| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you usually receive a sufficient deadline? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you usually receive a sufficient deadline?".
This poll was originally submitted by Jiřina Ječná. View the poll results »
| | | | XXXphxxx (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:50
Portuguese to English
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Is this question aimed at freelance translators?
If the deadline doesn't suit you, don't take on the job. I don't understand why the question implies we don't have a choice.
| | | | Karen Stokes
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:50
Member (2003)
French to English
Deadlines (and every other aspect of a project) need to be agreed, not imposed - so if you can't meet the deadline your client wants, you negotiate. You may or may not be able to agree, but it's not a one-way street.
| | | | Adam Jarczyk
Poland
Local time: 12:50
Member (2009)
English to Polish
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| Most certainly ... | Nov 20, 2012 |
I would not accept any project if it were otherwise.
I need to be sure to be able to meet my own quality standards before I'd agree to work on any text.
Adam
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Marjolein Snippe
Netherlands
Local time: 12:50
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
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| 'get' or 'accept'? | Nov 20, 2012 |
I agree with the previous replies. As, no doubt, almost everyone here, I only accept projects with a deadline I think sufficient. If the proposed deadline is to tight, I will not accept it, or negotiate more time.
| | | | Sara Maghini
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:50
English to Italian
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| YOU get to decide! | Nov 20, 2012 |
I usually am the one telling my client by when I can do the job. Otherwise, if they suggest a deadline I cannot meet, I simply refuse the job. Accepting something you do not have time to work on properly damages both you and your client, as the quality of the end result will be very poor!
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 11:50
| I'll join the chorus | Nov 20, 2012 |
Deadlines are movable feasts before you accept a job.
If I can do the job by the proposed deadline, I accept the job.
If I cannot do job by the proposed deadline (and want to), I will say so, and indicate by when I could complete the job, especially if it is a question of gaining another 24 hours, say.
If I cannot do the job for any other reason (e.g. not my subject field, only partially legible PDF, out of office) I will decline the job and give my reason.... See more Deadlines are movable feasts before you accept a job.
If I can do the job by the proposed deadline, I accept the job.
If I cannot do job by the proposed deadline (and want to), I will say so, and indicate by when I could complete the job, especially if it is a question of gaining another 24 hours, say.
If I cannot do the job for any other reason (e.g. not my subject field, only partially legible PDF, out of office) I will decline the job and give my reason.
I think this is a reasonable approach, and so do those with whom I work. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 12:50
Spanish to English
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| Sufficient but not generous | Nov 20, 2012 |
Usually my deadlines are sufficient but not generous, I work mainly with agencies. If I can't do a job because of the deadline and if there is some leeway the agency will offer up another one, if not, they look elsewhere. This is because agencies only really contact me with jobs whose details have already been finalised. Personally I prefer it that way, as everyone knows where they stand at all times.
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| I am sometimes booked in advance when the deadline is tight | Nov 20, 2012 |
Like everyone else, I try to negotiate or turn down work if the deadline is unreasonable.
On the other hand, there are many occasions when a whole schedule - at a conference or mother scenarios - simply does not allow time for leisurely translation, and the client needs a usable text fast.
Someone has to do these jobs... and some of my clients book me in advance - 'We have a rushed job coming in at two o'clock and need it three hours later...' or whatever.
... See more Like everyone else, I try to negotiate or turn down work if the deadline is unreasonable.
On the other hand, there are many occasions when a whole schedule - at a conference or mother scenarios - simply does not allow time for leisurely translation, and the client needs a usable text fast.
Someone has to do these jobs... and some of my clients book me in advance - 'We have a rushed job coming in at two o'clock and need it three hours later...' or whatever.
There is not always enough time to deliver polished prose, and the odd typo has to be accepted, but on those terms I deliver.
I can look up earlier work for the same client and prepare, if I know what the text is about, so that I can save time when it comes.
It is necessary to 'educate' clients, especially in these days of instant MT, and explain that real translation takes time.
MT is the fast-food of the translation world. Just as in practice it takes far longer than 20 minutes to make a good pizza, even though our local pizzaria can almost always deliver 20 minutes after you order.
So tell clients how long you need... Understanding builds up respect, and that is what our profession needs! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | If my idea is right... | Nov 20, 2012 |
this question means: do clients offer jobs with a sufficient deadline to complete them?
In this case my answer is yes, I am usually given jobs and the deadline is sufficient to do them. Sometimes (and in certain periods I would say often) I am asked for "urgent" translations, which means that a document needs to be translated in a very short time in respect to its wordcount, and in that case it depends on several things:
1) am I busy?
2) can the document be translated wi... See more this question means: do clients offer jobs with a sufficient deadline to complete them?
In this case my answer is yes, I am usually given jobs and the deadline is sufficient to do them. Sometimes (and in certain periods I would say often) I am asked for "urgent" translations, which means that a document needs to be translated in a very short time in respect to its wordcount, and in that case it depends on several things:
1) am I busy?
2) can the document be translated without affecting the quality?
3) is the client one of my regular clients?
4) is the client a relevant client?
5) is he ok with a 30% increase of rate?
sometimes the answers given to these question can turn a "insufficient deadline" into a "sufficient deadline", obviously answer to question 2) MUST be YES. ▲ Collapse
| | | | tradu-grace
Italy
Local time: 12:50
English to Italian
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and almost all the other answers here.
| | | | Russell Jones
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:50
Italian to English
Most of my clients know my rates.
Their initial question is almost always "when can you do it by?"
If my answer is acceptable, I get the job; if not, I don't (or there's some negotiation).
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As I work mainly with repeat clients (some of them for more than 20 years), they know exactly what is my usual deadline. Regarding new clients, if the deadline seems unreasonable, I will turn down the job or negotiate. I must say though that, in general, I do not like “generous” deadlines...
| | | | Alexandranow
Romania
Local time: 13:50
Romanian to English
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| yes, but not always | Nov 20, 2012 |
ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you usually receive a sufficient deadline?". This poll was originally submitted by Jiřina Ječná. View the poll results »
I mean usually yes, but not always...depends.
After reading some of the replies, I may add that was about sufficient...I guess that means a normal working day, so if a job requires working from dusk to dawn (or more) maybe the dead line was bit too short...right? We take the job if we think is worth doing or we need to work.
[Edited at 2012-11-20 11:29 GMT]
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 12:50
Spanish to English
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| "Sufficient" | Nov 20, 2012 |
I agree with Alexandra. The wordcount for me would have to be doable in a normal working day. Then if I choose to work from dusk to dawn to get it out the way, for whatever reason, I can. In this case, I would only deliver the translation a couple of hours before the deadline anyway. I think you need to train your agencies because some of them can't see past the money. So my calculations would be based on an approximate wordcount of 2500 words a day. I don't accept rush jobs as I can't see the l... See more I agree with Alexandra. The wordcount for me would have to be doable in a normal working day. Then if I choose to work from dusk to dawn to get it out the way, for whatever reason, I can. In this case, I would only deliver the translation a couple of hours before the deadline anyway. I think you need to train your agencies because some of them can't see past the money. So my calculations would be based on an approximate wordcount of 2500 words a day. I don't accept rush jobs as I can't see the logic behind them. I do all my jobs as quickly as I can, which is how a freelancer should approach their work anyway. If I did them any quicker, they wouldn't be so good. And what "professional" plays with fire?
[Editado a las 2012-11-20 12:01 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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