How Much Do You Charge for Proofreading the Tests? Thread poster: Nagehan Carroll
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Hello,
One of my clients asked me to proofread the tests of 100-200 words and complete a short judging form so that they can assess the quality of the translation. Every aplicant will complete a minimum of 2 tests each, and the rates they are willing to pay for proofreading these tests is £2 for each test completed.
I would like to hear from the fellow translators who perform the similar tasks and how much do you normally charge for the similar tasks?
Tha... See more Hello,
One of my clients asked me to proofread the tests of 100-200 words and complete a short judging form so that they can assess the quality of the translation. Every aplicant will complete a minimum of 2 tests each, and the rates they are willing to pay for proofreading these tests is £2 for each test completed.
I would like to hear from the fellow translators who perform the similar tasks and how much do you normally charge for the similar tasks?
Thank you in advance ▲ Collapse
| | | | XXXphxxx (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:53
Portuguese to English
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| It's a job like any other | Apr 26, 2012 |
So I charge my minimum charge or by the hour if the work exceeds an hour.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 09:53
Member (2007)
English
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| My experience | Apr 26, 2012 |
Hello Nagehan,
I assume these are the sample translations done by those wishing to work with the agency - is that correct? In that case, would I be right in thinking that there are just a few texts to choose from? If that's so, then you'll soon get to know them and the work will speed up a little.
I do this pro bono for TWB and it takes about 15 minutes to review a reasonably good translation of about 250 words. I would expect a 100-word test to take about 10 minutes in... See more Hello Nagehan,
I assume these are the sample translations done by those wishing to work with the agency - is that correct? In that case, would I be right in thinking that there are just a few texts to choose from? If that's so, then you'll soon get to know them and the work will speed up a little.
I do this pro bono for TWB and it takes about 15 minutes to review a reasonably good translation of about 250 words. I would expect a 100-word test to take about 10 minutes including admin (which I don't do, being pro bono).
I agree with Lisa that your hourly rate applies, but these are small, recurring jobs so you can't invoice each one at your minimum rate. Personally, my terms for 100 words would probably be £4.50 per review, invoiced monthly (a simple "test review * 10 = £45" invoice), with a minimum invoice value of £27. But terms are very personal things and anyway they can only really be firmed up when you know everything about the job.
HTH
Sheila ▲ Collapse
| | | | | GO BY TIME CONSUMED | Apr 27, 2012 |
I would prefer to charge by the time consumed. I charge hourly rates which is equivalent to a translation job done in an hour. Suppose I translate 400 words per hour my translation cost will be 0.05USD x 400 = 20USD). So hourly rate for any proof reading/quality-check works out to 20 USD.
RSubramanian
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Indeed, based on the time taken by each test. Keep track of the time required. Good translations will be just some minutes, and bad translations might take an hour.
Worse translations will be thus more expensive and your customer will be more inclined to screen translators carefully before they are even allowed to submit a test.
| | | | Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 10:53
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
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| it's proofreading+ | Apr 27, 2012 |
They are selecting new translators who are cheaper than you are...
and they probably want some explanations about the errors, writing style etc, to send back to their candidates...
By the hour - with a minimum fee, so you're not just doing 1 each time a candidate sends in a text...
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Ed
| | | | | What service in the world costs £2? | Apr 27, 2012 |
Nagehan Carroll wrote:
...One of my clients asked me to proofread the tests of 100-200 words and complete a short judging form so that they can assess the quality of the translation. Every aplicant will complete a minimum of 2 tests each, and the rates they are willing to pay for proofreading these tests is £2 for each test completed...
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHH (howl of a freelance translator who thinks his activity as a bread-winning profession)
Just to put things in perspective, I had new number plates fitted to my car and I was charged a fiver. Without invoice. 2 rivets, a drill and 5 min of labour. Not enough to smoke a cigarette on the pavement outside.
For any freelance activity, five euros GROSS is nothing, and 2 pounds even less (10 min parking time in Greater London? One tube ticket?). Or am I too demanding?
