u/Lysergicbolshevik

Hey Folks i'm cronically online because of this job and tired of reading new people that doesn't know how to use reddit stumbling against the same wall over and over specially because the content of this sub has been decaying and literally became a frequent asked questions sub where people repeat the same questions over and over like a madmen echo chamber so here it is the FAQ MEGATHREAD i hope we can update this thread collectively to help the newbies and create a healthier and more content rich sub.
Please if you disagree with something give me positive feedback it took me some time and effort to put this thread together and i'm doing this with the only intent of helping others.

-How is the pay and the rates?

Payments are usually per interpreted minute or by shift per hour regardless if you are taking calls or no depending on the company and contract type, per minute is the most common and usually the rates goes from 0,11 per minute going up but for interpreters outside of the US it usually doesn't get much better unless they are certified. There are several companies offering a lesser pay i've seen as low as 3.30$ per hour or 0.8 per minute. Payments are usually throught Deel/Payoneer/Wise biweekly or monthly accordingly.

-What are the hiring conditions?

This depends heavily on the company. Some, like Propio, offer freelance contracts with no shift requirements — you work per job and get paid for what you work, with no obligation to hit a minimum number of hours or report time off/relocations. Others hire you as a regular employee, which usually means required shifts in exchange for "benefits".

-VRI OPI? something I???

There are companies that hire for both over the phone interpretation (OPI) and for video remote interpretation (VRI) if you are contracted for both you are usually expected to do both, however in certain companies you can only take OPI calls and you'll be fine, in my case i been contracted for both with Propio and never ever took a VRI call and all is good so far. Usually VRI is a little bit better paid but thats not always the case.

-How is the hiring process?

Usually you have an interview with a recruiter in English and afterwards (or before) an English proeficiency test or something to prove your English level it usually consist of a series of daily life questions where you are expected to answer in a fluent English things like what are your hobbies or how is your home city stuff like that for about a minute or 2. They can take some time to answer so be patient! some companies like Lionbridge sometimes take months to answer. Usually after that on the onboarding process you are required to complete a series of trainings that are pretty much effortless slideshows and some multiple choice questions.

-What setup is required to work as an interpreter?

Most platforms (LanguageLine, Propio, Boostlingo, CyraCom, etc.) just need a reasonably modern computer. Windows is the most common OS, though I personally work from Linux without issues. Minimum specs are generally around 8GB RAM and a 4-core processor. A wired Ethernet connection is strongly preferred over Wi-Fi, since dropped calls from an unstable connection can get you flagged. Some companies also require a wired USB headset, though in practice there's usually no real way for them to verify that.

-Live caption tools and notetaking

First and foremost, you need to stay HIPAA-compliant — meaning you can't keep or save notes of any kind. That said, this is a somewhat controversial topic and opinions vary between interpreters. Some companies, like Propio, have rolled out their own live-captioning tools, which I personally find genuinely useful — but only as an assist, not something to rely on completely. Third-party "interpreting" or note-taking software is strongly discouraged, since it usually collects data and isn't privacy-law compliant. I'd recommend sticking to the built-in live caption features in Chrome or Windows, since they only run in real time and don't retain anything afterward.

Ok that's it for today guys i can't think of anything else for now please feel free to add anything that comes into your mind and to the mods please if you find this post useful pin it so we avoid repetitive questions and people looking for those answers can find this easier. Hope it helps!

PSA Yes i was hungry i ate all my commas 😿

Idk buddy why did you go to an english speaking country in the first place? my gawdddd

Hey guys hope u all have a good day and get easy calls today!

I basically stopped lurking this sub because i've noticed that the posts are all the same "how much propio pays" "how is propio hiring process" and bla bla bla the same questions being asked over and over, naturally this doesn't help to make the sub interesting or even generate some kind of conversation or content so i was wondering if we can get a frequent asked questions thread so we avoid this nonsense? i think it would also be very helpful for people that comes here looking for those answers. I also would gladly help with that FAQ thread if u need so we avoid the reposting

I'm on a fucking court room being payed 0.11 and i have to stay here and have my ass all tight up for the whole session fuck this shit fuk these fat asses ceos greedy whales hope they choke on their lates