Poll: Which job-related contact do you prefer? Iniziatore argomento: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which job-related contact do you prefer?".
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
| | | | neilmac
Spagna
Local time: 17:41
Da Spagnolo a Inglese
+ ...
I prefer word of mouth recommendations from my own clients to new, potential customers.
I don't really like being contacted directly via proz because:
1) The emails go into my proz-dedicated mailbox, which I primarily use for kudoz queries, so I don't check it as often as I do my "business" mails;
2) I have been conned into doing work unpaid by people contacting me directly thru proz (I intend to publicise their details soon, when I have the time to spare)
Nor do I... See more I prefer word of mouth recommendations from my own clients to new, potential customers.
I don't really like being contacted directly via proz because:
1) The emails go into my proz-dedicated mailbox, which I primarily use for kudoz queries, so I don't check it as often as I do my "business" mails;
2) I have been conned into doing work unpaid by people contacting me directly thru proz (I intend to publicise their details soon, when I have the time to spare)
Nor do I like bidding for jobs. I often feel frustrated or annoyed because the posters have stipulated speciality areas or demand credentials that preclude my taking on work that I feel perfectly capable of. I don't like when they ask for "my best rates" either, since I never know how high/low to pitch it. Basically I'd rather they set a rate and I could apply for the work or not on that basis.
I'm generally not used to competing for work with other translators. My clients come back to me and stay with me because they are satisfied with my rates, end product quality and additional services (such as free limited revisions and updates). ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 09:41
Da Olandese a Inglese
+ ...
Most of my work comes from direct clients who need certified translations, many referred by word of mouth or via lawyers or our provincial registry offices. But I like being contacted via Proz because it means that people have already done their homework and looked at my profile. Often these jobs are interesting and right up my ally. In all the years that I have been a member I have never had a job, or even a reply, from applying to job postings.
| | | | Amy Duncan (X) 
Brasile
Local time: 12:41
Da Portoghese a Inglese
+ ...
| Agree with neilmac about bidding | Jun 23, 2009 |
neilmac wrote:
Nor do I like bidding for jobs. I often feel frustrated or annoyed because the posters have stipulated speciality areas or demand credentials that preclude my taking on work that I feel perfectly capable of.
I so agree with this...I'll see a job that's just perfect for my skills and then it'll say credentials required and that's that...I'm out.
I don't mind being contacted by people through my ProZ profile, though. I've gotten some very good jobs that way.
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Paola Dentifrigi
Italia
Local time: 17:41
Membro (2003)
Da Inglese a Italiano
+ ...
I bid only if I find a job extremely interesting. However, in my pairs rates are so dramatically low, that it's a waste of time. I never get a job from my bidding, needless to say. People do contact me through the directory, especially for PL/RO.
| | | | John Rawlins
Spagna
Local time: 17:41
Da Spagnolo a Inglese
+ ...
| Who wants to be the cheapest in town? | Jun 23, 2009 |
I don't think I would be able to sleep comfortably if I was ever won a Proz job on the basis of being the lowest bidder.
Like Neilmac - the words 'best rates' are a killer for me. It sounds so cheap and tacky that I delete any contact that uses this phrase.
[Edited at 2009-06-23 08:26 GMT]
| | | | | Profile, connect post, general post | Jun 23, 2009 |
As an outsourcer, I think I prefer to contact translators via their profiles. Second would be a Connect! post to a limited number of translators, and a general post is last on my list.
@ John: it's not all about being the cheapest. First and foremost, I'm looking for someone who gives me the feeling that s/he'll deliver a job at the quality level that the client requested (on an aside: this is not always the same as "top-notch quality", some clients are perfectly fine with an occas... See more As an outsourcer, I think I prefer to contact translators via their profiles. Second would be a Connect! post to a limited number of translators, and a general post is last on my list.
@ John: it's not all about being the cheapest. First and foremost, I'm looking for someone who gives me the feeling that s/he'll deliver a job at the quality level that the client requested (on an aside: this is not always the same as "top-notch quality", some clients are perfectly fine with an occasional typo if that saves them a proofreader's fee for instance). If there's three translators who give me the idea that they can deliver that, I'll start negotiations with the cheapest one first, yes. But if the lowest bidders don't inspire confidence, well, I'd rather pay a bit more and feel good about the job that I'll be delivering. Sure, price matters. But it's not all there is to it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | John Rawlins
Spagna
Local time: 17:41
Da Spagnolo a Inglese
+ ...
| Profile contacts are always welcome | Jun 23, 2009 |
Susan van den Ende wrote:
As an outsourcer, I think I prefer to contact translators via their profiles. Second would be a Connect! post to a limited number of translators, and a general post is last on my list.
@ John: it's not all about being the cheapest. First and foremost, I'm looking for someone who gives me the feeling that s/he'll deliver a job at the quality level that the client requested (on an aside: this is not always the same as "top-notch quality", some clients are perfectly fine with an occasional typo if that saves them a proofreader's fee for instance). If there's three translators who give me the idea that they can deliver that, I'll start negotiations with the cheapest one first, yes. But if the lowest bidders don't inspire confidence, well, I'd rather pay a bit more and feel good about the job that I'll be delivering. Sure, price matters. But it's not all there is to it.
Thanks for your comments Susan. Like most members, I respond very positively to people who contact me through my profile and through Connect!
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| Through my profile or other direct contact | Jun 23, 2009 |
I much prefer this kind of job-related contact, which is also the contact most likely to lead to actual work at some point. If the outsourcer has taken the time to look at my profile and chosen to contact me because they think I could be the right person for the job, this is a much better basis for negotiation and a fruitful collaboration than a job post or a mass mail sent through the directory, which I just ignore unless it is something very interesting.
On a side note, I would a... See more I much prefer this kind of job-related contact, which is also the contact most likely to lead to actual work at some point. If the outsourcer has taken the time to look at my profile and chosen to contact me because they think I could be the right person for the job, this is a much better basis for negotiation and a fruitful collaboration than a job post or a mass mail sent through the directory, which I just ignore unless it is something very interesting.
On a side note, I would also like to see those mass mails sent through the Proz directory marked in a clearer way, i.e. in the subject line of the e-mail, so you could see without opening the actual email that this is a mass mail and not a personal enquiry. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Almost all mass direct contacts and a part of postings are a sort market survey | Jun 23, 2009 |
... in which translators have been forced/deceived to participate for free.
A significant part of them do not led to any jobs whatsoever.
So it's better not to be too hopeful .
| | | | | I agree, however | Jun 23, 2009 |
Alexander Kupriyanchuk wrote: ... in which translators have been forced/deceived to participate for free. A significant part of them do not led to any jobs whatsoever. So it's better not to be too hopeful .
Yes I totally agree. I belatedly noticed this:
After I quoted some ProZ job postings, junk mails increased.
That's why I want to have more inputs from you regards to the basis of your above statement.
I am quite curious.8-)
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 11:41
Membro (2005)
Da Tedesco a Inglese
+ ...
| If by job contacts you mean only those involving ProZ | Jun 24, 2009 |
Then I prefer to be contacted through the directory. Preferably be someone who has noted my specialities and pricing.
However, I regularly work for some truly lovely agencies, and I much prefer to be contacted by one of them.
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