| Страници во темата: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you regularly receive feedback from your clients on your work as a translator/interpreter? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you regularly receive feedback from your clients on your work as a translator/interpreter?".
View the poll results »
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No
Very occasionally to rarely?
Yes
Let's face it, very few customers will get back to you about a job well done. "Thank you, Julian. That was a fantastic translation!" Pat on the back and applause all round. Nope, that just doesn't happen, unfortunately. 
More likely than not, if they do contact me, they want to be picky about something.
For me "No news is good news" ... See more No
Very occasionally to rarely?
Yes
Let's face it, very few customers will get back to you about a job well done. "Thank you, Julian. That was a fantastic translation!" Pat on the back and applause all round. Nope, that just doesn't happen, unfortunately.
More likely than not, if they do contact me, they want to be picky about something.
For me "No news is good news" 
Small edit
[Edited at 2012-12-06 10:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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No news is good news.
One or two do have a policy of sending proofread texts back to the translator for final approval, at least occasionally, and that is interesting and often reassuring.
A couple of other agencies make a point of passing on comments, and luckily they are always positive - it makes my day!
| | | | William Murphy 
Италија
Local time: 08:57
Член (2009)
италијански на англиски
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| In a manner of speaking | Dec 6, 2012 |
They pay me and request more work.
That's really all the thanks I require.
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Jack Doughty
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 07:57
руски на англиски
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Во сеќавање на | Never? Well, hardly ever | Dec 6, 2012 |
I used to do a large number of patent abstracts for one firm, over 100 a week at one time. They often got back to me on matters of formatting etc. but never once on anything in my translations, though I know they were all checked by technical experts before being published. I am not so vain as to think they were always perfect! Feedback would have been very useful.
On the other hand, I was once asked to do a medical translation about treatment of injuries from land mines. I initially r... See more I used to do a large number of patent abstracts for one firm, over 100 a week at one time. They often got back to me on matters of formatting etc. but never once on anything in my translations, though I know they were all checked by technical experts before being published. I am not so vain as to think they were always perfect! Feedback would have been very useful.
On the other hand, I was once asked to do a medical translation about treatment of injuries from land mines. I initially refused because I don't consider myself qualified to translate on medical matters, but agreed to do it when I was told I could ask the medical institution which had commissioned the translation about anything I didn't understand. This worked out well, and added a lot to my knowledge of the specific subject. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | One customer does | Dec 6, 2012 |
I work for a client that checks pretty much everything. They regularly send feedback with a grade plus tips and tricks. They also have a style guide that should be followed, but I quite like getting the feedback.
[Edited at 2012-12-06 09:05 GMT]
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is good news, especially with regular customers.
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Португалија
Local time: 07:57
I said yes, although it varies from client to client (some give none, except more work), and varies with regularity.
I do occasionally give myself a pat on the back, which makes a pleasant change after all the self-flagellation.
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neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 08:57
шпански на англиски
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Not "regularly", but quite often. I got a pat on the back from one client last week because I finished ahead of schedule and also because their end client hadn't understood a couple of terms in the document and I'd sent them an explanatory note.
I really appreciate feedback - preferably positive, but negative can be useful too - it's never too late to learn from your mistakes and I think old dogs can still learn some new tricks ... See more Not "regularly", but quite often. I got a pat on the back from one client last week because I finished ahead of schedule and also because their end client hadn't understood a couple of terms in the document and I'd sent them an explanatory note.
I really appreciate feedback - preferably positive, but negative can be useful too - it's never too late to learn from your mistakes and I think old dogs can still learn some new tricks ▲ Collapse
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For literary projects there is usually a lengthy and thorough feedback process. On the commercial side, though, feedback is rare. If you are paid, it means the translation was accepted, and if you are given more work it means your previous efforts were considered to be good.
| | | | Jack Doughty
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 07:57
руски на англиски
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Во сеќавање на | Literary projects | Dec 6, 2012 |
Helen Hagon wrote:
For literary projects there is usually a lengthy and thorough feedback process.
Yes, I was forgetting that. I recently translated a humorous novel, and there was indeed such a process for that. It's rather time-consuming, but I enjoy it. It's a creative process, having to find e.g. a suitable translation from Shakespeare to replace one from Tolstoy which a reader of the English version would not know, and having to delete some jokes which are untranslatable and replace them with others, not necessarily in the same places. And I feel I built up a good friendly relationship with the authors.
| | | | | I seek feedback | Dec 6, 2012 |
I consider it an integral part of the professional service provider/client relationship.
As a consumer myself, I favour companies that want to know what I think of their products and services, because that suggests to me that they care about continuous improvement.
It's not about vanity, although everybody likes to get a pat on the back from time to time - for me it's about seeking positive and negative feedback in order to continuously improve.
I've found ... See more I consider it an integral part of the professional service provider/client relationship.
As a consumer myself, I favour companies that want to know what I think of their products and services, because that suggests to me that they care about continuous improvement.
It's not about vanity, although everybody likes to get a pat on the back from time to time - for me it's about seeking positive and negative feedback in order to continuously improve.
I've found that if I ask for feedback in the right way, my clients are only too happy to provide it, wherever it may be on the scale. ▲ Collapse
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Robert Forstag
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 02:57
шпански на англиски
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| Yet another repeated poll question | Dec 6, 2012 |
As others have stated, I tend to operate on the principle that "no news is good news." But because such a view can also (in a worst-case scenario) lead to a certain unhealthy complacency, I also try to compensate for lack of feedback by being as critical of my own work as possible.
| | | | John Cutler
Шпанија
Local time: 08:57
шпански на англиски
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| More work is positive feedback | Dec 6, 2012 |
Allison Wright wrote:
I said yes, although it varies from client to client (some give none, except more work), and varies with regularity.
I consider additional work the best possible feedback.
| | | | vokian_inc
Индија
Local time: 12:27
германски на англиски
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| At Least one Confirmation! | Dec 6, 2012 |
Some Clients doesn't even confirm the receipt of the translated file and we need to call and ask them if they have received it!! Feedback is really rare!!
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