Pages in topic:   [1 2 3 4] >
Bad bad postulants
Thread poster: Lany Chabot-Laroche
Lany Chabot-Laroche
Lany Chabot-Laroche  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 08:28
Member (2009)
English to French
Mar 16, 2011

Ever had a really really horrific/funny reply when looking for helpers/freelancers, please share here.


I am currently having trouble handling work by myself and I thought I'd ask some help on craiglist first (I had problems with posting here, anyway, not the subject here).

I asked very clearly that respondents have Trados since I need it and so it would deter non-translators.

This guy tells me he has worked in a French newpaper for 17 years, yet made
... See more
Ever had a really really horrific/funny reply when looking for helpers/freelancers, please share here.


I am currently having trouble handling work by myself and I thought I'd ask some help on craiglist first (I had problems with posting here, anyway, not the subject here).

I asked very clearly that respondents have Trados since I need it and so it would deter non-translators.

This guy tells me he has worked in a French newpaper for 17 years, yet made a couple of mistakes in his English answer. So, sure, I knew he most likely wasn't qualified, but I kept going and asked if he had translation experience and Trados. Here is the reply, I'm still dumbfounded, not sure if I should laugh or cry.

"Yes I do have translation experience but I dont undesrtant what do yiy mean by "tradosAnyhow with ezperice end good kwoledge of a language nothing can be "an obstacle. Do you agree with me?"

How? I mean... just... no, I can't find the right words for this.
Collapse


 
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 13:28
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Are you sure... Mar 16, 2011

...you did not ask for experience in creative spelling?

 
Daina Jauntirans
Daina Jauntirans  Identity Verified
Local time: 07:28
German to English
+ ...
Uhhh, you posted the request on Craigslist? Mar 16, 2011

And you're surprised you got unprofessional responses?

 
Nicole Schnell
Nicole Schnell  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:28
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
He replied from his cell phone? :-) Mar 16, 2011

That's how emails often look like when typed on a cell. Even my own clients sound slightly dyslexic when they are on their Berry. Or if they had a close encounter with a bottle of Scotch.

However, this not acceptable when replying to a job offer.

Personally, I have had horrible experiences with some Craig's List "candidates", too (I was looking for a typesetter). So I am wondering why you didn't search am
... See more
That's how emails often look like when typed on a cell. Even my own clients sound slightly dyslexic when they are on their Berry. Or if they had a close encounter with a bottle of Scotch.

However, this not acceptable when replying to a job offer.

Personally, I have had horrible experiences with some Craig's List "candidates", too (I was looking for a typesetter). So I am wondering why you didn't search among your colleagues first by simply using the ProZ.com freelancer list.

Collapse


 
Lany Chabot-Laroche
Lany Chabot-Laroche  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 08:28
Member (2009)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
ProZ next Mar 16, 2011

I tried searching here, but soooo many variables to choose from, and so many results. I tried the easy way first. Guess I'll try that again when I have time to get familiar with the freelancer search.

I did get a real translator reply thought. But from someone halfway across the world. Why do people in the middle-east check Montreal craigslist for work? I didn't think I had to precise country of residence in my craigs ad. I'm learning so much!


 
polyglot45
polyglot45
English to French
+ ...
Personally what stuns me is that you think Mar 16, 2011

that it is Trados that sorts the men out from the boys. So those of us who don't have Trados, will never have Trados and hate the Tradoc ethos are now classed as non-translators because we use our brains, memories, own knowledge and skills instead ? The mind boggles !

There are lots of translators on the market offering cut rates and quality to match and who could boast that they have the miracle software but there are also people with many long years of experience, credentials, sat
... See more
that it is Trados that sorts the men out from the boys. So those of us who don't have Trados, will never have Trados and hate the Tradoc ethos are now classed as non-translators because we use our brains, memories, own knowledge and skills instead ? The mind boggles !

There are lots of translators on the market offering cut rates and quality to match and who could boast that they have the miracle software but there are also people with many long years of experience, credentials, satisfied customers and a whole lot more whom you would dismiss as "non-translators" just because they refuse to join the crowd.

I say no more - I'm speechless
Collapse


 
Lany Chabot-Laroche
Lany Chabot-Laroche  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 08:28
Member (2009)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
Please calm down Mar 16, 2011

polyglot45 wrote:

that it is Trados that sorts the men out from the boys. So those of us who don't have Trados, will never have Trados and hate the Tradoc ethos are now classed as non-translators because we use our brains, memories, own knowledge and skills instead ? The mind boggles !

There are lots of translators on the market offering cut rates and quality to match and who could boast that they have the miracle software but there are also people with many long years of experience, credentials, satisfied customers and a whole lot more whom you would dismiss as "non-translators" just because they refuse to join the crowd.

I say no more - I'm speechless



Whoooo. I did not say that or even imply that. I simply stated that by asking for Trados, I will get less answers from non professionnals, not that people without it are not professionnal.

You also don't have to have a degree to be good, but if you ask for a degree, you won't get answers from people that don't know the first thing about translation.

Also, for this project, Trados is needed, it's not because I want to discriminate, it's simply because people without it will NOT be able to open the file to do the translation in the first place, I think that is a valid reason to ask for it.


 
Nicole Schnell
Nicole Schnell  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:28
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
Thanks, polyglot! Mar 16, 2011

My thoughts as well. Now I am sure that I am one of those non-translators and and amateurs, too. It is truly a miracle how my translation firm could possibly survive for the last ten years without any Trados that apparently separates the wheat from the chaff.

