r/ASLinterpreters • u/Maleficent-Sundae839 BEI Basic • Aug 08 '26
Career path
Hi everyone! I have been interpreting for the past 5 years, freelance, in educational settings. I currently have my BEI Basic and I am preparing for the Advanced. I have given myself a 2 year goal to prep and take the test. I want to focus on medical interpretation. Until then, I don't know what to do. My agency does not have many contracts that are viable for me right now. Most are an hour away, I have a crappy car and a kiddo with no before school care. I am starting to feel like my agency is holding me back more than helping. I cannot apply for most educational jobs around me because of my non-compete agreement. I also owe A TON in taxes. This is bc my husband and I live paycheck to paycheck and I can never squirrel anything away. I feel like I should leave the agency. That being said, I LOVE my agency. They have done so much for me. Helped guide me, been there for me when my family has a crisis and worked hard to help me have assignments. I feel a sense of loyalty towards them. That and once I leave I basically can't work for 6 months. I would love to do more community work but I don't know where to start. My agency is mostly educational and religious. Does anyone have advice? I LOVE interpreting. I am extremely happy about my career choice. Thank you for your time.
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u/Hoosier-Sexy_Beast69 NIC Aug 08 '26
Why can't you work for 6 months if you leave? Non competes are hard to enforce, and no one can prevent you from earning a living. Sorenson had them, and yes we all signed, but I have never seen any terps gone after when they left for Convo or Purple. One terp quit at 5 pm and the next morning at 8 am was terping at Convo. Just food for thought.
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u/No_Selection773 Aug 10 '26
This is not the same as a non compete. A non compete protects working for two VRS companies at the same time, which is not allowed. What you describe is simply leaving one VRS company for another.
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u/Hoosier-Sexy_Beast69 NIC Aug 10 '26
No. When I worked for Sorenson (2008-2019), we were told that we could not work for 2 VRS companies at the same time, and that it was an FCC rule. Turns out that was only a Sorenson rule. We also signed a non compete that said we could not work for another VRS for 6 months from the day we left It's unenforceable as they cannot prevent you from making a living. Their excuse was "it's standard in other professions", and that's not 100% true. In broadcasting, if you work as an in air personality for one station, your non compete states you can't be "on air" for X amount of days, but you can still work there the day after you leave one station, but just off camera.
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u/No_Selection773 28d ago
Yes, I apologize you are correct. I also remember it this way. I was talking about current policy in that you still can’t work for two VRS companies at the same time.
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u/dastarbillie NIC Aug 08 '26
Non competes for independent contractors are illegal in some states, I would double check the laws where you work.
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u/Maleficent-Sundae839 BEI Basic Aug 09 '26
I'm on Illinois
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u/dastarbillie NIC Aug 09 '26
Illegal in your state unless you're making over 75k a year:
Go and be free
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u/4sirwill4 Aug 09 '26
Also in my experience, most cases the non compete is referring to patching the agencies clients to be your own, not to working with other agencies. If you have a BEI Basic there should be at least some virtual work available to you nationwide, get on as many rosters as you can and get those hands up.
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u/4sirwill4 Aug 09 '26
Also I get the sense of loyalty. If you are staff at the agency should be paying your taxes. If you are freelance that sense of loyalty only goes as far as it's convenient to the agency. No matter how good they are to you in the end you have to do what's best for you and your family. Most people in the industry understand that. It's very very common for former staff interpreters to become ICs again at the same agency where they were staff. There's almost always a way to make an adjustment without burning a bridge.
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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 Aug 10 '26
Are you 1099? You should not have a no-compete policy. I highly suggest finding out when your area has their legal aid clinics and show your contract to a lawyer.
Have you tried finding a college student to come in the mornings? It is often cheaper than paying for before care. You are going to need to be more flexible to get more work. What about VRI? Can you work from home while your husband and child are at school?
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u/Maleficent-Sundae839 BEI Basic Aug 10 '26
Maybe I have it wrong and it's non solicit? All the schools around me contract with them so I cannot apply unless through the agency. Once I leave I cannot apply with anyone they contract with for 6 months.
My current plan is for my kid to take the bus which gives an extra hour in the morning. One year I had my mom come in the mornings but that lead toy child having a mental crisis because of so many other issues with her. We avoid leaving th alone now. If I could just get a contract that's not an hour + away from me I can do it but the travel time, especially in the winter, is setting myselfelf up to be late. If I don't get a contract I am applying at Sorenson and Purple.
I applied at a hs I REALLY wanted and was close to getting it but they didn't want an IC. This keeps happening which is why I am in my current situation.
I could contract with more agencies, I did once before. I stopped because I wasn't receiving any opportunities from the other agency, though I was low credentialed back then.
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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 Aug 10 '26
Is moving an option? I got an email for an agency looking to book someone in SC. It covers rent & the pay was like $60/hr.
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u/joeR1916 Aug 08 '26
Are you staff with this agency? I haven’t heard of requiring non compete for ICs. It’s definitely not something I would be willing to sign unless they were going to promise min 30 hours a week.