7 Common Pitfalls New Interpreters Face in the UK and How to Avoid Them
Written By Lachesis Braick
So you are starting out in the UK as an interpreter. Congratulations and be ready for a rollercoaster!
Starting out can be exciting, but it can also feel like navigating a maze. Between setting your rates, managing clients, and building a reputation, to learning how to stand out from the crowd and how/where/when to get work, there’s a lot that isn’t taught in interpreter training programs.
Here are six common mistakes new interpreters make and how you can avoid them to build a sustainable, rewarding freelance career.
1. Ignoring the Importance of Professional Affiliation and Qualifications
In the UK, anyone can technically start looking for interpreting work without formal qualifications. But here’s the catch: while there’s no legal barrier to entry, there’s a professional one.
In this industry, credibility is currency. Professional memberships and qualifications aren’t just fancy extras. They can dramatically increase your visibility, rates, and access to better clients. Think of them as your ticket into the industry’s “members-only” circles.
Many agencies and higher-paying clients search exclusively in professional directories. If you’re not listed, you might not even get considered. They may as well not even know you exist. Yes, membership fees can feel expensive at first, but they’re 100% tax deductible as a business expense.
As a rule, you will need to complete an application, pay a fee, and provide references. For some, the reference can come from any former clients and colleagues, whilst for others, it has to be from an existing member will to vouch for you. Sometimes you also need to complete an assessment. Some of them will also make a distinction between conference and public service interpreters.
The Main UK Professional Bodies for Interpreters
The main ones are:
CIOL: Chartered Institute of Linguists
ITI: Institute of Translation and Interpreting
APCI: Association of Police and Court Interpreters
AIT: Association of Interpreters and Translators
AIIC UK & Ireland: International Association of Conference Interpreters
NRPSI (National Register of Public Service Interpreters): a voluntary regulatory body whose membership is widely regarded as essential for securing serious public-sector work.
The Post-Nominals
Ever seen interpreters with letters after their names? Here is what they mean:
RPSI – Registered Public Service Interpreter
CL – Chartered Linguist
MCIL – Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists
MITI – Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting
FCIL – Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists
FITI – Fellow of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting
Membership Grades
The terminology and membership categories vary across organisations, but one thing to keep in mind is that Full Member and Fellow are the most desirable levels. These are generally reserved for qualified professionals (unless an exception is made for substantial experience). Serious clients and agencies tend to search specifically within these categories. In some cases, if you are not a full member, your name may not even appear in the organisation’s public directory.
Becoming a registered Interpreter
For NRPSI, practitioners hold either Interim (I) or Full (F) status. Full status is to NRPSI like member is to the other organisations. Interim (I) status applies to those who are not yet fully qualified or have not completed 400 hours of Public Service Interpreting (PSI). Full (F) status indicates the practitioner has met this requirement. Courts, police, higher-paying agencies, and direct legal-sector clients often source interpreters from the register, as registered interpreters are voluntarily regulated and bound by a stringent code of conduct, which makes them widely regarded as more professional and reliable.
What if you’re not yet an interpreter or don’t have enough experience?
The terminology may vary slightly across organisations, and you may come across a distinction between public service and conference interpreting. You can join as a Student (in training), Associate (qualified but lacking the required experience), Affiliate (working in a related career), or Pre-Candidate for full membership. The risk of joining a category other than Full Member or Fellow is paying what may seem like high fees, seeing little immediate return, and mistakenly concluding that membership isn’t worthwhile. In reality, it’s Full Membership, Fellowship, or Full Status that most often opens doors. In reality, it’s Full Membership/Fellowship or Full Status that truly opens doors.
While “Fellow” is the highest rank, most professionals remain at the “Member” level. In the case of CIOL, chartership holds particular weight, as it is widely recognisable outside the language industry, especially in fields such as accounting. This means trust, professionalism, and expertise.
Should You Join All of Them?
It depends. I never have, but joining more than one will almost certainly boost your visibility. If you’re starting out on a restricted budget, pick one first and build from there.
Each organisation has its own entry requirements, which usually include proof of qualifications, relevant experience, background checks, references, and sometimes an assessment.
Personal example: I once completed the exact same public-sector assignment for the same agency: once before joining a professional body, and once after. My rate increased tenfold.
How Qualifications Tie In With Everything
To join most professional bodies, you’ll need either recognised qualifications or enough verified experience to be considered equivalent. With significant experience and qualifications from another field, it is sometimes possible to join without formal study, but they often make you get there faster.
The main ones to know:
DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting) – Law Option: It is known as “the gold standard for court interpreting”. It’s a degree-level exam that proves you can handle legal settings. Even with experience, a preparatory course is recommended. You can sit the exam face-to-face with CIOL or remotely with DPSI Online.
