| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Displaying References on CV Thread poster: Hipyan Nopri
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Hipyan Nopri 
Indonesia
Local time: 18:37
Member (2005)
English to Indonesian
+ ...
Hi fellow translators,
The statement, "References are available upon request" is often found on the profiles or CVs. As for myself, I put references as part of my CV.
In your opinion and experience, what is/are the possible advantage(s)/disadvantage(s) of displaying or not displaying references on CV?
Thanks so much for your comments.
Best Regards
Hipyan Nopri
| | | | Peter Linton (X)
Local time: 12:37
Swedish to English
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| Look at it from the referee's point of view | Dec 3, 2006 |
A reference is quite a personal and private matter. A matter of trust and mutual respect.
If I were one of your referees, I think I would feel slightly disturbed that you were in effect publishing my reference on every CV you sent out.
I would feel annoyed if I received more than a handful of requests for a reference for you.
If you ever did a bad translation for me, I would bitterly regret providing a reference for you at all.
All this is, I... See more A reference is quite a personal and private matter. A matter of trust and mutual respect.
If I were one of your referees, I think I would feel slightly disturbed that you were in effect publishing my reference on every CV you sent out.
I would feel annoyed if I received more than a handful of requests for a reference for you.
If you ever did a bad translation for me, I would bitterly regret providing a reference for you at all.
All this is, I suspect, is well understood by people who say "reference on request". ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Displaying References on CV | Dec 3, 2006 |
Hipyan
One reason I can think of for putting "references are available on request" is that you may want to taylor your references to suit the specific job, rather than using the same references for all jobs. For example, if you are applying for a medical translation job, your reference might be someone at a medical institution for which you have done a lot of translation work. Also, you may want to alter/update your references from time to time, so, bearing in mind that translatio... See more Hipyan
One reason I can think of for putting "references are available on request" is that you may want to taylor your references to suit the specific job, rather than using the same references for all jobs. For example, if you are applying for a medical translation job, your reference might be someone at a medical institution for which you have done a lot of translation work. Also, you may want to alter/update your references from time to time, so, bearing in mind that translation agencies can sometimes keep your CV for a year or more before actually contacting you, your references may become out of date. A third reason I can think of is that if the company you are applying to does request your references, not only is this is an indication that they are seriously considering you for the job, but it also gives you a chance to contact your references first, remind them of who you are and the excellent work you have done for them, and let them know that they will probably be asked to give a reference on your behalf.
Personally, I would only give references on a CV if the job advertisment specifically asks for them.
Regards
Fiona ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lia Fail (X)
Spain
Local time: 13:37
Spanish to English
+ ...
Peter Linton wrote:
A reference is quite a personal and private matter. A matter of trust and mutual respect.
If I were one of your referees, I think I would feel slightly disturbed that you were in effect publishing my reference on every CV you sent out.
I would feel annoyed if I received more than a handful of requests for a reference for you.
If you ever did a bad translation for me, I would bitterly regret providing a reference for you at all.
All this is, I suspect, is well understood by people who say "reference on request".
Out of respect for my clients and the fact that they are busy people, I only very rarely approach them for a reference, and usually ask first.
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| I agree with you about not posting references... ! | Dec 3, 2006 |
Peter Linton wrote:
"Look at it from the referee's point of view
A reference is quite a personal and private matter. A matter of trust and mutual respect.
If I were one of your referees, I think ....."
==================================
Fiona Robson wrote:
"One reason I can think of for putting "references are available on request" is that you may want to taylor your references to suit the specific job, rather than using the same... See more Peter Linton wrote:
"Look at it from the referee's point of view
A reference is quite a personal and private matter. A matter of trust and mutual respect.
If I were one of your referees, I think ....."
==================================
Fiona Robson wrote:
"One reason I can think of for putting "references are available on request" is that you may want to taylor your references to suit the specific job, rather than using the same references for all jobs."
==================================
All I can say is:
"Very well put, both of you! Thank you. I agree with both your comments." ▲ Collapse
| | | | Hipyan Nopri
Indonesia
Local time: 18:37
Member (2005)
English to Indonesian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thank you very much | Dec 4, 2006 |
Peter, Fiona, Lia, and William.
Your explanations and arguments are really convincing. Now, I make up my mind to remove the references on my CV.
