| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: When a potential translation job is described to me, the words I like hearing the most are... Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When a potential translation job is described to me, the words I like hearing the most are...".
This poll was originally submitted by Cristina Heraud-van Tol. View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 08:23
Spanish to English
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| "Take your time" | Feb 19, 2013 |
A rare and precious jewel these days - the non-urgent deadline. Only topped by its even scarcer cousin, the no-deadline translation. I've only ever had one of the latter, and I eventually had to set one myself. It felt really strange.
| | | | Cecilia Civetta 
Italy
Local time: 08:23
Member (2003)
Italian to Spanish
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| Certainly not "easy job" | Feb 19, 2013 |
I hate to hear "I have an 'easy job' for you"!
| | | | Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:23
German to English
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| "Take your time" | Feb 19, 2013 |
I'm not even interested if the pay isn't right to begin with, but a relaxing deadline always goes down well.
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| I hate to hear all of those words! | Feb 19, 2013 |
In fact, quite often they mean exactly the opposite!
| | | | Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:23
German to English
+ ...
| No deadlines | Feb 19, 2013 |
I had a no-deadline job once too. It sat on the back burner for months and in the end I also had to set myself a deadline. I've had a couple of customers offer jobs without deadlines but now always insist we agree a deadline in advance, even if it's a very loose one.
| | | | Evans (X)
Local time: 07:23
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Missing option | Feb 19, 2013 |
The words I like to hear are "interesting job".
I spent my early years as a translator working on all kinds of texts, most of them not of huge interest to me, although I did learn a lot about all sorts of obscure things, which was kind of interesting. But now I almost only accept jobs that are really interesting to me and from which I am going to discover new things. I know I'm lucky to be able to be so selective, but after time served on the uninteresting I steered my options into... See more The words I like to hear are "interesting job".
I spent my early years as a translator working on all kinds of texts, most of them not of huge interest to me, although I did learn a lot about all sorts of obscure things, which was kind of interesting. But now I almost only accept jobs that are really interesting to me and from which I am going to discover new things. I know I'm lucky to be able to be so selective, but after time served on the uninteresting I steered my options into the areas that I want to work in.
I even put interest before money these days, and would turn down a well-paid boring job for a less-well paid interesting one. Although of course I only work for decent pay. ▲ Collapse
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Jf it's a long job, somehow I always manage to get interested in the subject. Last year I did a 60-page job on fecal sludge. I accepted it because the rate was very good. I managed to learn a lot, and by the end, I was actually interested in the subject.
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| Then name of a trusted client | Feb 19, 2013 |
Of course, good new clients are always welcome, and I am just as happy if I have heard of the client from a colleague.
I spend my time doing more or less rushed jobs, and up to a point I enjoy the challenge. I am one of those people who need a deadline, or I put the job off, and can keep making minor adjustments for ever!
Easy... I'll be the judge of that! I have forwarded lots of jobs to technical experts who, I hope, enjoyed them, because they knew what they were abou... See more Of course, good new clients are always welcome, and I am just as happy if I have heard of the client from a colleague.
I spend my time doing more or less rushed jobs, and up to a point I enjoy the challenge. I am one of those people who need a deadline, or I put the job off, and can keep making minor adjustments for ever!
Easy... I'll be the judge of that! I have forwarded lots of jobs to technical experts who, I hope, enjoyed them, because they knew what they were about! Others send things to me, expecting I will find them comfortably within my scope, but they don't.
'General' - can also mean the PM can't recognise the field, but it's tricky.
Just as 'Tourism, it's easy...' should start the warning lights flashing until you know exactly what it is about.
It MAY just be a short piece about lovely views and opening hours, but it may be a gourmet menu, or a museum with a lot of 18th century technology that you can't find on Google... Or high-flown art...
I like a good client who understands what translation is all about and is willing to negotiate, and then we can take it from there!
And of course, all my trusted clients pay...
