How much are things going your way? Thread poster: satranslations
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I have just had a bad months in which I either got job offers with very tight and inflexible deadlines or agencies trying to push down my rates which are already fairly average so nothing over the top. Moreover, weekend work seemed to be taken for granted too. I got very frustrated as it was often a situation of "take it or leave it". I know tight deadlines, price pressure, weekend work is a fact of the job and I don't mind going the extra mile from time to time. But at the moment I just feel as... See more I have just had a bad months in which I either got job offers with very tight and inflexible deadlines or agencies trying to push down my rates which are already fairly average so nothing over the top. Moreover, weekend work seemed to be taken for granted too. I got very frustrated as it was often a situation of "take it or leave it". I know tight deadlines, price pressure, weekend work is a fact of the job and I don't mind going the extra mile from time to time. But at the moment I just feel as if going the extra mile is more the rule than the exception. Are good agencies with fair deadlines and pay on the path of extinction? This makes me wonder how others are doing. Are you experiencing the same or have you managed (maybe after a long time) to get things largely your way (ie mostly comfortable deadlines and a reasonable pay)? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Birthe Omark 
Denmark
Local time: 15:02
Member (2006)
French to Danish
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| My month is the same ... | May 19, 2008 |
I have certainly had a below-average month with jobs just not coming forth from the long-terme customers, and new quotes rejected (is there a price issue here ?).
What really annoys me is then, that I spend an incredible amount of time 'just checking' if a job opportunity should sit there. Strange things these swings and rounabouts !
Birthe
| | | | | Your specialization | May 19, 2008 |
I see that you specialize in investments and securities. I have found the types of jobs available in those fields do tend to have tight deadlines - the clients themselves work all hours and expect their vendors to do so as well. So perhaps it's more about the work available in that specialization than particular agencies?
| | | | Laura Gentili
Italy
Local time: 15:02
Member (2003)
English to Italian
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| Slow business since beginning of 2008 | May 19, 2008 |
Things are not going too well here either.
My US customers pay too little due to the exchange rate so I can no longer take their jobs.
I used to have a great Canadian client. Business with them is now 10% of what it used to be. They say they are affected by the dollar situation too.
With 2 agencies in the UK things are very very slow too. I received a message from one of them stating the following: "I am sure you’re aware that in the UK we’re experiencing the ‘credit cru... See more Things are not going too well here either.
My US customers pay too little due to the exchange rate so I can no longer take their jobs.
I used to have a great Canadian client. Business with them is now 10% of what it used to be. They say they are affected by the dollar situation too.
With 2 agencies in the UK things are very very slow too. I received a message from one of them stating the following: "I am sure you’re aware that in the UK we’re experiencing the ‘credit crunch’ & with the EUR being so strong and the $ so weak even the pharma industry has taken a set-back."
Luckily I have some customers in Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden and things with them are unchanged. But I worry for the future.
Laura
[Edited at 2008-05-19 12:04] ▲ Collapse
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| Normal so far | May 19, 2008 |
I have had one client very apologetically tell me that they can't accept a rate increase until next January (even though my rates with them have remained static for the last two years), and I'm possibly getting a little less business from my UK clients, but things are basically the same as last year, and I've got work lined up for the next 3 weeks. So I'm cautiously optimistic about the future, although I think my income for 2008 is likely to be about the same as it was last year, rather than hi... See more I have had one client very apologetically tell me that they can't accept a rate increase until next January (even though my rates with them have remained static for the last two years), and I'm possibly getting a little less business from my UK clients, but things are basically the same as last year, and I've got work lined up for the next 3 weeks. So I'm cautiously optimistic about the future, although I think my income for 2008 is likely to be about the same as it was last year, rather than higher. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Also normal... | May 20, 2008 |
For me things are going pretty much the same. No acceptable work coming from the US... that's true. I also have one client that pays in pounds and that has also posed a problem for me as their rates have gone down a lot eventhough I raised my rate a cent this January. But aside from that everything has remained unchanged.
