| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: How often do you turn down jobs? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| It varies, depending on what comes up | Aug 29, 2013 |
Teresa Borges wrote:
But when I do, reasons are:
1. Rates “offered” are lower than mine
Ditto, or when payment terms are beyond 30 days.
Teresa Borges wrote:
2. Deadlines are too tight
I tell them what is possible. If what they want from me is not, the client withdraws the offer; so technically I won't be the one turning it down.
Teresa Borges wrote:
3. Subject matter is out of my area of expertise
Definitely! However I have true specialists, which I know personally, in the specific areas that I state as off-limits for my services. In such cases, I refer the client to these, wish them all good luck, and step out.
Teresa Borges wrote:
4. Translation is needed in Brazilian Portuguese
In my case, when it's for European Portuguese.
Teresa Borges wrote:
5. (Very) poor text quality
I have handled that more often than I should. Perhaps having lived and worked among people - mostly European - who didn't speak either PT or EN properly led me to develop some sixth-sense to grasp the meaning behind the words they use. On the other hand, Far Easterners are a complete challenge for me.
6. Undue software requirements
Mostly Trados (which I don't have) as a sine qua non, often regardless of whether any CAT tool will be useful there.
Demanding specific DTP software I don't have/use (e.g. FrameMaker, MS Publisher, Quark), when I can do it on a PDF file with Infix.
Demanding "heavy DTP" done with MS Word.
7. PEMT or thoroughly amateur translation proofreading...
... unless they accept having it redone from scratch at full translation rates
8. Audio/video translation with awful audio, beyond repair
Though I'll fix bad audio to some extent, I can't translate from audio that simply is not there.
9. Heavy penalties imposed on undocumented flaws
While I'll fix any reasonable flaws (after all, I'm human) quickly and for free on a client's request, I will not accept any assignment where the client forces me to agree to a X% discount if they merely say that "it's bad", without any explanation.
I'll never know whether this hasn't happened to me so far only because I stay out of such offers.
10. Past bad or troublesome payers
If it's a large organization, I give them a chance, say, every 4-5 years, to a maximum of three. I believe in OD, they might have improved.
If it's a smaller outfit, they know my service, I know theirs, so I'll have earned the right to demand full payment in advance, or to tell them to find another patsy.
| | | | | Rough with the smooth? | Aug 29, 2013 |
Oliver Lawrence wrote:
... by which I mean terrible scans, partially handwritten text, lots of little files, incredibly tedious subject matter, jobs needing lots of reformatting and aligning, that sort of thing.
If it were for a regular client who was relying on me (and I had the time), I'd struggle through, but otherwise I'd be very tempted to pass.
At one time I would take on jobs like this under the "rough with the smooth" rule, but no longer. Now that agencies see fit to insist on 30 percent Trados discounts for jobs which are even remotely repetitive, this rule has had to go out of the window. In other words, "If you don't scratch my back, I won't scratch yours".
Steve K.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 22:05
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Not too often | Aug 29, 2013 |
Mainly because I don't get too many substandard offers. I (almost) never refuse work from my direct (non-agency) clients.
One agency I sometimes work with keeps offering me work without sending me a sample of the text in question, despite the fact that I have reminded them on several occasions that I don't accept jobs without seeing them first, mainly to ensure that the format and content is doable the way I want to do it. I also told them that I prefer to be contacted by e-mail, ye... See more Mainly because I don't get too many substandard offers. I (almost) never refuse work from my direct (non-agency) clients.
One agency I sometimes work with keeps offering me work without sending me a sample of the text in question, despite the fact that I have reminded them on several occasions that I don't accept jobs without seeing them first, mainly to ensure that the format and content is doable the way I want to do it. I also told them that I prefer to be contacted by e-mail, yet they keep calling me on the phone. However, I simply don't answer it when they do. Some people will never learn... ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Two or three times a week | Aug 29, 2013 |
I work for agencies, and some of them simply don't seem to understand that the three Scandinavian languages are NOT interchangeable. Jobs I would happily take on when the source is in Danish are strictly out of bounds from Norwegian or Swedish.
Many technical jobs of any kind are off my limits in any language.
Then there are those I don't have time for, and the ones where the rate is unacceptable, espcially if they are large. Why sit struggling for a fraction of what my... See more I work for agencies, and some of them simply don't seem to understand that the three Scandinavian languages are NOT interchangeable. Jobs I would happily take on when the source is in Danish are strictly out of bounds from Norwegian or Swedish.
Many technical jobs of any kind are off my limits in any language.
Then there are those I don't have time for, and the ones where the rate is unacceptable, espcially if they are large. Why sit struggling for a fraction of what my regular clients pay, while turning down easier and better paid work?
I try hard to fit some clients in (the ones who negotiate better deadlines, pay extra for rushed jobs and are worth going the extra mile for), and I am sorry to say no to them. I never turn down the few direct clients I do work for - unless I can recommend a colleague instead.
Otherwise I firmly say sorry, my best deadline would be ... and my rate would be ... so I hope someone else can help, and leave it at that.
You can't please all the people all the time, so I do my best for the ones who deserve it! ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| There but... | Aug 29, 2013 |
Filipa Plant dos Santos wrote:
I suppose they don't have to - they find someone who meets their needs. Who are these people?
There, but for the grace of God, go we...
Steve K.
| | | | | Somewhat often | Aug 30, 2013 |
Here are some typical reasons why I refuse or ignore a job:
– low rates
– rush deadline but no rush fee
– job revolves around a client-supplied TM with a lot of fuzzies
– stern language in the RFQ, PO or instructions
– RFQ, PO or anything else stresses quality requirements but contains errors
– instructions are convoluted or contain contradictions
– I'm too tired
– highly specialised text in an unfamiliar field
– poor... See more Here are some typical reasons why I refuse or ignore a job:
– low rates
– rush deadline but no rush fee
– job revolves around a client-supplied TM with a lot of fuzzies
– stern language in the RFQ, PO or instructions
– RFQ, PO or anything else stresses quality requirements but contains errors
– instructions are convoluted or contain contradictions
– I'm too tired
– highly specialised text in an unfamiliar field
– poor fee, short text, highly specialised (very poor buck per hour). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Multiple times a day | Sep 2, 2013 |
On the day of this poll, I turned down five jobs. I was already committed. I can only do so much.
| | | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: How often do you turn down jobs? | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
