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Poll: Have you ever rejected jobs to boost your prestige? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever rejected jobs to boost your prestige?".
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Jack Doughty United Kingdom Local time: 10:54 Russian to English + ... In memoriam
I don't understand the question. How can you boost your prestige by rejecting a job? | | |
Neither do I, Jack! | Apr 6, 2016 |
Explanation needed, please! Can't understand how and why rejecting a job could boost my prestige and who would know that I had rejected the job in question...
[Edited at 2016-04-06 08:39 GMT] | | |
strange question | Apr 6, 2016 |
I suppose "boosting your prestige" means make you sound so busy that anyone would be lucky to obtain your services .... If I reject a job it may be for various reasons: I may be snowed under with other work and just can't make the deadline the client wants, or maybe I don't fancy the subject matter. If the client is an agency that's not a problem, they have a whole fleet of translators at their beck and call. The problem is when a new direct client arrives with something you d... See more I suppose "boosting your prestige" means make you sound so busy that anyone would be lucky to obtain your services .... If I reject a job it may be for various reasons: I may be snowed under with other work and just can't make the deadline the client wants, or maybe I don't fancy the subject matter. If the client is an agency that's not a problem, they have a whole fleet of translators at their beck and call. The problem is when a new direct client arrives with something you don't much like doing and you accept anyway so that he won't go elsewhere! ▲ Collapse | |
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Julian Holmes Japan Local time: 19:54 Member (2011) Japanese to English No 'Don't understand' option | Apr 6, 2016 |
It looks as if we need a Rosetta Stone to decipher this one. Ho, hum. Another obscure and indecipherable hit-and-run poll from 'Anonymous'. Sigh | | |
My interpretation | Apr 6, 2016 |
I didn't understand the question when I read it, but I interpreted "boosting one's prestige" as rejecting jobs offering low rates to show that you are not a cheap translator. | | |
"Other" (since I can't pretend I understood the question) | Apr 6, 2016 |
I sometimes refuse annoying jobs (smallish ones or low profit margin ones when I'm already on target with regard to my monthly turnover), when I figure out it is wiser to invest time in marketing activities. But this is probably beside the point the asker aimed to raise? | | |
Sorry, but I join those who find the question is expressed in quite an odd way. I can see how one might think that accepting a particular job might boost one's prestige. I fail to see how rejecting a job can boost one's prestige. In certain circumstances, refusing a job may be a wise decision in order to protect one's reputation. When clients come to you through word of mouth, that means you've established a certain reputation over time. No-one in their right mind would throw that out the window... See more Sorry, but I join those who find the question is expressed in quite an odd way. I can see how one might think that accepting a particular job might boost one's prestige. I fail to see how rejecting a job can boost one's prestige. In certain circumstances, refusing a job may be a wise decision in order to protect one's reputation. When clients come to you through word of mouth, that means you've established a certain reputation over time. No-one in their right mind would throw that out the window! I have refused jobs that I have considered had the potential to damage my reputation as a translator/interpreter. Anyone worth their salt would do so. You don't put 20 years of your working life on the line for one job. It is easy enough, through no fault of one's own, for certain things to go awry. Of course, it is also possible to make mistakes and not just in a translation but also in the background business stuff, which is every bit as important (deadline, phone call). I've got other stuff to focus on than accepting/refusing jobs for reasons of prestige. Guiding principles : - know your stuff - work hard - respect undertakings given - expect other to respect their undertakings - respect business etiquette - accept responsibility for mistakes - humility - don't be a doormat - enjoy it
[Edited at 2016-04-06 09:34 GMT] ▲ Collapse | |
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Michael Harris Germany Local time: 11:54 Member (2006) German to English Exactly what I was | Apr 6, 2016 |
Jack Doughty wrote: I don't understand the question. How can you boost your prestige by rejecting a job? thinking | | |
neilmac Spain Local time: 11:54 Spanish to English + ...
I read the article last year about a shop - I think it was in Australia - that supposedly made a name for itself by snootily dissing customers, suggesting that they probably couldn't afford its wares. Perhaps the query has something to do with that notion. In general, I don't like rejecting jobs without good reason, but I have found that sometimes turning down a client makes them even more eager to engage your services. However, having said that, I have never rejected a job delibera... See more I read the article last year about a shop - I think it was in Australia - that supposedly made a name for itself by snootily dissing customers, suggesting that they probably couldn't afford its wares. Perhaps the query has something to do with that notion. In general, I don't like rejecting jobs without good reason, but I have found that sometimes turning down a client makes them even more eager to engage your services. However, having said that, I have never rejected a job deliberately to "boost my prestige"... And must admit I find the notion slightly absurd. Here's the article link: http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/more-gasps-as-shop-service-spat-spreads-20110930-1l07x.html
[Edited at 2016-04-06 09:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | |
I never thought of it like that, but I do decline jobs with too low rates for the sake of keeping up the standard for myself and for the industry. | | |
Sara Maghini United Kingdom Local time: 10:54 English to Italian + ... Ambiguous phrasing | Apr 6, 2016 |
I don't understand the question. | |
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John Cutler Spain Local time: 11:54 Spanish to English + ... I was thinking... | Apr 6, 2016 |
Yetta J Bogarde wrote: I never thought of it like that, but I do decline jobs with too low rates for the sake of keeping up the standard for myself and for the industry. I thought the queston was along those lines. | | |
Alexandra Speirs wrote: I suppose "boosting your prestige" means make you sound so busy that anyone would be lucky to obtain your services .... I understood the question exactly this way, and my answer is NO. I reject jobs if: I am busy (but I do not pretend I am) the rate is too low I do not feel comfortable with the subject I am on holiday But refusing it to make the clients (who? new clients?) think they are lucky to get my service... well it would be quite useless.. my clients know me, new clients would not waste time with me if I refused too many jobs to "sound busy".
[Edited at 2016-04-06 11:57 GMT] | | |
MarinaM Argentina Local time: 07:54 English to Spanish + ...
I don't get the idea... Are we supposed to include in our CV " I have rejected several projects"? | | |
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