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In my case, work has been frantic this month from both French and Spanish and was so in April too, but as I've said on another forum, I'm getting most of my work from continental Europe now, while my long-time old faithful UK clients are sending less work.
It was suggested on the previous forum that it was all to do with exchange rates, but having been in the transbiz so long now, I've become used to the erratic work flow and it generally seems that when Peter doesn't want me, Paul does.... See more In my case, work has been frantic this month from both French and Spanish and was so in April too, but as I've said on another forum, I'm getting most of my work from continental Europe now, while my long-time old faithful UK clients are sending less work.
It was suggested on the previous forum that it was all to do with exchange rates, but having been in the transbiz so long now, I've become used to the erratic work flow and it generally seems that when Peter doesn't want me, Paul does.
Best wishes,
Jenny ▲ Collapse
| | | | | This is life | May 20, 2008 |
satranslations wrote:
I have just had a bad months in which I either got job offers with very tight and inflexible deadlines or agencies trying to push down my rates which are already fairly average so nothing over the top. Moreover, weekend work seemed to be taken for granted too. I got very frustrated as it was often a situation of "take it or leave it". I know tight deadlines, price pressure, weekend work is a fact of the job and I don't mind going the extra mile from time to time. But at the moment I just feel as if going the extra mile is more the rule than the exception. Are good agencies with fair deadlines and pay on the path of extinction? This makes me wonder how others are doing. Are you experiencing the same or have you managed (maybe after a long time) to get things largely your way (ie mostly comfortable deadlines and a reasonable pay)?
All the problems you mentioned is what I have met during the past two month.But I am a beginner, I sell my work in relatively low price so that I can exchange experience.
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mystymy
Local time: 09:02
Spanish to English
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| Things busy for me the past two months | May 20, 2008 |
It could be due to the exchange rate. But I find I am mostly getting last minute requests for interpretation. Yesterday an agency called at almost 5:00pm for a deposition 9:00 today. Last minute calls make it very difficult to adjust your schedule. Besides events such as conferences, depositions, press briefings are scheduled in advance, why agencies wait I wonder.
However, I now have a new potential client. I find more interpretation work, translation work has increased but ... See more It could be due to the exchange rate. But I find I am mostly getting last minute requests for interpretation. Yesterday an agency called at almost 5:00pm for a deposition 9:00 today. Last minute calls make it very difficult to adjust your schedule. Besides events such as conferences, depositions, press briefings are scheduled in advance, why agencies wait I wonder.
However, I now have a new potential client. I find more interpretation work, translation work has increased but not dramatically, it could be my specialisations. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Laura Tridico
United States
Local time: 09:02
French to English
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| Busy here too... | May 20, 2008 |
It seems like things have been pretty busy in the French>English world, at least in the legal and financial areas. My colleagues over here seem pretty busy as well - I've tried to pass along some projects I couldn't handle but they were booked too. A majority of my work comes from France with a significant bit from Canada. I've had a string of large projects this year so that has helped.
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So far I have had nothing to complain about in 2008. Virtually all my clients are in the euro area so the exchange rate with the dollar, pound etc. does not affect my business.
| | | | | So far, so good | May 21, 2008 |
About 10% increase in terms of net income in comparison to the same period last year, despite taking more time off.
Only invoice in euros.
Work in a field that by its very nature is always busy - law.
But keeping close tabs on everything and have a couple of back-up plans if the s*** hits the fan.
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juvera
Local time: 14:02
English to Hungarian
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| Call that last minute? | May 23, 2008 |
mystymy wrote:
I find I am mostly getting last minute requests for interpretation. Yesterday an agency called at almost 5:00pm for a deposition 9:00 today. Last minute calls make it very difficult to adjust your schedule.
I am baffled. I am called at least a couple of times a week to go immediately, and either I can, or I cannot.
I also consider it lucky, if it is only an hour or....
I couldn't finish the sentence, because of a call asking me to go somewhere involving at least 8 hrs of travel, plus work. (I am not bluffing!) Tomorrow. The time now is 21:35.
And I dare say I am quite likely to be older than you.
What's the problem?
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