| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Do you consider that ProZ.com has helped you to reach and get new clients? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| No flattering | Aug 16, 2016 |
I have been in this business now for almost 12 years, and the main reason why I am still a ProZ.com member is that over the years, many clients have found me through this site. For newbies: I cannot advise you to bid on ProZ.com jobs because those people are only looking for the cheapest translator, and that is not a good basis for a long-term cooperation. But if a good agency (see Blue Board) is looking for new translators for their database/a new customer, you should react - I have found lots ... See more I have been in this business now for almost 12 years, and the main reason why I am still a ProZ.com member is that over the years, many clients have found me through this site. For newbies: I cannot advise you to bid on ProZ.com jobs because those people are only looking for the cheapest translator, and that is not a good basis for a long-term cooperation. But if a good agency (see Blue Board) is looking for new translators for their database/a new customer, you should react - I have found lots of good customers this way. I can only recommend ProZ.com (although I think they should block people offering less than 7 cents per word on principle). ▲ Collapse
| | | | Yaotl Altan 
Mexico
Local time: 12:06
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Dr. Tilmann Kleinau wrote:
I have been in this business now for almost 12 years, and the main reason why I am still a ProZ.com member is that over the years, many clients have found me through this site. For newbies: I cannot advise you to bid on ProZ.com jobs because those people are only looking for the cheapest translator, and that is not a good basis for a long-term cooperation. But if a good agency (see Blue Board) is looking for new translators for their database/a new customer, you should react - I have found lots of good customers this way. I can only recommend ProZ.com (although I think they should block people offering less than 7 cents per word on principle).
Ja, das ist richtig The Blue Board function is quite useful to detect potential bad payers.
And I agree with the 7 cents (or less) block idea too!
| | | | | Henry - about statistics | Aug 16, 2016 |
Henry Dotterer wrote:
Not surprisingly, in this poll the responses differ significantly depending on membership status.
The statistics don't surprise me either, but what's important is what you make of it. You might conclude that people who are members have a greater chance to find work here, but that is making assumptions about things like reasons for joining.
I'm among the 24% but I also did not join for the purpose of finding work. I joined in order to keep abreast of translation matters and correspond with my peers, and ProZ serves both these purposes. I have looked at the job offers that come via the bidding process and in general clients seem to want to pay a fraction of what I charge and what my own clients are happy to pay. So there isn't much of a reason to aim for that kind of job.
Recently I looked at my profile and saw that I was automatically set as "unavailable" and I suppose that might have been so for a very long time. It is possible that more contacts from clients might come via my profile now that I have changed this. And if that improves, I might even be persuaded to become a paying member. But again, finding clients was not my initial purpose for joining.
ProZ was being built at the time when the main forum was sci.lang.translation, where there was no such thing as platforms and bidding, and we all got together to discuss matters of our profession. The organizations that sprang up after that seemed a better organized version of that. Many of us from back then already had our clientele by then. In fact, I clearly remember receiving your announcement about the launch of ProZ.
| | | | | Please give membership a try, Maxi! | Aug 17, 2016 |
Maxi Schwarz wrote: Henry Dotterer wrote:
Not surprisingly, in this poll the responses differ significantly depending on membership status. The statistics don't surprise me either, but what's important is what you make of it. You might conclude that people who are members have a greater chance to find work here, but that is making assumptions about things like reasons for joining.
Assumptions or not, there is no question that being a paying member increases your chances of meeting clients at ProZ.com -- it is simply how the system is designed. Members come up in the first set of results in the directory. They get more attention, just as surely as those in the first page of results for a Google search get more attention that those in the second page of results.
I'm among the 24% but I also did not join for the purpose of finding work. I joined in order to keep abreast of translation matters and correspond with my peers, and ProZ serves both these purposes. I have looked at the job offers that come via the bidding process and in general clients seem to want to pay a fraction of what I charge and what my own clients are happy to pay. So there isn't much of a reason to aim for that kind of job. Recently I looked at my profile and saw that I was automatically set as "unavailable" and I suppose that might have been so for a very long time. It is possible that more contacts from clients might come via my profile now that I have changed this. And if that improves, I might even be persuaded to become a paying member. But again, finding clients was not my initial purpose for joining. ProZ was being built at the time when the main forum was sci.lang.translation, where there was no such thing as platforms and bidding, and we all got together to discuss matters of our profession. The organizations that sprang up after that seemed a better organized version of that. Many of us from back then already had our clientele by then. In fact, I clearly remember receiving your announcement about the launch of ProZ.