Nevertheless, any more suggestions and comments from other freelancers would be really appreciated.
| | | | NMR (X)
France
Local time: 13:37
French to Dutch
+ ...
| I don't give references | Dec 4, 2006 |
They are part of my business capital and, as such, confidential.
My work is my only reference.
From the translation agency's side, asking for references is a cheap way of choosing between translators (instead of having them translate a small test or giving them a first translation).
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NMR wrote:
They are part of my business capital and, as such, confidential.
My work is my only reference.
From the translation agency's side, asking for references is a cheap way of choosing between translators (instead of having them translate a small test or giving them a first translation).
Completely agree with you
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| I always include references | Dec 4, 2006 |
I always include references on my CV and I do that because I previously ask if I can include them.
Apart from that, let me tell you that references are rarely approached for information, search for a Human Resources Specialist among your friends and he/she will confirm this.
Good Luck!
Carlos
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 07:37
English to Spanish
+ ...
Carlos Ruestes wrote:
I always include references on my CV and I do that because I previously ask if I can include them.
Whenever I contact a specific (potential) client directly, I include references (with previous authorisation), but I think Hypian is referring to online CVs that anyone can access, like the ones we include in our Proz profiles.
In the latter case, I also put "available upon direct request" for the reasons already mentioned.
(...) let me tell you that references are rarely approached for information, (...)
True, I can also vouch for this.
Greetings all
Andrea
| | | | Hipyan Nopri
Indonesia
Local time: 18:37
Member (2005)
English to Indonesian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Exactly Andrea | Dec 5, 2006 |
What I mean is online CV (such as one in our ProZ profile) that is accessible to anyone on the Internet.
| | | | | Endorsements instead of address details | Dec 7, 2006 |
What I would do is including endorsements in the CV, such as:
"Hipyan always completed his translations of our documents well ahead of schedule and works very thoroughly. We found him easy to communicate with and he has a way of expressing our company's message effectively to our Indonesian customers."
M.G, Director of Marketing of a US chemical company
You can always back that up later, if a client offers you work and wants a last-minute check on your reputation.... See more What I would do is including endorsements in the CV, such as:
"Hipyan always completed his translations of our documents well ahead of schedule and works very thoroughly. We found him easy to communicate with and he has a way of expressing our company's message effectively to our Indonesian customers."
M.G, Director of Marketing of a US chemical company
You can always back that up later, if a client offers you work and wants a last-minute check on your reputation.
[Edited at 2006-12-07 22:02] ▲ Collapse
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| no references | Dec 15, 2006 |
NMR wrote:
They are part of my business capital and, as such, confidential.
My work is my only reference.
From the translation agency's side, asking for references is a cheap way of choosing between translators (instead of having them translate a small test or giving them a first translation).
I fully agree with this. I feel giving them as a reference is an infringement of trust between me & my clients...
I can understand the need for references when applying for a job, as an employee, but not for a freelancer...
| | | | Jenny Duthie
France
Local time: 13:37
Member (2006)
French to English
| Use Proz WWA/Project history record instead | Dec 15, 2006 |
I would suggest that it would be more beneficial to list your project histories and ask your clients to endorse them, also request WWA entries, in your Proz profile. As a recently established freelance translator, although my previous employers would be happy to give me references, I actually think they're not directly relevant to my translation work because I was not working as a translator until I became a freelancer, I feel, therefore, that project histories endorsed by the client is a much b... See more I would suggest that it would be more beneficial to list your project histories and ask your clients to endorse them, also request WWA entries, in your Proz profile. As a recently established freelance translator, although my previous employers would be happy to give me references, I actually think they're not directly relevant to my translation work because I was not working as a translator until I became a freelancer, I feel, therefore, that project histories endorsed by the client is a much better way of having a reference. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 07:37
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| No references | Dec 28, 2006 |
NMR wrote:
They are part of my business capital and, as such, confidential.
Exactly. As I see it, providing references would do more harm than good to my business.
Most of my customers are direct clients, and I'm not about to send their names to an agency that's competing with me.
As for the few agencies I work for regularly (none of which asked for references), I'm sure they don't want to be bombarded with an endless series of reference queries from their competitors. They have enough to keep them busy without that distraction.
I think I've only provided references once as a translator, and that was when applying for a staff position.
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