Poll: Do you recommend that colleagues and new translators join ProZ.com? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you recommend that colleagues and new translators join ProZ.com?".
This poll was originally submitted by Nisreen Barakat. View the poll results »
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 01:52
Member (2006)
German to English
Nobody has ever asked me.
But if they did, it has been a benefit for me.
| | | | | Yes, sometimes! | Jul 18, 2016 |
My ex-colleagues work in-house and are not at all interested in freelancing. Most of the freelancers I know are already Proz members but I have recommended joining Proz to some new translators…
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 01:52
Spanish to English
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I don't actually "recommend" it though. I simply point out its existence if they weren't previously aware of it.
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Lenka Červená
Czech Republic
Local time: 01:52
Member (2014)
English to Czech
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| I would recommend proZ to everyone | Jul 18, 2016 |
I was told about proZ some five years ago and I benefit from it ever since. Contacts, jobs, experience, training, questions, answers..it's all here! So many people visit this page that it simply must pay to start visiting it too.
| | | | | Recommend they at least spend time on the page | Jul 18, 2016 |
I've learned all sorts of things, both directly related to translating and other, from using the site, and all sorts of great contacts, both professional and personal.
| | | | | Other: It depends on each one's language pair | Jul 18, 2016 |
I strongly recommend that any translator should join each and every language portal accepting time-unlimited free use, in spite of restrictions on some features.
This will serve two purposes:
a) Expand their online footprint, i.e. make them more visible as present on the web; and
b) let them monitor the 'local' demand for their specific language pair(s) and services offered.
Of course, each freelancing translator is limited on both the volume of work they ca... See more I strongly recommend that any translator should join each and every language portal accepting time-unlimited free use, in spite of restrictions on some features.
This will serve two purposes:
a) Expand their online footprint, i.e. make them more visible as present on the web; and
b) let them monitor the 'local' demand for their specific language pair(s) and services offered.
Of course, each freelancing translator is limited on both the volume of work they can deliver and the budget they can invest in translation portal memberships, so when membership is not free, some choices must be made in terms of cost/benefit.
Forum moderators, I checked Forum Rule #8, and these sies (mentioned below) are NOT outsourcers. Anyway, in my specific case below, Proz comes out as a winner.
Many years ago I joined one or two dozen online translation portals who'd accept me for free. I kept track on the demand for my language pair (EN-US /\ PT-BR), which was pervasively marginal then.
About five years later, the demand for it rose and held at Proz, so I became a paying member ever since. As a comparison, the demand for it also rose at Translators Cafe, however this specific demand never holds as of today; it comes and goes all the time. At other portals, such as Aquarius, GoTranslators, etc., the demand for it is merely occasional, if any. And at Translation Directory, 98% of the job offers for my pair are from grovelling bottom feeders.
No please make sure to notice that this picture applies to my specific language pair ONLY. As they say, your mileage may vary, depending on your specific language pair(s). For instance, I get the impression that anyone having Polish in their working pair(s) should focus on membership at Globtra. There are possibly other such language-focused translation portals around, for other languages.
One caveat is that many newcomers expect to join a translation portal and, immediately get flooded by a cornucopia pouring translation jobs on them. That is NOT likely to happen, unless your rates are despicably low and your service is tops - which is not a sustainable business equation.
Nowadays new clients find a translator via their online presence, and these portals are a good way to enhance it. Nevertheless, competition is fierce.
The reason why I advocate for monitoring a translation portal's demand for YOUR pair lies in the likelihood of a prospect looking for YOUR services there. It's some kind of chicken-or-egg thing. If nobody posts jobs for your pair there, it's because they don't think such translators will be found on that e-venue.
As a final recommendation, I strongly advise AGAINST membership on portals where one is required to pay FIRST, and then will be allowed to see what's inside. After you pay, you'll be allowed to see a long list of jobs. Try applying for any of them, and you'll always be told that it has already been assigned to someone else. My take is that most - if not all - these jobs are fabricated ghosts. It's an easy way to assemble a scam, hunting for membership fees only. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 19:52
English to Spanish
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| Never say never | Jul 18, 2016 |
I haven't been asked by any colleagues whether joining Proz is a good step or not. However, I take issue with the wording of the poll options: What do you mean by “No, never”?
Why does a human interaction have to be shackled to always and never responses? It sounds extremely stupid and shortsighted to me.
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Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 16:52
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
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| Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 20:52
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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It helps me a lot, so I do suggest it. And I also warn them, whenever I can, not to join some other sites where they will waste a lot of time for nothing in return.
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