 
Nicole Schnell
Nicole Schnell  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:28
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
Well, Lany Chabot-Laroche. Mar 16, 2011

If I may quote:

"so it would deter non-translators"




 
opolt
opolt  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 13:28
English to German
+ ...
Agree with Daina and polyglot Mar 16, 2011

Sorry, but you got what you asked for, Lany. No surprise here.

Of course you may specifiy Trados as a requirement, but still ...

RE "too many variables": I don't quite see the point. I gather you are not a complete Proz.com newcomer, so you should be somewhat familiar with the system. The more variables you define, the shorter your list of translators gets. It's that simple. I fail to see how that is more
... See more
Sorry, but you got what you asked for, Lany. No surprise here.

Of course you may specifiy Trados as a requirement, but still ...

RE "too many variables": I don't quite see the point. I gather you are not a complete Proz.com newcomer, so you should be somewhat familiar with the system. The more variables you define, the shorter your list of translators gets. It's that simple. I fail to see how that is more complicated than asking on Craigslist!?
Collapse


 
Nicole Schnell
Nicole Schnell  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:28
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
Why not? Mar 16, 2011

Lany Chabot-Laroche wrote:
because people without it will NOT be able to open the file to do the translation in the first place.


They may instead be equipped with InDesign, QuarkXPress, Photoshop, Illustrator, PageMaker, Adobe Freehand, XML Editor, PDF Converter, the full Acrobat version, aside from the basics such as Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint, what ever your heart desires.


 
Lany Chabot-Laroche
Lany Chabot-Laroche  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 08:28
Member (2009)
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
Arg! Mar 16, 2011

Nicole Schnell wrote:

If I may quote:

"so it would deter non-translators"




You're twisting my words! If I had simply asked for someone who can translate, I would have been overwhelmed with all kinds of poor offer. I would not do that posting here since I expect a certain level from this site, but on craiglist, I feel that some kind of filter is required, I agree that this is a bad one, but since I do need a Trados user, it was justified.

@Nicole - If a postulant can work with Trados files from another program (I don't think it's possible, but maybe), they will know they can email me about the job. I didn't think I needed to specify "Trados users" and "people that somehow can read those files without Trados".


@opolt

I am not a newcomer, but so far, ProZ was only to look for work and other basic fonctions, this is new for me, I'll definitively give it a try, but for my first ad, I went with something I knew about and could do in 2 minutes.

But yes, fast and easy doesn't give the best quality, I know that


I don't want to make all the non-users hate me, far from it! Now stop seeing things I didn't mean and post dumb candidate stories!

Oh, about that, the guy did reply in French after I asked him to, better, but still a mess, will not be replying any more, I've seen more than enough.


[Edited at 2011-03-16 21:17 GMT]

[Edited at 2011-03-16 21:18 GMT]


 
Caroline Grenache
Caroline Grenache  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:28
English to French
+ ...
Next time... Mar 16, 2011

Lany,
I understand your requirement for TRADOS on this specific project. I still think that ProZ is a good place to start from if you are looking for freelance translators, much better and more effective than Craig's list anyways.
Just wanted to let you know that I work in the same language combination as you do, am based out of Montreal, can provide excellent references and, even though I do not use Trados, am a very qualified translator with many years of experience. Have a look at
... See more
Lany,
I understand your requirement for TRADOS on this specific project. I still think that ProZ is a good place to start from if you are looking for freelance translators, much better and more effective than Craig's list anyways.
Just wanted to let you know that I work in the same language combination as you do, am based out of Montreal, can provide excellent references and, even though I do not use Trados, am a very qualified translator with many years of experience. Have a look at my profile and keep it in mind next time you are looking for someone!
Collapse


 
opolt
opolt  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 13:28
English to German
+ ...
Translators directory Mar 16, 2011

Lany, do yourself a favour and play around with the directories a bit.

Go to "Jobs & Directories" --> "Translators & Interpreters". Select a few criteria and refresh/reload the list. Tick the checkbox to the left of each candidate. Go to bottom of page and click on "Mail all now". That's it.

Personally, I've never done it, but that's how it should work.


[Edited at 2011-03-16 21:39 GMT]


 
polyglot45
polyglot45
English to French
+ ...
Lany.... Mar 16, 2011

I do not need to "calm down" as I am and was perfectly calm. Just stunned. Amazed.
Far be it from me to criticise but you lam into some unknown translator for his mistakes in English, or even French, and yet you do not seem to be conscious of the message conveyed by your own words, even if you didn't mean them the way they read.

You say: "Whoooo. I did not say that or even imply that. I simply stated that by asking for Trados, I will get less answers from non professionnals
... See more
I do not need to "calm down" as I am and was perfectly calm. Just stunned. Amazed.
Far be it from me to criticise but you lam into some unknown translator for his mistakes in English, or even French, and yet you do not seem to be conscious of the message conveyed by your own words, even if you didn't mean them the way they read.

You say: "Whoooo. I did not say that or even imply that. I simply stated that by asking for Trados, I will get less answers from non professionnals, not that people without it are not professionnal.
You also don't have to have a degree to be good, but if you ask for a degree, you won't get answers from people that don't know the first thing about translation."


Well, sorry, but in my experience, a degree doesn't make you a good translator (I have degrees but that's beside the point) any more than having a certain translation software makes you a professional (spelling in English - sic). It is your logic that I can't follow.
But you seem to have found what you were looking for. I just hope it all works out all right....
Bon courage !
Collapse


 
Pages in topic:   [1 2 3 4] >


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Bad bad postulants







TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

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! »