Poll: How many words would you accept to translate as a test? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| |
Theo Bernards (X) 
Франција
Local time: 01:24
англиски на холандски
+ ...
| Up to 250 words | Sep 29, 2012 |
And only if I see the need for it, i.o.w. for specific projects where I cannot establish in advance if my skills match the project at hand. Such tests work both ways: the client can verify my skills and I can find out if the client understands why he is considering my services. For example, if a client asks me to do a short generic test about health insurance (I am pretty clued in into insurances) and the test is full of medical terms and medicine names (no-go areas for me), I can refer the clie... See more And only if I see the need for it, i.o.w. for specific projects where I cannot establish in advance if my skills match the project at hand. Such tests work both ways: the client can verify my skills and I can find out if the client understands why he is considering my services. For example, if a client asks me to do a short generic test about health insurance (I am pretty clued in into insurances) and the test is full of medical terms and medicine names (no-go areas for me), I can refer the client to a medical translator who understands insurance mechanisms, because that will reduce the risk of me working on assignments that will ultimately make the client - or their client - unhappy.
As a rule of thumb, I always ask for the feedback about my test, because it wouldn't be the first time that a competitor is asked to proof my test and return it with tons of preferential changes while spotting no error at all.
[Edited to add the following] I don't have a portfolio because I operate under a strict non-disclosure principle. I understand that direct clients want to see a bit more and although they can establish from my website (which is in fact a translation showcase) if I am the translator they are looking for, I also understand that they are holding the money so up to a point, they can request people like me to jump through hoops but, as specified above, it doesn't happen too often because I have to see the need for a translation test, too.
[Edited at 2012-09-29 10:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 16:24
шпански на англиски
+ ...
| I don't have the time | Sep 29, 2012 |
I have enough trouble finding time to get my work out the door, much less take tests to work for new clients. I get plenty of new clients, anyway, without taking tests.
I fully understand that many translators are still building their client base and are willing to go the extra mile. I was just answering for myself.
[Edited at 2012-09-29 09:21 GMT]
| | | |
neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 01:24
шпански на англиски
+ ...
I no longer do them as a rule, but I might be prepared to do up to 300 words on the odd occasion, if I was really interested in the job.
| | |
|
|
|
neilmac wrote:
I no longer do them as a rule, but I might be prepared to do up to 300 words on the odd occasion, if I was really interested in the job.
On one occasion, I even went to 500 words because I was really (very) interested in that job and... I got it!
[Edited at 2012-09-29 19:41 GMT]
| | | |
| Question asked quite recently | Sep 29, 2012 |
.
| | | |
| |
neilmac wrote:
I no longer do them as a rule, but I might be prepared to do up to 300 words on the odd occasion, if I was really interested in the job.
And only if I have time to do them
| | |
|
|
|
Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 19:24
англиски на шпански
+ ...
If I had to do a stats on the last 12 months, I haven't gotten more than 1 or 2 jobs from providing a free test translation.
However, I have a direct client to whom I offered a free translation sample (translation + InDesign typesetting) because I was competing with an out-of-state translation agency for the account. I won.
| | | |
Nicole Schnell
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 16:24
англиски на германски
+ ...
Во сеќавање на | With Muriel: I don't have the time | Sep 30, 2012 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
I have enough trouble finding time to get my work out the door, much less take tests to work for new clients. I get plenty of new clients, anyway, without taking tests.
I have no idea why some agencies take for granted that:
- translators in general are twiddling their thumbs in boredom
- don't have any other clients
| | | |
Alexandranow
Романија
Local time: 02:24
романски на англиски
+ ...
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many words would you accept to translate as a test?". This poll was originally submitted by Andrea Maia Beckner. View the poll r
esults »
Sometimes I do not accept tests at all, considering the fact that it is required to apply with diplomas, authorizations, references...and I think what do we ask from them in return? Almost nothing. But depends on the job and client, and on the text required.
| | | |
Login to reply/comment 
