Practical guide for conference interpreters (AIIC)

Quite a comprehensive practical guide, covering the before and the after of every assignment. Lots of tips.

http://aiic.net/page/628/practical-guide-for-professional-conference-interpreters/lang/1

A basic overview of Consecutive Note-Taking

By a former European Commission trainer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddRk2pvzsVQ

And a former EU interpreter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D_-NPSB9NE&list=PLIreXuKKKiFdCRt7Pm-KmICJg4t202mlx

Performance anxiety? Don't calm down, but get excited

According to this study, if you feel anxiety before a public performance (e.g. an interpreting assignment), turning that feeling into EXCITEMENT (i.e. 'this is an opportunity' or 'a challenge') is more helpful than telling yourself to calm down. Excitement is a similar emotion, whereas calmness is the opposite.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/01/study-fight-performance-anxiety-by-getting-excited/282886/ 

Some tips about selecting simultaneous interpreters for assignments

These are some useful tips for vetting simultaneous interpreters for assignments. Thanks to Nisar Nikzad:

http://translationexcellence.com/part-2-selecting-quality-simultaneous-interpreter/?goback=%2Egde_2417609_member_5831537736112168964#%21

• Referrals: Referrals are a great way to find quality simultaneous interpreters. The language service community is very tightly-knit and many people have partners that they work with often or know of other interpreters. Find a simultaneous interpreter that you trust, and ask them if they know of anyone.
• Resumes and Certifications: Always be sure to review the resume, certifications, and any other relevant documentation. How much experience do they have in simultaneous interpretation? If the presentations at your event are related to the healthcare industry, how much experience do they have in that industry? What is their educational history? These questions and others will help you determine if the individual is a good fit for the assignment.
• References: Check references! Resume fraud is a BIG issue in the language service industry today so be sure to request a couple creditable references. Also, check if you have mutual connections with the prospective interpreter through LinkedIn, other social media sites, or interpreters you currently work with. Follow up with these people as well; since interpreters handpick the references they send, they will not always reflect the interpreter’s true ability.
• Questions: What questions does the interpreter ask you about the assignment? Do they ask relevant questions such as the topic of the event, whether or not presentation slides/notes will be provided in advance, who they will be working with, or what equipment will be provided? The kinds of questions interpreters ask can tell you a lot about their experience.

Understanding booth manners

Mutual assistance, team cohesiveness and convivialité are essential for the smooth running of any conference. Here's a checklist of booth manners for beginners in simultaneous interpreting. By Vincent Buck.

http://aiic.net/page/1676/understanding-booth-manners/lang/1

And for advanced interpreters: 
http://aiic.net/page/1489

"Interpreting: Getting it Right" (Guide for interpreting buyers, by the ATA)

For non-linguists. A straightforward brochure that explains the where, why, and how of professional interpreting services. It's a quick read that offers practical, hands-on information for language services consumers, perfect for client education.

http://www.atanet.org/docs/Getting_it_right_int.pdf