として

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: After a noun, として identifies the capacity, role, or use of a person or thing in the following action.
• Basic usage: 彼女は通訳として会議に参加した。 means that she attended the meeting in the role of interpreter.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A role versus a change in status
  • 代表として出席する describes attending in the capacity of representative, whereas 代表になる describes becoming a representative. として establishes the role held when performing the following action.
• Adding の before a noun
  • Add の when the role phrase modifies a noun, as in 通訳としての経験. This differs from its connection to a verb in 通訳として働く.