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How to get clients?
Thread poster: Fernando Herculano
Fernando Herculano
Fernando Herculano  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks Jul 6, 2020

Thank you for your suggestion.

Samuel Murray wrote:

Fernando Herculano wrote:
What advice can you give me for getting clients and (re)starting working?


Visit the Blue Board and contact all agencies that look like they might have work for you. Expect 10% to reply, expect 1% to send you work.


 
Paul Dixon
Paul Dixon  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 04:33
Portuguese to English
+ ...
How to get clients? Jul 6, 2020

I would also like to know how to boost my chances of getting jobs, especially clients outside Brazil, as Brazil has been hit particularly hard by the Covid epidemic (both in terms of cases/deaths from Covid and also in terms of the effects upon the economy). In the jobs board I apply regularly but no luck as yet. I regularly answer KudoZ questions and participate in forums, and am a regular participant in and organiser of Powwows.

Fernando Herculano
Samara Serralheiro
 
Deborah do Carmo
Deborah do Carmo  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
Dutch to English
+ ...
My 2c Jul 7, 2020

My main advice is don't offer into-English translation services. Your English isn't at native level, and that's the minimum required standard (most serious clients will insist on you being a native speaker and not just at native level anyhow).

Rather focus on honing your into-Portuguese skills, developing some specialist areas, and becoming the go-to person in those areas.

And consider joining Aptrad. I believe they have a mentoring scheme that you might find helpful.
... See more
My main advice is don't offer into-English translation services. Your English isn't at native level, and that's the minimum required standard (most serious clients will insist on you being a native speaker and not just at native level anyhow).

Rather focus on honing your into-Portuguese skills, developing some specialist areas, and becoming the go-to person in those areas.

And consider joining Aptrad. I believe they have a mentoring scheme that you might find helpful.

Boa sorte!
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Fernando Herculano
expressisverbis
Aline Sahin
 
Fernando Herculano
Fernando Herculano  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Jul 7, 2020

Thank you so much Deborah, I am an associate with APT but I would very much to have a mentoring session with someone who can help me.

 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Hi Fernando! Welcome to Proz.com! Jul 7, 2020

I do not have much to add, but please do not use/answer the same suggestions posted already by other members in the English - Portuguese Terminology Forum.
If you have the same suggestion, please "agree" with them, and do not offer the same answer after a couple of hours later.
This might be perceived as an opportunistic behavior.
... See more
I do not have much to add, but please do not use/answer the same suggestions posted already by other members in the English - Portuguese Terminology Forum.
If you have the same suggestion, please "agree" with them, and do not offer the same answer after a couple of hours later.
This might be perceived as an opportunistic behavior.

https://www.proz.com/kudoz/english-to-portuguese/idioms-maxims-sayings/6841847-fashionably-late.html
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Fernando Herculano
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
Aline Sahin
 
Fernando Herculano
Fernando Herculano  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Jul 7, 2020

Thank you so much for suggestions I did not know that I thought I have to answer in order to gain points.




expressisverbis wrote:

I do not have much to add, but please do not use/answer the same suggestions posted already by other members in the English - Portuguese Terminology Forum.
If you have the same suggestion, please "agree" with them, and do not offer the same answer after a couple of hours later.
This might be perceived as an opportunistic behavior.

https://www.proz.com/kudoz/english-to-portuguese/idioms-maxims-sayings/6841847-fashionably-late.html


 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Points are one less thing to worry about, but Jul 7, 2020

Fernando Herculano wrote:

Thank you so much for suggestions I did not know that I thought I have to answer in order to gain points.



believe me, you do not gain points by doing that

[Edited at 2020-07-07 13:21 GMT]


Jorge Payan
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Thao Nguyen
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
Jo Macdonald
 
Fernando Herculano
Fernando Herculano  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Jul 7, 2020

I appreciate your pieces of advice.

 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
You're welcome! (De nada!) Jul 7, 2020

Fernando Herculano wrote:

I appreciate your pieces of advice.


The important thing here, at least for me, is to help, being helped and learn with this huge community of linguists/specialists.
Many of them here have already gave you great tips! I wish you all the best!


Fernando Herculano
 
Roman Civin
Roman Civin
Czech Republic
Local time: 08:33
English to Czech
Try superniching and going outside the box Jul 8, 2020

Paul Dixon wrote:

I would also like to know how to boost my chances of getting jobs, especially clients outside Brazil, as Brazil has been hit particularly hard by the Covid epidemic (both in terms of cases/deaths from Covid and also in terms of the effects upon the economy). In the jobs board I apply regularly but no luck as yet. I regularly answer KudoZ questions and participate in forums, and am a regular participant in and organiser of Powwows.


Not sure if this is of help, but I think it's always good to try something new. A good profile and service offers are not enough to win new clients today, in my opinion. Here's an idea, like a 30-day challenge format: Laser-focus on one new highly specific area in translation that has potential, create your own plan that builds on your energy, niche and expertise. Then quickly research and choose your ideal clients, jazz up you web profiles and CV (and go beyond the good old Proz) and start networking and reaching out specifically to people working at those clients or agencies. If there are feelings of discomfort with the unknown, replace them by curiosity. Find a buddy who will keep you accountable.

[Edited at 2020-07-09 09:35 GMT]

[Edited at 2020-07-09 09:36 GMT]


Fernando Herculano
JPMedicalTrans
Medy D'Avino
 
Fernando Herculano
Fernando Herculano  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Obrigado Jul 9, 2020

Thank you so much for your support.

expressisverbis wrote:

Fernando Herculano wrote:

I appreciate your pieces of advice.


The important thing here, at least for me, is to help, being helped and learn with this huge community of linguists/specialists.
Many of them here have already gave you great tips! I wish you all the best!


 
Mariana Pereira
Mariana Pereira  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
Member (2020)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Database of translation company Jul 15, 2020

In order to get clients, you need to market your services. Make a database of translation agencies you would like to send your CV to (you can start with the ones on the Nimdzi 2020 Report and search ProZ database) and send hundreds of CVs. I have sent around 600 CVs since the beginning of june and 95% of companies haven't replied yet, which means aprox. 5% of companies you send your CV to will actually reply back in the short term. Out of those, expect 1% to send you regular work. It's not easy,... See more
In order to get clients, you need to market your services. Make a database of translation agencies you would like to send your CV to (you can start with the ones on the Nimdzi 2020 Report and search ProZ database) and send hundreds of CVs. I have sent around 600 CVs since the beginning of june and 95% of companies haven't replied yet, which means aprox. 5% of companies you send your CV to will actually reply back in the short term. Out of those, expect 1% to send you regular work. It's not easy, but once you find a few good companies willing to work with you, it will be worth it!

[Edited at 2020-07-15 23:03 GMT]
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Fernando Herculano
Samara Serralheiro
 
Fernando Herculano
Fernando Herculano  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:33
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Jul 16, 2020

Thank you so much for your pieces of adivce.


Mariana Pereira wrote:

In order to get clients, you need to market your services. Make a database of translation agencies you would like to send your CV to (you can start with the ones on the Nimdzi 2020 Report and search ProZ database) and send hundreds of CVs. I have sent around 600 CVs since the beginning of june and 95% of companies haven't replied yet, which means aprox. 5% of companies you send your CV to will actually reply back in the short term. Out of those, expect 1% to send you regular work. It's not easy, but once you find a few good companies willing to work with you, it will be worth it!

[Edited at 2020-07-15 23:03 GMT]


 
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