Lucy Lewis

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Self-employed Conference Interpreter

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

I am a Senior Conference Interpreter based in Spain. My clients include Airbus, Facebook, MasterCard, National Geographic and several Embassies. I am also Head of English translation at Melia Hotels International.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I wanted to work directly with languages, facilitating communications and interacting with people.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

Chapel Choir, Tennis Club.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

Year Abroad and everything offers (goes without saying!), but also leading the SSLC in my final year and studying Advanced Translation. I also really looked forward to oral classes with the native teachers.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

Friendly campus environment, wide variety of modules on offer and a focus on practical skills.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

Wonderful course, beautiful campus. Also had a few family connections.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Make the most of your Year Abroad. Make friends with the locals, take any opportunity to use your language skills.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Take every opportunity to use your foreign language. Also, fine tune the use of your native language (practice speaking and writing very formally). Develop a good clear tone of voice, that can be amplified with a microphone.

What are your plans for the future?

Expand my client database, and continue to enjoy the opportunities being an interpreter offers me.