Master’s in Conference Interpreting: the top credential for high-level conference and academic work. The exams are a lot denser Typically you will study one year full-time or two years part-time, with a strong focus on EU/UN accreditation exams.
The Bottom Line
You can work as a court or conference interpreter without qualifications or memberships, but you’ll almost certainly struggle to secure the best rates and working conditions. I feel even the way clients address you about your pay is different when you are qualified and affiliated with professional bodies. In my experience, (as a Portuguese interpreter), especially in public-sector court interpreting (the only one I find worth doing), having a DPSI Law + full status with NRPSI can get you to higher rates faster. In fact, some of my court interpreting assignments pay more than the conference interpreting ones I do, and certainly above the market average. This, again, may have to do with my location and language combination.
2. Thinking Like an Employee Instead of a Business
Freelance interpreting is not a job; it’s a business. That means no fixed income, barely any employment rights, and no-one handling admin for you. It also means you have to go out there and get what you deserve. You will be an army of one.
You’ll need to manage:
Drafting quotes and invoices
Following up on late payments (a frequent issue in the UK)
Negotiating rates and terms
Handling cancellations and no-shows
Marketing
Talking about money clearly and confidently
Paying for your own clearances
To run efficiently, set up templates for:
Quotes
Invoices
Client emails
Terms & Conditions
This saves time, ensures consistency, and helps you present yourself professionally.
Here's a great article on how to manage non-billables by the way: https://www.braick.com/blog/five-ways-ive-become-more-efficient-with-non-billable-work-as-a-freelance-interpreter
3. Not Understanding How Agencies Work
If your mindset is to “just interpret and get paid,” you’ll struggle. The UK market is largely controlled by agencies that hire freelancers on a casual, on-demand basis, not as employees.
So yes, the market is dominated by agencies. But that doesn’t mean they’re all the same, or that their loyalty is guaranteed. It's a bit like being on a dating app.
A few things to keep in mind:
When agency staff change, you may no longer be their go-to interpreter, or you may suddenly become one of them again.
A lovely project manager may forget you because they are so busy and have other options.
The largest agencies which frequently advertise on Indeed and Linkedin, pay less and offer less flexibility for you to use your T&C. Smaller ones may pay better but offer less frequent work.
Some agencies choose interpreters based purely on location or familiarity with their internal team, so not necessarily skill.
Some agencies request multiple quotes for the same job, fishing for the lowest possible rate to maximise their profit.
Still, there are agencies that pay fairly and respect interpreters. Remember: once you're a member of a professional body, they’re more likely to reach out to you. Without professional membership, do not expect the highest rates or the best conditions.
When negotiating, always make sure your terms and conditions are spelled out clearly. If you have issues with a client, make sure that once you're done being upset at them or yourself, you go straight back to your T&C and tweak it.
Tip: Tools like ProZ and Companies House can help you research an agency’s financial health and reputation.
4. Not Showcasing Yourself Properly
Many talented interpreters are overlooked because they don’t present themselves effectively. If you're applying for work in the UK, make sure you're showcasing yourself the right way:
Relevant
If you’re just starting out, consider doing a few volunteer assignments to get experience. This allows you to list relevant roles and build credibility. Always tailor your CV to the specific assignment or sector you're applying for. General CVs rarely make an impact and CVs featuring experience that goes against a client's values can be rejected. If your CV is going to agencies, make sure you provide a clear idea of the areas you like to work with.
Concise
Stick to two pages max. Focus on what matters to you prospective client. Avoid listing work experience from another career unless they directly connect to the theme of the assignment.
UK-appropriate
There’s no need to include personal information like age, nationality, religion, marital status, or a photo. These are not standard practice in the UK and could be off-putting.
Attractive & Targeted
A tailored CV makes a real difference. If a client requests your CV for a particular assignment, highlight relevant experience, but be strategic. For example, say the job involves people affected by mining, and you have experience with high profile assignments within a mining company. It might be wise to leave that out. It’s about showing the client the version of your experience that best suits their needs.
Do more than just build a CV
Don’t rely exclusively on your CV and potential cover letter. Build a portfolio and online presence:
Collect public reviews on platforms such as Proz, LinkedIn, or Google (pro bono clients are often easiest to get).
Share links to any public assignments you've worked on.
Make sure you state your working languages and preferred assignments on your public profiles (I get a lot of direct clients due to that)
Create a professional website or use your LinkedIn profile to demonstrate experience, soft skills, and give you visibility.
A Final Note on Professionalism
I tend to keep my online presence professional and neutral even on my personal profiles. If you look me up, you'll know very little about my personal life and my stance on contentious topics. As interpreters, we’re expected to be impartial. And we all are. But clients may have their own biases, and when they entrust us with their message, they relinquish control. Posting personal or polarising content may be off-putting to certain clients, especially those whose views differ from yours.
