Poll: Clients typically ask that my work be delivered... Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Clients typically ask that my work be delivered...".
This poll was originally submitted by Amanda Wilson. View the poll results »
| | | | | It varies greatly! | Oct 19, 2015 |
From later today if possible to several months (the maximum being one year, just once) depending on the urgency and the length of the texts...
P.S. How could I have forgotten my much appreciated client who always answers my question about the deadline with a "whenever you can"?
[Edited at 2015-10-19 13:28 GMT]
[Edited at 2015-10-19 15:42 GMT]
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but what sort of a question is that?
Normally when it is finished......
| | | | neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 02:52
шпански на англиски
+ ...
It can vary quite a bit, but by now most of my regulars know that I have at least have a dozen other clients to deal with, so, for example, my best client now usually tells me when they would like to have the text translated and asks if I will be able to deliver on time.
Today, another of my regulars will be sending me some text which they need by Wednesday. They told me to expect this last week and in fact sent off one of the texts at 2 AM last night so it was in my inbox at 9 AM t... See more It can vary quite a bit, but by now most of my regulars know that I have at least have a dozen other clients to deal with, so, for example, my best client now usually tells me when they would like to have the text translated and asks if I will be able to deliver on time.
Today, another of my regulars will be sending me some text which they need by Wednesday. They told me to expect this last week and in fact sent off one of the texts at 2 AM last night so it was in my inbox at 9 AM this morning.
Occasionally, my regulars will turn up with an urgent request, and I can usually manage to fit them in.
Agency clients are usually in more of a hurry, as their people seem to come to them at the last minute. I've more or less told them all not to bother offering me rush jobs. I've also explained that if they ask me for an estimated delivery date, I will err on the side of caution, so for example I might say three days, just to try to keep my back covered, and then deliver it in one. ▲ Collapse
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on average since my average wordcount/job is lower than 2kwords (225/263 agency jobs smaller than 2k so far in 2015).
The longer the job, the longer the deadline.
The longer the deadline for smaller jobs, the better for scheduling.
Philippe
| | | | Amanda Wilson 
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 01:52
Член (2013)
француски на англиски
+ ...
| Trying to find out what is typical... | Oct 19, 2015 |
Michael Harris wrote:
but what sort of a question is that?
Normally when it is finished......
Hi Michael, the poll is to try and find out what clients typically ask for in terms of deadlines. I'm relatively new to the industry and I am finding that all my agency clients want work back either today or tomorrow. Whenever I suggest a longer deadline, I lose the work...so is this urgency normal? Or am I with the 'wrong' clients? I would love to have a mix of today/tomorrow and next week work so that I have a more steady workload.
Hope that helps answer your question? Amanda
| | | | Amanda Wilson
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 01:52
Член (2013)
француски на англиски
+ ...
| Sounds sensible | Oct 19, 2015 |
neilmac wrote:
It can vary quite a bit, but by now most of my regulars know that I have at least have a dozen other clients to deal with, so, for example, my best client now usually tells me when they would like to have the text translated and asks if I will be able to deliver on time.
Today, another of my regulars will be sending me some text which they need by Wednesday. They told me to expect this last week and in fact sent off one of the texts at 2 AM last night so it was in my inbox at 9 AM this morning.
Occasionally, my regulars will turn up with an urgent request, and I can usually manage to fit them in.
Agency clients are usually in more of a hurry, as their people seem to come to them at the last minute. I've more or less told them all not to bother offering me rush jobs. I've also explained that if they ask me for an estimated delivery date, I will err on the side of caution, so for example I might say three days, just to try to keep my back covered, and then deliver it in one.
Neil, sounds like you've got your clients well trained so you've got time to take care with your translations and fit in urgent requests for loyal customers. That's what I'm aiming for long term! Glad to hear it is possible! Amanda
| | | | | Yesterday... | Oct 19, 2015 |
is the simple answer to this one!
Seriously, though, it really depends on the size of the text, how knowledgeable the agency (if one is involved) is about translators' daily/weekly capacities and how urgently the (end) client wants/needs the job done. I always tell the agency/client whether their proposed deadline is reasonable or not and, if not, when I could deliver. Regular clients tend to know what I can or cannot reasonably achieve if I have full capacity for a particular job. ... See more is the simple answer to this one!
