| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How often do you update your ProZ.com availability calendar? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How often do you update your ProZ.com availability calendar?".
This poll was originally submitted by Yetta J Bogarde. View the poll results »
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However, now that I've rejoined ProZ and will doubtless be booked solid with well-paid jobs from serious clients until at least 2045 in a matter of hours, I may have to start doing so.
(I don't really know either. A moment of weakness.)
[Edited at 2016-11-07 09:56 GMT]
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 13:02
Member (2006)
German to English
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When I happen to notice that it's blank. But even then I usually decide to leave it alone for a couple of reasons:
I don't get many new clients through ProZ, and the ones I already have don't bother to check my calendar; they just write to see if I'm available. So I don't think it's worth the trouble.
Also, I can see some down sides to marking the calendar: (1) if it's blocked solid, potential clients might be dissuaded from contacting me, whereas (2) if it's wide open,... See more When I happen to notice that it's blank. But even then I usually decide to leave it alone for a couple of reasons:
I don't get many new clients through ProZ, and the ones I already have don't bother to check my calendar; they just write to see if I'm available. So I don't think it's worth the trouble.
Also, I can see some down sides to marking the calendar: (1) if it's blocked solid, potential clients might be dissuaded from contacting me, whereas (2) if it's wide open, they might think I only work on a casual basis and aren't a serious full-time professional.
I'd rather let them wonder and contact me directly.
[Edited at 2016-11-07 10:20 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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| Short-cut logic | Nov 7, 2016 |
No, I neither update it, not care.
Muriel, you're talking for I watched rather many potential clients (and others) seeing 'Available' days and mis-thinking: 'Oh, my! So much time without projects! Are they really competent and worthy? Nobody seems to want them...'
| | | | | Whenever my schedule changes... | Nov 7, 2016 |
... and I remember to update it, but it’s more for my reference than anyone else. I don’t think clients bother to check my calendar as I’ve been contacted by clients through Proz when I’m not available.
| | | | Kristina Cosumano (X)
Germany
Local time: 13:02
German to English
| Aiming for "whenever my schedule changes", | Nov 7, 2016 |
...as I did recently notice that at least one agency I work for regularly checks my availability here. This agency has several PMs, and they don't seem to be in regular contact with each other. This way if I've taken a project that will occupy me for a few days, even if it's from this same agency, the other PMs can look elsewhere. It seems to be working, as they still contact me, but not for every little job when my day is marked red.
| | | | | exactly the same | Nov 7, 2016 |
Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:
When I happen to notice that it's blank. But even then I usually decide to leave it alone for a couple of reasons:
I don't get many new clients through ProZ, and the ones I already have don't bother to check my calendar; they just write to see if I'm available. So I don't think it's worth the trouble.
Also, I can see some down sides to marking the calendar: (1) if it's blocked solid, potential clients might be dissuaded from contacting me, whereas (2) if it's wide open, they might think I only work on a casual basis and aren't a serious full-time professional.
I'd rather let them wonder and contact me directly.
[Edited at 2016-11-07 10:20 GMT]
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 13:02
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Whenever my schedule changes | Nov 7, 2016 |
That is, when I know I will be completely busy working on one project for more than just 1 or 2 days.
I'm not sure whether potential clients check the calendar. In any case, a quick email can solve the "issue".
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I always thought it was just to mark when you are absolutely unavailable like on holidays or caught up in an urgent project for several days without any possibility for other work.
However, from comments in another poll I understood to my surprise that some translators are using the calendar to mark when they are working / when idle.
So I suggested the poll to find out, how the calendar is being understood / used.
I agree it's probably very few (potential)... See more I always thought it was just to mark when you are absolutely unavailable like on holidays or caught up in an urgent project for several days without any possibility for other work.
However, from comments in another poll I understood to my surprise that some translators are using the calendar to mark when they are working / when idle.
So I suggested the poll to find out, how the calendar is being understood / used.
I agree it's probably very few (potential) clients who check our ProZ calendars, but still I have been plotting in any foreseen unavailable days at the beginning of each month. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Facetiousness aside | Nov 7, 2016 |
I'm not really sure how you can use the calendar meaningfully. If you have two weeks' work on your desk and three weeks to deliver it, which days do you colour in as busy?
Besides, I don't really want people to know my availability, because being too busy is my usual excuse for turning down things I don't like the look of.
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 14:02
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
though I see that I am permanently marked as unavailable at weekends.
Which is nice!
But it doesn't stop those Friday evening emails not addressed to me personally with 'job' offers with deadline of Monday morning.
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 05:02
Dutch to English
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| Very occasionally | Nov 7, 2016 |
Normally I don't visit my profile very often. I only think of updating the calendar when I'm working on a large project for a week or more or when i'm going to be away. Then I usually also put a message on my email page but I don't think that is very effective. People can only see the message before they send the email, if they happen to notice it at all, but it's not an automatic reply.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 13:02
Member (2006)
German to English
| A bit narrow minded | Nov 7, 2016 |
DZiW wrote:
No, I neither update it, not care.
Muriel, you're talking for I watched rather many potential clients (and others) seeing 'Available' days and mis-thinking: 'Oh, my! So much time without projects! Are they really competent and worthy? Nobody seems to want them...'
Then just set it to 100% occupied?
| | | | EvaVer (X)
Local time: 13:02
Czech to French
+ ...
| I do from time to time, but... | Nov 7, 2016 |
I just record as "non-available" the days I am actually away, not when I am working on something. I seldom work on large projects - if I were to reflect my workflow, I would have to change it several times per day.
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