Nice to know that you have been here since the beginning! From your response I understand that you are open to accepting new clients, provided that they meet your criteria. That is what ProZ.com was made for -- increasing your flow of potential new clients, so that you can select the ones that are right for you. ProZ.com membership does work (just look at the numbers), so why not give it a try and find out for yourself? (Just be sure to complete your profile, including the tagline.)
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inkweaver
Germany
Local time: 20:06
French to German
+ ...
| To a certain extent | Aug 17, 2016 |
I joined Proz.com as a paying member fairly soon after starting as a freelance translator almost nine years ago and I found two of my very best clients via the site.
However, I became increasingly frustrated with Proz.com (handling of BB entries for example) so I didn't renew my membership. I tried being a paying member again earlier this year but the condescending attitude of some peers when answering a Kudoz question (dear German-speaking colleagues, nobody is actually forcing you to an... See more I joined Proz.com as a paying member fairly soon after starting as a freelance translator almost nine years ago and I found two of my very best clients via the site.
However, I became increasingly frustrated with Proz.com (handling of BB entries for example) so I didn't renew my membership. I tried being a paying member again earlier this year but the condescending attitude of some peers when answering a Kudoz question (dear German-speaking colleagues, nobody is actually forcing you to answer, you might as well just not reply - and yes, I know, not Proz.com's fault) and the fact that posters on the job board are usually looking for monkeys who will work for peanuts rather than professional translators (I call it the 'translators' red-light district') made me decide to make use of the 'money back' guarantee. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Gudrun Maydorn (X)
Germany
Local time: 20:06
English to German
+ ...
| Yes, a few private customers | Aug 17, 2016 |
One of my specialities is the translation of medical records. Over the years a number of private individuals have found me through proz.com when they were due to move (or had just moved) from one country to another and required a translation of their medical records for their new doctors.
I have had very positive feedback from these individuals, but this sort of translation is normally required once and not on an ongoing basis.
My main reason for being a paying member ... See more One of my specialities is the translation of medical records. Over the years a number of private individuals have found me through proz.com when they were due to move (or had just moved) from one country to another and required a translation of their medical records for their new doctors.
I have had very positive feedback from these individuals, but this sort of translation is normally required once and not on an ongoing basis.
My main reason for being a paying member of proz.com is to support and say thank you for useful features such a Kudoz.
[Bearbeitet am 2016-08-17 05:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes definitely | Aug 17, 2016 |
The vast majority of past and present agency customers have found me through proz.com.
A very tiny portion of my customer base comes from roaming PMs and real-life networking.
Philippe
| | | | | Professionalism | Aug 17, 2016 |
Sadek_A wrote:
Any client looking for more than mere competency from a translator must be having an underripe personality for sure.
After all, we are not in the sweet businesses of 'massage' and 'dating', where one should touch softly and tread lightly, or maybe even throw a 'happy ending' to the service package.
Working in translation industry is all about hitting the nail on the head, not about pleasing and becoming besties.
Would a patient overlook a competent surgeon because the latter isn't pleasing the former enough?!
Would a corps overlook a competent soldier because he/she isn't a fun-material?!
I would understand that talk coming from a company, as some companies want the translator to be a dancing monkey at their commands.
However, we, translators, shouldn't be propagating such notions, as they are the very definition of unprofessionalism. Period.
Hello Sadek,
As my post is about skill and other personal factors which come into play, perhaps I could clarify what I mean.
To me, it is not about competence versus niceness and I would not place them in opposition.
Professionalism is what I look for and that means working with people who are competent and who have the right attitude.
The right attitude involves the following:
- respect
- politeness
- punctuality
- communication skills
These overlap and are essential business skills. They help make business relations run smoothly. They apply to translators, clients and agencies. They are two-way roads; they are to be borne in mind and put into practice when initiating procedures and when one is on the receiving end.
This is nothing to do with making friends out of business relations. That can offer be a recipe for disaster.
As to your rhetorical questions, I think I know what you mean. No-one goes into the translation (or any) business to make friends. Skill comes top of the list in the working world. My point is that personal skills are a business competence in their own right.
