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Poll: Do translation agencies make you feel valued?
Auteur du fil: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
COLLABORATEUR DU SITE
Dec 19, 2024

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do translation agencies make you feel valued?".

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Edith van der Have
Edith van der Have
Pays-Bas
Local time: 01:49
Membre (2016)
anglais vers néerlandais
+ ...
It depends Dec 19, 2024

The ones that aren't and won't become my clients: mostly no, when I receive requests (or "requirements") from them.
The ones that are recurring clients: yes. If they repeatedly fail to do so, I "fire" them.

Liena Vijupe
Simon Turner
Christine Andersen
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Angie Garbarino
Gyöngyi Tanácsi
Zea_Mays
 
Matthias Brombach
Matthias Brombach  Identity Verified
Allemagne
Local time: 01:49
Membre (2007)
néerlandais vers allemand
+ ...
Very much Dec 19, 2024

I feel very much valued by all the electronic Christmas greetings from agencies who are no longer in business with me because of pricing reasons.

writeaway
Baran Keki
David Mossop
Gyöngyi Tanácsi
 
Ekaterina Chashnikova
Ekaterina Chashnikova  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:49
Membre (2011)
anglais vers russe
+ ...
Mostly yes Dec 19, 2024

It's probably because I detect the potential "no" and "mostly no" companies at the negotiation stage and avoid working with them.

I'm really grateful to my colleagues who taught me very early in my career that the relationship between a freelancer and a translation company should always be mutually respectful.

Christine Andersen
Edith van der Have
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Gyöngyi Tanácsi
Zea_Mays
Sandra Boca
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise
Belgique
Local time: 01:49
Membre (2020)
français vers néerlandais
+ ...
Yes Dec 19, 2024

If clients come back for more at the terms you mutually agreed upon in advance, then I automatically feel valued. Compliments and nice words can be very satisfying when they are sincere, but I don't need them and I will never let them stand in the way of continued respect of the agreed terms.

This week I received another "great opportunity" (translation and QA of AI prompts) with a "huge amount of words", for the impressive proposed (non-negotiable!) rate of 13.5 EUR per hour. I und... See more
If clients come back for more at the terms you mutually agreed upon in advance, then I automatically feel valued. Compliments and nice words can be very satisfying when they are sincere, but I don't need them and I will never let them stand in the way of continued respect of the agreed terms.

This week I received another "great opportunity" (translation and QA of AI prompts) with a "huge amount of words", for the impressive proposed (non-negotiable!) rate of 13.5 EUR per hour. I understand that this rate might be acceptable in some parts of the world, but mind you that this was (also) addressed to translators into Dutch, so mainly coming from Belgium and the Netherlands. In those countries that rate isn't even a pittance for a self-employed translator, who would be left with 6 to 7 EUR net per hour (at least in Belgium) which would lead straight to poverty if that's the best you can get.

To make things even worse there were 3 (!) certification steps to follow to even be considered for the job. I have no words. How desperate must one be to really apply for this disgrace?

Of course I didn't even bother to reply, but translators who accept bottom-feeder rates like that enslave themselves and obviously make sure that they are not valued at all.

[Bijgewerkt op 2024-12-19 09:49 GMT] ▲ Collapse


Edith van der Have
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Gyöngyi Tanácsi
Matthias Brombach
Hester Eymers
Dan Lucas
Zea_Mays
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 00:49
Membre (2007)
anglais vers portugais
+ ...
Yes Dec 19, 2024

Over the years I've been called a miracle worker several times, but nothing gives me more pleasure than having a very regular customer for over 20 years...

Christine Andersen
Philip Lees
Kevin Fulton
 
Lingua 5B
Lingua 5B  Identity Verified
Bosnie-Herzegovine
Local time: 01:49
Membre (2009)
anglais vers croate
+ ...
Not really Dec 19, 2024

With most agencies, the answer is No. With most direct clients, the answer is Yes. There are some exceptions to both, hence I used “most”.

One of my regular direct clients recommended me to another company a while ago, and they contacted me directly with a new job offer. This could never happen with an agency.

expressisverbis
 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
Grèce
Local time: 02:49
grec vers anglais
Yes Dec 20, 2024

I feel valued when they pay me. And I value them in return.

Matthias Brombach
expressisverbis
Kevin Fulton
IrinaN
 


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Poll: Do translation agencies make you feel valued?






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