ASSIGNMENT READY

Expanding into Freelance & Agency Work

Saturday, November 14, 2026

8:00am-11:00am Pacific

Online

You know how to interpret. Now, are you ready to expand where you interpret?

Many interpreters build substantial experience within one primary setting, particularly education, postsecondary interpreting, VRS, or staff positions. That experience matters, but stepping into freelance and agency work introduces a much wider range of assignments, expectations, environments, and professional responsibilities."Assignment Ready" is designed for working interpreters who want to thoughtfully expand beyond the settings they already know.This interactive workshop will explore how to evaluate unfamiliar assignment opportunities, recognize where your existing skills transfer, identify areas where additional preparation or experience may be needed, and navigate the practical realities of working with interpreting agencies.The goal isn't to be ready for every assignment.It's to know what you're ready for, what you need to know before saying yes, and how to intentionally expand your practice.

What We'll Explore

Beyond the Setting You KnowParticipants will explore different types of freelance and agency assignments and consider how setting, participants, terminology, interaction, consequences, logistics, and expectations can change from one assignment to another. We'll examine the difference between being an experienced interpreter and being prepared for a particular assignment.
You Got the Offer. Now What?Participants will work through realistic assignment offers and practice identifying the information they need to evaluate their readiness, prepare appropriately, and make informed decisions about accepting or declining work.
Working With AgenciesFreelance interpreting involves more than showing up and interpreting. We'll explore the interpreter-agency relationship, including onboarding, credentials, communicating availability, responding to assignment offers, requesting preparation materials, rates and minimums, cancellations, travel, invoicing, professional communication, and follow-through. We'll also discuss what helps interpreters build strong professional relationships with agencies and what can make an interpreter more difficult to place.

Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

Compare the demands and expectations of different interpreting settings and identify factors that may affect readiness for an assignment.
Evaluate an assignment opportunity by identifying the information needed to make an informed decision about accepting, declining, or seeking additional information before accepting the work.
Identify at least three professional practices that support successful relationships with interpreting agencies, including communication, preparation, assignment management, and follow-through.
Assess their current readiness for different types of interpreting work and identify at least two steps they can take to expand their range of assignments responsibly.

Who Should Attend?

Assignment Ready is for interpreters who want to feel more prepared to navigate freelance and agency work, whether you're expanding beyond a setting you already know or preparing to enter the profession for the first time.This workshop may be especially useful for:

Experienced interpreters who have primarily worked in one setting, such as K–12 education, postsecondary education, VRS, or a staff position, and want to expand into other types of assignments.
Newer interpreters who are beginning to accept freelance or agency work and want a better understanding of what to expect before saying yes to an assignment.
Interpreting students and recent graduates who want a practical look at the types of assignments, agency relationships, and professional expectations they may encounter as they enter the field.

You don't need years of experience to become assignment ready, and having years of experience doesn't automatically mean you're prepared for every setting. Assignment Ready is about understanding what you're prepared for now, recognizing what you still need to develop, and building the confidence and professional judgment to expand your work responsibly.

Presenter

Marcus Gunter is an experienced instructor, mentor, and certified interpreter with over 20 years in the field. He has studied at American River College, CSU Northridge, and Western Oregon University, providing him with a well-rounded approach to interpreting theory and practice. With additional expertise in education and technology, Marcus combines these fields to enhance interpreting work and shares his passion for lifelong learning with others in the profession.

Registration and Cost

Registration for participants is $35. Cancellations made by November 9, 2026 will receive a refund of the total amount paid minus a 5% processing fee. No refunds will be given after November 9, 2026. No partial participation or partial CEUs will be given.

CMP/CEU Information and Accommodations

Our CMP/CEU sponsor, Vancro Integrated Interpreting Services (VIIS), is an approved RID CMP sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This workshop is offered for 0.3 CEUs in the Professional Studies area at the “Little to No” Content Knowledge level. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance. The target audience for this activity is newly graduated ASL interpreters and working interpreters stepping into the freelance world.As always, Educo and VIIS are committed to offering educational opportunities free from discrimination and bias. For accommodations contact: info@educointerpreting.com

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse