Poll: The least interesting part of my job is... Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "The least interesting part of my job is...".
View the poll results »
| | | | Angus Stewart 
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:38
Member (2011)
French to English
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| Resolving technical issues | Jul 25, 2018 |
The least interesting part of my job by far is resolving technical issues. In particular, I hate it when Trados decides upon occasion to malfunction spectacularly making it impossible to generate a Word version of the translation automatically. When this happens I have to copy and paste each segment manually reproducing the formatting as I go. Depending upon the length of the translation this process can take hours and it is by far the most boring thing I have ever had to do as a translator.
... See more The least interesting part of my job by far is resolving technical issues. In particular, I hate it when Trados decides upon occasion to malfunction spectacularly making it impossible to generate a Word version of the translation automatically. When this happens I have to copy and paste each segment manually reproducing the formatting as I go. Depending upon the length of the translation this process can take hours and it is by far the most boring thing I have ever had to do as a translator.
[Edited at 2018-07-25 09:01 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Reading long instructions
| | | | | Resolving technical issues... | Jul 25, 2018 |
... and chasing payment! I just can’t understand why this unpleasant and cumbersome task has been forgotten.
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Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 23:38
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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| Other... many others | Jul 25, 2018 |
The most annoying parts of my job, which happen regularly and are not optional, otherwise I'd just skip them, are:
1. To deal with incompetent revisers who make undue changes in my translations and I'm the one who has to explain why they are wrong and refuse their changes.
2. To deal with incompetent clients who also make undue changes, and in this case it's even worse, bacause I can't refuse them.
3. To "get around" the several attempts to reduce rates, pu... See more The most annoying parts of my job, which happen regularly and are not optional, otherwise I'd just skip them, are:
1. To deal with incompetent revisers who make undue changes in my translations and I'm the one who has to explain why they are wrong and refuse their changes.
2. To deal with incompetent clients who also make undue changes, and in this case it's even worse, bacause I can't refuse them.
3. To "get around" the several attempts to reduce rates, push post-editing jobs or discounts for repetitions, online platforms, etc. in a nice way with regular clients, to let them know I'm not going to "swallow" it, at the same time keeping the client active.
4. To work with online platforms (sometimes). They are all terrible, no exceptions, and more and more common every day.
5. To translate abstracts and graduate student documents in general for regular clients (for non-regulars, I refuse them all). They are also all terrible, no exceptions. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Chasing payment | Jul 25, 2018 |
Dear colleagues, glad to see this addressed. In my 15 years of experience I’ve found it to be most helpful to remind the client a few days before the payment is due and remind them that I have them listed on my Accounts Receivable for a certain date. This usually works well, and to date I have never been
“stiffed” though one client finally paid one year later. If after a friendly reminder I’m still not paid, I mention the ProZ Blue Board and my intention to make an entry. That seem... See more Dear colleagues, glad to see this addressed. In my 15 years of experience I’ve found it to be most helpful to remind the client a few days before the payment is due and remind them that I have them listed on my Accounts Receivable for a certain date. This usually works well, and to date I have never been
“stiffed” though one client finally paid one year later. If after a friendly reminder I’m still not paid, I mention the ProZ Blue Board and my intention to make an entry. That seems to motivate them. I have made a few entries (less than 5 altogether). They later asked me to revise my comment which I later did, but kept the message that payment was a problem so as to warn future, potential linguists. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 04:38
Spanish to English
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Luckily enough, I've never really had to try to flog myself. My clients have usually just come to me by chance or recommendation as I gradually "evolved" from TEFL to translation.
However, I do understand that it can be frustrating, especially for people starting from scratch.
PS: And I avoid major technical issues by not using Trados, or anything similarly complicated.
[Edited at 2018-07-25 16:20 GMT]
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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| proofreading/idealization | Jul 25, 2018 |
Being a decent PC user and working with direct clients makes it much easier for me.
However, I can't help yawning loudly at re-reading, re-editing, re-phrasing, waiting to forget about it soon, and repeating it all once more... Self-proofreading kills the joy! Perhaps, that's why I prefer interpreting and provisional translations)
[Edited at 2018-07-25 17:56 GMT]
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Ricki Farn
Germany
Local time: 04:38
English to German
The least interesting part of my job is translating texts that are as lively as a bag of bricks. I try not to.
| | | | | proofreading my translations | Jul 26, 2018 |
I have to admit, when I have to read my own translations I really suffer
it takes me ages, I do not like it, every excuse is good to leave the table...
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