (i.e., conference) interpreting.  This spike in activity could be related to the BLS predictions.  It could be that I am now reaping the benefits of having an established presence and good reputation in my field.  It could also be a coincidence that aligned quite nicely with my semester-long sabbatical.  Nevertheless, I realize that, like weather patterns, these conditions could change at any moment.  For now, I'll count my blessings as I indulge in the feast and worry later about the famine.

DOJ human trafficking conference interpretation        

Interpreting for international employees visiting the SC Johnson Headquarters