As for the comparison with surgeons, well competence first and foremost, as with any professional and that means judging on reputation. Some are really unpleasant characters, but that does not matter that much, as patients don't usually have that much contact with the surgeon. Where techical reputation is equal, patients feel more relaxed in the hands of the nice guy that the ogre. The patient is less apprehensive and that makes the job of the medical team easier all round. Have you not noticed how in medical teams, if the guy at the top has rotten personal skills, the atmosphere is rotten and it is well-known that a higher level of stress incresaes the likelihood of mistakes?
When it comes to military contexts, then again, there is a need for nuance. Of course, absolute skill motivates the choice for inclusion in a team. However, once again, a highly unpleasant character has a negative influence on a team and can contribute to increasing levels of stress and the risk of error. Again, therefore, skill yes, but not at any price.
So, whether the context be medical or military, it is about team work. Each team member needs to be able to rely upon the skills of his/her fellow team members, whatever their position in the hierarchy. In addition to the purely technical skills, ideally taken for granted (they must be there), personal skills have an extremely important part to play in making each individual of the group a truly competent professional.
Coming back to language professionals, yes, skill first and foremost. There is always choice. No one individual is the only one with a particular technical language skill. Translators don't generally have just one client either. So, when chosing clients, it's an open door to start with, but that door can close as an ulitmate step if those people are not reliable, never send the work on time, always pay late, etc.
[Edited at 2016-08-17 08:59 GMT]
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Sadek_A
Local time: 22:06
English to Arabic
+ ...
| Attitude... an awry way of evaluation | Aug 17, 2016 |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne wrote:
Hello Sadek,
As my post is about...
..............................................
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... , always pay late, etc.
[Edited at 2016-08-17 08:59 GMT]
Hello Nikki,
I was keen on not addressing you directly, as some female colleagues tend to become rather sensitive/defensive when their statements are challenged. But, I’m glad to see you didn’t react that way.
Let’s see… the word ‘attitude’. Recently, I’ve been reading this ambiguous word very frequently. However, nowhere did I read a clear definition or the criteria thereof.
I’m totally opposed to that word and the like, as they change evaluation from necessarily being a transparent/unbiased process to a totally different one based solely on personal preferences/moods.
Some employers around the world have regraded/are regarding/will regard it to be a good ‘attitude’ that, let’s say, their female subordinates must 'put out' to keep their jobs. Did the courts agree? Do you agree?
Is it a good ‘attitude’ that you, a translator, must provide free services to be given the chance of having a paid work?
That is how some companies think; and, if we are to approve of that sloppy word, then we are actually helping them take advantage of us.
The word ‘attitude’ is, sadly, being used to enforce and collect undeserved privileges.
I would understand that, in the case of in-house work, a company would have a clear set of announced straightforward criteria for what constitutes a good attitude, given the fact that (continuous) human contact is involved.
However, in the case of freelancing, neither party sees nor needs to like the other.
A respectful message for a respectful message, a set of agreed terms and a purchase order, a timely delivery, a quality translation and, finally, a timely payment; that is the good ‘attitude’ in freelancing. Anything else requested is just meant to satisfy the mood swings of the requester.
If a client is edgy, I shouldn’t be required to tolerate. In order to get respect, you must show respect first.
This is business, and for it to be a successful one, neither party should be required to deal with undefined criteria.
Lastly, believe me, your tolerance of a tricky word like ‘attitude’ can even come back to bite you at some point. After all, not everyone likes/will like you nor thinks/will think that you have the ‘right attitude.’
Now, allow me to thank you for your time and thoughts.
[Edited at 2016-08-17 20:51 GMT]
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 15:06
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
It's a reciprocal thing. If you're willing to help your colleagues answering questions in KudoZ, you'll be in a higher position in the search lists and get lots of e-mails from clients. I get most of my clients from ProZ, but that only happened when I had enough points to be in the first page of the searches.
If you're talking about the "Browse Jobs" directory, I never got a job there. People who announce there offer peanuts and hire peanuts. That's not the right channel.
... See more It's a reciprocal thing. If you're willing to help your colleagues answering questions in KudoZ, you'll be in a higher position in the search lists and get lots of e-mails from clients. I get most of my clients from ProZ, but that only happened when I had enough points to be in the first page of the searches.
If you're talking about the "Browse Jobs" directory, I never got a job there. People who announce there offer peanuts and hire peanuts. That's not the right channel.
Also, you must be a member, of course. I believe non-members use the site as a glossary only. ▲ Collapse
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