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Military Translator & Interpreter Jobs After the Military

Updated | Julie Provost
jobs after the military

Being able to speak or write in another language is an excellent skill to have when looking for certain types of post-military jobs. Those who have worked as interpreters or translators during their time in the military have many options and career fields they can pursue when their military service is over.

Civilian Jobs After Serving as a Translator or Interpreter in the US Military

Foreign Language Teacher

Becoming a foreign language teacher could be the right career path.  With experience learning and using a foreign language, and a desire to teach that language to others, you will be a good fit for this career.

You could work at a secondary school, a college, or a university. As a foreign language teacher, you might also be in charge of a student club, or other cultural experiences having to do with the language that you will be teaching.

You may need a bachelor’s degree at a minimum in order to become a teacher. You would also need a teacher’s license to teach in your state. If you would like to teach at the college level you would need to have a master’s degree, if not a doctoral degree. Having a master’s degree in a foreign language can also be helpful, even if you do want to stay with the K-12 age group.

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ESL Teacher

An English as a Second Language Teacher or ESL Teacher can also be a good option for those who have worked as an interpreter or translator in the military. You could work at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary levels or for adults, teaching them basic English skills. This may be a career that you can pursue on a part-time basis.

In order to become an ESL teacher, you would need either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, preferably in ESL. You would also need to obtain your teacher’s license in your state.

Interpreter or Translator

Interpreters use the spoken word, and translators use the written word in order to convert one language to another. You can work for a wide range of employers. Many businesses hire interpreters or translators to help them in this global world. You can also work for the government at different levels, including in your local community. Work in the medical, legal or educational fields may also be available to you.

You should have a bachelor’s degree in order to work in this field, and of course, be fluent in another language. Having experience in another culture or knowing how other cultures live can also take you further in this field.

Historian

A historian would work to research, analyze, and interpret the past. Having a background in another language and culture would have a lot of benefits in this position. A historian can work in various settings, gathering information on behalf of businesses, organizations, the government, or to write a book. You could work in a museum, or even a college or university as a professor. Traveling can also be a big part of the job.

In order to find a good career as a historian, you will need more than a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree would be ideal, and sometimes a doctorate, depending on the type of work. If you decide to go on to become a professor, you would definitely need a master’s degree, and if you decide to teach history at the primary or secondary levels, you may also need a teacher’s certificate.

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About the author

Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.

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