Really I find such offers disgraceful. On top of that, you will send an invoice and be taxed on it.
Let's assume that each test (or couple thereof) is sent as a freestanding order, to make things more convenient for them and harder for you. At the very best, each 200-word piece will require 15 min of your time: stopping what you're doing, e-mail, blabla, actual work, sending, keeping a record and all.
They offer you (at best) £8/hour (gross) for your experience and judgment. A whole detailed screening process for peanuts.
To answer your question, I wouldn't take on such offers, because I am busy earning a living with translation. When I review tests, I also charge the reason why I am asked to review tests. And I don't get up for £2.
Free advice: drop those agencies that assume translation is a hobby for retired people and bored housewives, like crosswords or sudoku.
Philippe
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 10:53
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| GBP 2 is not enough | Apr 27, 2012 |
Nagehan Carroll wrote:
One of my clients asked me to proofread the tests of 100-200 words and complete a short judging form so that they can assess the quality of the translation.
Don't underestimate the time it takes to fill in even a simple review form. Assume each test will take half an hour to deal with, and quote accordingly. GBP 10 per test seems more reasonable.
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| I agree with your rate | Apr 27, 2012 |
Your rate is good, and the work will be a repetitive sample of translation tests. keep that rate, and good luck.
| | | | | Charge by the hour | Apr 27, 2012 |
There has to be some limit to what we do for peanuts.
I have been offered two jobs at minimum rate today.
One from a really super client who always goes the extra mile when I need help.
The 'job' turned out to be a single line in an e-mail.
I answered the query, said I did not have time to invoice for it, and wished the PM a nice weekend.
The other was from a new client. I did a small first job for them for GBP 10 - some routine birth cer... See more There has to be some limit to what we do for peanuts.
I have been offered two jobs at minimum rate today.
One from a really super client who always goes the extra mile when I need help.
The 'job' turned out to be a single line in an e-mail.
I answered the query, said I did not have time to invoice for it, and wished the PM a nice weekend.
The other was from a new client. I did a small first job for them for GBP 10 - some routine birth certificate, I believe, to get off to a good start.
They spun out payment 'to save bank charges'...
After several unanswered mails, I called them to say they could pay the amount into my GB bank account, and the sooner the better.
They apologised... and within the hour they had four files for me in four different languages, with answers to a questionnaire. Would I do them for the minimum rate each?
I transferred the words of three languages to a file where I could count them, and found there would be at least three hours' work. I can't read the fourth language.
I sent a polite mail to say I can't read Finnish, and that my charge for the others would be more than twice what they were offering, IF I had time, which I haven't... because I am working for a client who pays € 0.12 a word all next week.
As soon as I get a minute, I am going to puncture that nice row of 5-ratings the new client has on the Blue Board!
Then I keep planning to prepare a standard blurb about how much I need to earn per hour to cover my taxes and expenses, not to mention making a living. I intend to attach it to my answers to the more ridiculous offers.
If we all do something like that, it might just make an impression... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 10:53
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| WHERE is the LIKE button???? | Apr 27, 2012 |
Philippe Etienne wrote:
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHH (howl of a freelance translator who thinks his activity as a bread-winning profession)
Philippe
: )
Excellent!!
| | | | | 25 Euro per test | Apr 27, 2012 |
Nagehan Carroll wrote:
Hello,
One of my clients asked me to proofread the tests of 100-200 words and complete a short judging form so that they can assess the quality of the translation. Every aplicant will complete a minimum of 2 tests each, and the rates they are willing to pay for proofreading these tests is £2 for each test completed.
I would like to hear from the fellow translators who perform the similar tasks and how much do you normally charge for the similar tasks?
Thank you in advance
Tell them that your rate is 25 Euro per test. I think this will be just fair, considering thousands and thousands of profit they will earn in the futer on each translator who's professional qualifications you approve. Just think of that!
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