Seriously, though, it really depends on the size of the text, how knowledgeable the agency (if one is involved) is about translators' daily/weekly capacities and how urgently the (end) client wants/needs the job done. I always tell the agency/client whether their proposed deadline is reasonable or not and, if not, when I could deliver. Regular clients tend to know what I can or cannot reasonably achieve if I have full capacity for a particular job.
[Edited at 2015-10-19 10:04 GMT]
[Edited at 2015-10-19 10:06 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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It varies between clients. My direct clients (mostly from universities/museums) tend to offer very flexible deadlines (weeks rather than days) but that's for larger, less regular jobs. Many agencies want work returned very quickly (same day or next). This is partly due to the end clients demanding tight deadlines themselves, but sometimes I find that agencies are suddenly able to immediately offer more flexible deadlines when I turn down the initial suggestion. Where I am the main translator res... See more It varies between clients. My direct clients (mostly from universities/museums) tend to offer very flexible deadlines (weeks rather than days) but that's for larger, less regular jobs. Many agencies want work returned very quickly (same day or next). This is partly due to the end clients demanding tight deadlines themselves, but sometimes I find that agencies are suddenly able to immediately offer more flexible deadlines when I turn down the initial suggestion. Where I am the main translator responsible for a particular agency account, I usually find I get offered much better timings (min. 2 days, at least a week for larger jobs) but in one case, that fell through when the end client changed the contact partner to someone who didn't understand the process and suddenly started demanding 20,000-word translations within 2 days (which, of course, I politely declined, and so I no longer work that account). However, I have rarely lost clients through being unable to accept tight deadlines: I think there is an understanding that when deadlines are very tight, it may not be possible to guarantee the same translator always being able to take the work; I do just try to respond fairly quickly to let them know if I can't take it though. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | It varies a lot | Oct 19, 2015 |
Some of my clients know I have a very patient husband and no small children, so I can take rushed jobs. Others find me, and they want the translation delivered somewhere between 'yesterday' and absolutely ASAP.
My regular clients also know that I prefer to spend time on checking and doing the job properly, so they negotiate the best possible deadlines. Many jobs I take on are small, so 'tomorrow' or in a couple of days may still give me plenty of time. However, I am often booked a w... See more Some of my clients know I have a very patient husband and no small children, so I can take rushed jobs. Others find me, and they want the translation delivered somewhere between 'yesterday' and absolutely ASAP.
My regular clients also know that I prefer to spend time on checking and doing the job properly, so they negotiate the best possible deadlines. Many jobs I take on are small, so 'tomorrow' or in a couple of days may still give me plenty of time. However, I am often booked a week or more ahead.
A few book me in advance - they reserve a day or a week when they know a text will need translating, and then they want it quickly. I have a couple of those booked at the moment.
Others have to take their place in the queue or else find another translator... And of course, bigger jobs take me several days, or even months for the really big jobs like a whole book. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
It depends on how long the job is, what type of work it is and a whole host of other factors. As a rule, "as soon as possible" is the most popular one.
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Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 17:52
шпански на англиски
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| It varies greatly | Oct 19, 2015 |
Here are my figures so far for 2015:
1 day: 3
2 days: 30
5 days: 8
1 week: 3
10 days: 2
20 days: 3
Month or longer: 4
| | | | | Wrong client or wrong relationship | Oct 19, 2015 |
Amanda Wilson wrote:
I'm relatively new to the industry and I am finding that all my agency clients want work back either today or tomorrow. Whenever I suggest a longer deadline, I lose the work...so is this urgency normal? Or am I with the 'wrong' clients?
My initial response was the same as Michael's, because expectations generally follow the size of the job, which itself varies a lot, but I see where you're coming from. Most people like "as soon as possible", within reason, but big agencies are more likely to be contacted for super urgent jobs because it is assumed they have a large "stable" of translators and of course this is the source of those "scattergun" emails looking for very tight turnarounds for jobs often spread over many people.
I gather from what agencies have said to me that they have two tiers of translator contractors (and presumably of clients as well): their ongoing, trusted regulars and the "long list" they are forced to appeal to in emergencies. It makes sense that the more enduring relationship an agency has with a contractor or client, the more everyone will be anticipating needs and developing a reasonable process for the job.
So you might be with the wrong client, but it might also be that you haven't reached the right "tier". One agency told me I needed to provide them with a more complete profile to be contacted for the non-urgent work. If you think an agency is the sort you would like to do more work for, it could be worth directly asking if there is a registration/application system that would enhance your relationship.
Best regards,
Melissa
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