[Edited at 2013-02-19 09:24 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 15:23
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| Continuous work... | Feb 19, 2013 |
...from the same client in the same field
To a technical translator, this is music to the ears because you can
- build up your translation skills
- acquire extra or more extensive knowledge of particular products in a specialist field
- establish yourself as a specialist translator of a certain type of product, and
- remarket those skills to other manufacturers in industry
Also, once you establish a good reputation with a certain client (... See more ...from the same client in the same field
To a technical translator, this is music to the ears because you can
- build up your translation skills
- acquire extra or more extensive knowledge of particular products in a specialist field
- establish yourself as a specialist translator of a certain type of product, and
- remarket those skills to other manufacturers in industry
Also, once you establish a good reputation with a certain client (manufacturer), it's easier to get introductions to other departments and divisions within the same company and get to translate other similar but slightly different product groups.
And, there's also the added bonus of factory trips, product orientations, etc. and visit the shop floor. 
I am not a "ship in the night." I do not line one-off projects. I like longlasting relationships that allow you to develop as part of your CPD or continued professional development. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:23
French to English
+ ...
Gilla Evans wrote:
The words I like to hear are "interesting job".
I spent my early years as a translator working on all kinds of texts, most of them not of huge interest to me, although I did learn a lot about all sorts of obscure things, which was kind of interesting. But now I almost only accept jobs that are really interesting to me and from which I am going to discover new things. I know I'm lucky to be able to be so selective, but after time served on the uninteresting I steered my options into the areas that I want to work in.
I even put interest before money these days, and would turn down a well-paid boring job for a less-well paid interesting one. Although of course I only work for decent pay.
This was the missing option for me as well. Obviously it's nice to be well paid for what we do, but there's a lot to be said for enjoying the subject matter you're translating. I'm very fortunate that my highest-paying client usually sends interesting jobs in my field and offers very generous deadlines. Then again, my lowest-paying client usually offers very interesting jobs and often starts the phone conversation with the words "We thought you might enjoy this...." - that's worth its weight in gold too in my book.
| | | | Sonia Hill
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:23
Italian to English
Gilla Evans wrote:
The words I like to hear are "interesting job".
I spent my early years as a translator working on all kinds of texts, most of them not of huge interest to me, although I did learn a lot about all sorts of obscure things, which was kind of interesting. But now I almost only accept jobs that are really interesting to me and from which I am going to discover new things. I know I'm lucky to be able to be so selective, but after time served on the uninteresting I steered my options into the areas that I want to work in.
I even put interest before money these days, and would turn down a well-paid boring job for a less-well paid interesting one. Although of course I only work for decent pay.
This was my first thought upon reading this poll. I love doing interesting work and would prefer to do something interesting than something dull but very highly paid (obviously, the interesting job would still have to pay a decent rate).
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tradu-grace
Italy
Local time: 08:23
English to Italian
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| I share the same opinion a relaxing deadline sometimes sounds very good. | Feb 19, 2013 |
Mary Worby wrote:
I'm not even interested if the pay isn't right to begin with, but a relaxing deadline always goes down well.
| | | | tradu-grace
Italy
Local time: 08:23
English to Italian
+ ...
| I share your opinion about continuous work ... from the same client/agency in my working fields. | Feb 19, 2013 |
Julian Holmes wrote: ...from the same client in the same field To a technical translator, this is music to the ears because you can - build up your translation skills - acquire extra or more extensive knowledge of particular products in a specialist field - establish yourself as a specialist translator of a certain type of product, and - remarket those skills to other manufacturers in industry Also, once you establish a good reputation with a certain client (manufacturer), it's easier to get introductions to other departments and divisions within the same company and get to translate other similar but slightly different product groups. And, there's also the added bonus of factory trips, product orientations, etc. and visit the shop floor. I am not a "ship in the night." I do not line one-off projects. I like longlasting relationships that allow you to develop as part of your CPD or continued professional development.
[Modificato alle 2013-02-19 10:34 GMT]
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 08:23
Spanish to English
+ ...
Teresa Borges wrote:
In fact, quite often they mean exactly the opposite!
Quite often my experience too.
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