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Poll: What's the maximum acceptable number of words for a free translation test? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| No feedbacks whatsoever | Dec 8, 2010 |
Miroslav Jeftic wrote: Yasutomo Kanazawa wrote:
so far, nearly 90% of the people say that they are willing to do free translation test which is a total waste of time...
Maybe because it's not a total waste of time? 
My main reason for not accepting test translations is that I don't get any feedback whatsoever after I've submitted them, whether they be agencies or agencies on behalf of end clients. That's why I stopped taking them, leading to the conclusion that it's a total waste of time.
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tazdog (X)
Spain
Local time: 19:52
Spanish to English
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| tests only for specific jobs | Dec 8, 2010 |
I answered 100-299, because I will occasionally do a test of about this length if it's for a specific job. I no longer do tests just to be included in a database of translators, because I have found that to be a total waste of time: not one of these agencies has ever contacted me since I "passed" their test, except to ask for more paperwork.
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Cindy Chadd wrote:
I answered 100-299, because I will occasionally do a test of about this length if it's for a specific job. I no longer do tests just to be included in a database of translators, because I have found that to be a total waste of time: not one of these agencies has ever contacted me since I "passed" their test, except to ask for more paperwork.
Thing is, there is no respect towards our time lost on doing these things.
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| not only waste of time but... | Dec 8, 2010 |
My main reason for not accepting test translations is that I don't get any feedback whatsoever after I've submitted them, whether they be agencies or agencies on behalf of end clients. That's why I stopped taking them, leading to the conclusion that it's a total waste of time.
:/
[Edited at 2010-12-08 12:00 GMT]
I've chosen
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| obviously something went wrong | Dec 8, 2010 |
here's my answer...
I've chosen less than 100 words because I have come to the conclusion - as I mostly don't receive any feedback either - that the "agencies" are asking several translators, with each time a different part of the document to get it translated for free at the end...
or I get a positive feedback "we will get back to you asap" ... and then weeks later I receive a new test-translation for free!!
:/
[Edited at 2010-12-08 12:02 GMT]
[Edited at 2... See more here's my answer...
I've chosen less than 100 words because I have come to the conclusion - as I mostly don't receive any feedback either - that the "agencies" are asking several translators, with each time a different part of the document to get it translated for free at the end...
or I get a positive feedback "we will get back to you asap" ... and then weeks later I receive a new test-translation for free!!
:/
[Edited at 2010-12-08 12:02 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-12-08 12:09 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Robert Mavros 
Spain
Local time: 18:52
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
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| When I have time to spare | Dec 8, 2010 |
In my opinion it is not always a waste of time. I actually did a sample test of around 500 words, I got a project that had me working for 4 months and from which I gained over ten grand. I also got a lot more work from this outsourcer after this project. I have another client with who I started to work for thanks to a test and they still send me work. They send me large projects too.
In retrospect I understand that an outsourcer would need a test sample because of the size of a proj... See more In my opinion it is not always a waste of time. I actually did a sample test of around 500 words, I got a project that had me working for 4 months and from which I gained over ten grand. I also got a lot more work from this outsourcer after this project. I have another client with who I started to work for thanks to a test and they still send me work. They send me large projects too.
In retrospect I understand that an outsourcer would need a test sample because of the size of a project. Imagine him/her not doing a test and receiving a first batch of 100,000 words of useless work with another 300,000 to go. He/she could easily lose the job and client for not reaching the deadline.
What I usually do is check if the client is a serious company or not (go to their webpage), how I've been approached, and their job post. Most of the dodgy tests you can tell just from the approach or their job post.
I have also done tests which have amounted to nothing and didn't get any feedback or anything. It would be nice to know why, but outsourcers don't always get the job and for some reason never tell you they didn't. So you're left in a bit of a limbo. ▲ Collapse
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tazdog (X)
Spain
Local time: 19:52
Spanish to English
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| long tests should be paid | Dec 8, 2010 |
Alexander Kondorsky wrote:
Test translation can be as long as it is required for employer to make his choice. The problem is not in the length of test translation but in the existence of swindlers who send out pieces of a project as test translations without any plans of employing anybody. Also I consider to be totally immoral the practice of some translation agencies which required their freelancers to do a test translation for each project. It's like, say, requiring factory workers to take a skill test each Monday to win the right to work until Friday.
