| by Sara Garví and MACI ‘17
Middlebury Institute graduates discuss where they are working today, how the Institute helped them get there, and what advice they’d give to current and future MIIS students.
My name is Sara Garví, and I graduated with an MA in Conference Interpretation from the Middlebury Institute in 2017. My language pair is Spanish-English, with a focus on medical and finance sectors. Prior to coming to Monterey, I earned my BA at the University of Alicante in Spain.
I am now a self-employed freelance conference interpreter based in Madrid. I work with banks, law firms, tech startups, and various companies in the private market across Spain. After graduating from the Institute, I received an OPT (Optional Practical Training) visa and freelanced in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily as a healthcare interpreter. During that year, I reached out to every alum in Spain I could find, connecting with them online to learn about the market, rates, and job opportunities before deciding to move back. I chose to settle in Madrid for several reasons. Being the nation’s capital ensures a constant demand for Spanish-English interpreters at various events and conferences.
Once I was settled, I made sure everyone knew I was available for work. One of the alumni I contacted was a well-established conference interpreter who, fortunately for me, began to consider me for her clients. Thanks to her, I gained access to other interpreters in the area who also provided me with work until I was able to establish myself.
The opportunities I have gained through my interactions with the alumni community have definitely paved the way for me to take on bigger markets and larger clients.
My coursework at the Institute gave me the technical knowledge I needed to feel confident as a conference interpreter and I found the second-year interpretation practicum particularly useful. Additionally, the career fair was an excellent opportunity to sharpen my interview skills, and it was where I secured internships at Stanford and Mount Sinai in New York. Networking with the alumni was also very helpful during events like the American Translators Association (ATA) annual conference.
Wherever you end up, make sure you reach out to other MIIS alumni there. The opportunities I have gained through my interactions with the alumni community have definitely paved the way for me to take on bigger markets and larger clients. Make sure you’re visible in that community, keep in touch with professors and colleagues, and attend mixers and other events for alumni. You never know who could recommend you for your next job.
Master of Arts in Translation; Translation and Interpretation; Conference Interpretation
The best way to start a career is to set yourself apart from the crowd. MIIS is an important piece in any journey to strive for excellence in your career. Not only will it give you recognition in the field, but it will also give you the skills required to continue to earn recognition through awards, certifications, and successfully tackling your career market after graduation.
| by Winnie Heh
A recent Conference Interpretation graduate discusses life as a professional interpreter, detailing how he passed a notoriously difficult United Nations exam and what that means for his career.
Translation and Interpretation graduate Rachel Echeto shares how taking a chance on an internship unrelated to her degree helped her expand her expertise and launch a career as a freelance translator and interpreter.