Showcase your skills, stay professional, and let your experience speak for you.
5. Panicking Over Lack of Work
Slow periods happen to everyone, including the more experienced folks. When you’re new, it’s normal to have weeks with no offers. Even as a well-established interpreter, the ups and downs can create a lot of stress.
Sometimes work comes when you’re already booked or exhausted. Other times, you’re motivated, rested, and available, but nothing appears in your inbox and no phone calls are made. A client might absolutely love your work and still book someone else next time. Why? Because the market is fluid. Budget change. New names pop up. It’s rarely personal, although sometimes it may feel like it. Again, think of it as like being on a dating app.
In the early days, quiet months sent me into full panic mode (and yes, I still get antsy sometimes). I’d start questioning my rates, my choices, and even my career. One month I’d be on the vergo of burning out from working so hard. The next, I’d be convinced I was about to go bankrupt.
One thing that’s helped me keep me going, both financially and emotionally, is not relying solely on court or conference interpreting. I also lecture at university, teach Portuguese, work as an examiner and exam facilitator, train interpreters, translate, and transcribe. The common point here? They are all flexible. Each of these projects allows me to say “yes” when interpreting work does come in for the rates and conditions I want, while still being able to support myself in London. It has also allowed me to pay for training to upskill myself.
Over time, I’ve learned to see slow seasons as very much needed breaks, rather than warning signs. Building some financial cushion has also helped, just as realising that “busy” doesn’t always mean “profitable”. In fact, many busy people chasing every low-paying job often end up earning less overall. That, of course, is what being a Portuguese interpreter has been like for me.
Quiet months often follow intense busy seasons. Now, instead of going mad, I use them to (try to):
Rest (without guilt)
Pursue hobbies (running, cooking, blogging a bit, seeing friends, going to the gym)
Reset mentally and physically
Four Lessons That Changed Everything
Know your worth: don’t accept really low your rates just to stay “busy.” Interpreting is demanding and you need to be mentally well. With time, you will learn that there is a reason to turn down lowball offers.
Think like a business: save when you can so you know you can support yourself in slower ones. Treat your earnings like business revenue, not a salary.
Don’t revisit decisions: if you accept Job A and decline Job B, trust your choice. Overthinking is draining and leads to nowhere.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: multiple sources of income mean you can afford to wait for the best rates and opportunities, hence revisiting decisions much less.
Slow moments are part of the job and not a predicament of a failed future.
6. Having an Unclear Pricing Strategy
Knowing what to charge and who from is fundamental. Pricing depends on your interpreting niche and even within the same niche there are different rates:
Community Interpreting
Charged per hour
Lower rates
Very little room for negotiation
Court & Police Interpreting
Charges are expected to be broken down: interpreting time, mileage, travel time
Always set a minimum charge that should be equivalent to a half or full day
For half-day bookings, ensure overtime rates are higher
How much you can charge varies by language combination and location
Conference Interpreting
Charged per half day or full day (if a booking is complex, you may charge for a full day even if it lasts for just 1h. This is because of all the preparation involved)
Rates usually include preparation, travel time, and interpreting, so no breakdown here
You may also charge for cost of opportunity: travel days, per diem, rest days
Transportation may be reimbursed if travel is required outside your city
If a rate offered is too low and you but you still want the experience, it is preferable to do it as pro bono. Charging low rates is extremely detrimental to the profession as a whole. There’s no universal rate. Speak to colleagues, see what is happening in the market, and and then take it from there. Which takes me to the next pitfall.
7. Seeing Peers as Competition
It’s tempting to view other interpreters as rivals, but in reality, your peers are your biggest asset.
Why?
They refer you for jobs.
They share insights on rates and tricky clients.
They understand your challenges better than anyone else.
They help shape standard rates in your language pair.
The British LOVE referrals, so be ready to provide and ask for references multiple times. Many agencies and professional bodies require references, which usually come from colleagues or project managers. Strong professional relationships are essential, especially in an industry where rapport with others matters so much. Just keep in mind you will not necessarily be able to be close to everyone. Some colleagues are more reserved. Others are overly competitive. Others are not so open. Make sure you build good rapport with those who share your values, and that want to grow together. And yes, ALWAYS thank people for referrals and remember to refer them as well.
Reminder: Interpreters working in your language pair are the ones you’ll interact with most, and the ones most likely to help you succeed.
Final Thoughts
Freelance interpreting in the UK can work very well, but only if you treat it like a business. To do so, you need to build your network, set boundaries, stay professional, and embrace both the ever-changing nature of the job.
The good news? Things get a lot easier with time because you know what to expect from past experiences. You build reputation, you know where to find work and how to handle issues, and you start being sought after (not the other way around).