If agencies or direct clients need tests that are longer than a couple hundred words to make a decision, then they should pay for them. I've done small paid jobs of 1,000 words or so that were actually tests to see if the client would be happy with my work (and have landed much bigger jobs on the strength of those paid tests).
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| Maybe I'm a bit naive | Dec 8, 2010 |
Claire Deschamps-Prüller wrote:
here's my answer...
I've chosen less than 100 words because I have come to the conclusion - as I mostly don't receive any feedback either - that the "agencies" are asking several translators, with each time a different part of the document to get it translated for free at the end...
or I get a positive feedback "we will get back to you asap" ... and then weeks later I receive a new test-translation for free!!
:/
[Edited at 2010-12-08 12:02 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-12-08 12:09 GMT]
Claire,
What you wrote is exactly what I've experienced, word to word. However, I may a bit naive not thinking that the agencies are taking advantage of us by handing out small free test pieces to translate and put them together as one whole translation to be submitted to the client.
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| less than 300 | Dec 8, 2010 |
usually tests will be 250 and that's plenty. A couple of them did pay me a small amount for the test to make it worth my while.
I don't mind if the test is requested within 24 hours, since they want to see if you can do rush jobs, fair enough.
I generally find that I do better without tests and have gotten most of my clients by sending samples and CVs. Most of the time tests are a waste of time...that's why usually when they ask, I tell them I just don't have the time, which isn't a... See more usually tests will be 250 and that's plenty. A couple of them did pay me a small amount for the test to make it worth my while.
I don't mind if the test is requested within 24 hours, since they want to see if you can do rush jobs, fair enough.
I generally find that I do better without tests and have gotten most of my clients by sending samples and CVs. Most of the time tests are a waste of time...that's why usually when they ask, I tell them I just don't have the time, which isn't a lie! ▲ Collapse
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Yasutomo Kanazawa wrote: Miroslav Jeftic wrote: Yasutomo Kanazawa wrote:
so far, nearly 90% of the people say that they are willing to do free translation test which is a total waste of time...
Maybe because it's not a total waste of time? My main reason for not accepting test translations is that I don't get any feedback whatsoever after I've submitted them, whether they be agencies or agencies on behalf of end clients. That's why I stopped taking them, leading to the conclusion that it's a total waste of time.
From my experience sometimes it's a hit (I get the job), sometimes it's a miss (I get nothing), so worth a shot
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andres-larsen
Venezuela
Local time: 13:52
Spanish to English
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| depends on the requirements of the outsourcer | Dec 8, 2010 |
depends on the requirements of the outsourcer whereas the translator simply decides whether or not to do the specific free translation test based on the conditions predetermined by this outsourcer
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tradu-grace
Italy
Local time: 19:52
English to Italian
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| Sharing Vera's opinion | Dec 8, 2010 |
Hi everyone,
I do share Vera's point of view.
I did tranlate free test from abroad translation agencies and I got back
positive results.
I can accept between 100 and 200 words depending on context.
My experience has been definitely a positive one.
Best,
tradugrace
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| Same - not for databases | Dec 8, 2010 |
Cindy Chadd wrote:
I answered 100-299, because I will occasionally do a test of about this length if it's for a specific job. I no longer do tests just to be included in a database of translators, because I have found that to be a total waste of time: not one of these agencies has ever contacted me since I "passed" their test, except to ask for more paperwork.
I will do them if it's a reputable company and I really want that particular job. If it's just for "adding to our database", I don't do them any more. I've had the same experience as Cindy - all most agencies do upon receiving completed test translations is ask you to fill out profiles, spreadsheets, questionnaires, etc, about your fields and pricing, and then never send you any work!
Happily, I'm currently at a place in my career where I can choose the clients I work with and the jobs/test translations I take.
[Edited at 2010-12-08 15:47 GMT]
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| Is it deception? | Dec 8, 2010 |
I recieved a Urdu translation document which had more than a 1000 words to translate in to English I have translated it and sent it back to the person who said it was a sample translation and it is now been checked I dont know why he wanted someone to translate so much for him to see if he was a good translator. I agree with 100 words as a sample translation. I am still waiting for the outcome of my sample translation.
[Edited at 2010-12-08 16:37 GMT]
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| 10 pages "test" translation | Dec 8, 2010 |
I remember that one of my first would-be "clients" wanted to do 10 pages legal "test" translation....I hope he found someone for this.
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