Does being a Chartered Linguist really matter?

This is a question that maybe many ask; why is it important to have such a title?

I remember many years ago - to be precise 12 years ago - when I embarked on the journey of becoming an interpreter, that I was looking for an accountant for my self-assessment tax return. Yes, I know many people do this on their own, but I thought is better and safer to leave in the hands of an expert.

But on that first year, when I hired my accountant, it landed me with a fine from HMRC - the tax return wasn’t filed correctly. So yes I got a good price and I thought I'd made a good deal and I thought: "She knows what’s she is doing..." 

That didn’t turn out well.

A close friend of mine recommended me her accountant and said that he is a Chartered Accountant.  Of course, I had to pay a higher price. And from that point on the term “Chartered” kept coming into my mind in the years following - I found myself wondering if I could ever hold a such title... I must mention by the way that I still have this accountant today.

In 2014-2015 I took a course for the CIOLQ DPSI. I must say it felt like I was back in school, with all the hard preparation, and I still remember when I went for the exam; my fellow candidates were as nervous as I was! It makes me smile thinking about it. But I guess what left a very good impression on me was how well-organised the staff from the Chartered Institute of Linguists were with those exams. I passed the DPSI Law in Romanian and went on to work successfully with the Police and Courts; indeed I now give them advice at the national level.

So with these successes under my belt I made my research into being a Chartered Linguist, and the benefits of it. And because of my experience with the accountants, that was when I decided that I wanted to become a Chartered Linguist, to underline that I offer my services at the highest standards possible. Since becoming a Chartered Linguist I have never looked back.

For me being a Chartered Linguist is like having star next to your name; and it is something of great value to really hold on to. Yes, other qualifications, initials or titles are important I don’t deny that, but to me Chartered Linguist holds a special place. It is because it constantly motivates me to get better at what I do.

Today I am the CEO of my own company and I apply the principles and ethics of being Chartered Linguist within my company. One of the main questions I ask when a linguist applies to us is if they are a member of CIOL or a Chartered Linguist. If they are I know they will be professionals, and from my own personal experience know what it takes to become qualified, to become a CIOL member and to become Chartered. 

I strongly believe that there is no short cut to becoming a professional - but it is always worth the investment to be a professional and to work with professionals - especially Chartered professionals.

Simona Hodor is a CIOL MCIL and Chartered Linguist, a NRPSI registrant and Police Approved Interpreter (PAIT) and holds the CIOLQ DPSI Law. She runs Multi Lingual Business Solutions whose website is here. 

Find out more about becoming a Chartered Linguist here and more about the CIOLQ Diploma in Public Service Interpreting here.

Views expressed on CIOL Voices are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or CIOL.