Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Test, Agreement, Training, then NO Job! Thread poster: Abdelhalim Zeid
| Abdelhalim Zeid Egypt Local time: 18:24 Member (2010) English to Arabic + ... TOPIC STARTER
ricardonhorta wrote: ...I once was contacted by an agency (about seven years ago) to do an in-house test, since they had an opening for a Translator. When I got there, there were three other Translators there to take the test as well. A few minutes later we were asked to go to a different room to take the test. It was four A4 pages long, which I found unusual, at best. Then, I whispered to the guy next to me: "hey, what pages do you have?" He answered: 22, 23, 24 and 25. I looked at mine: 26, 27, 28, 29... Then the other guy whispered the same to the girl in front of him: 18, 19, 20, 21. I got up and walked out. The other guy did the same. It was pretty obvious to us that wasn't a test... it was someone getting Translations for free. I'm not saying that happened to you (you mentioned it was a short test), but this is a lesson I learned. I don't mind translation tests at all... when they're short! But I think twice about it when the test is over 300 or 400 words long. Like others said, a sample should be enough. Your story is very interesting, I am sorry to hear about it though. Luckily, you could notice the trick. I will go for samples in the future, even if I will not get the project, I would not waste my time. Thank you for sharing your experience, Ricardo. | | | Abdelhalim Zeid Egypt Local time: 18:24 Member (2010) English to Arabic + ... TOPIC STARTER
Susana Valdez wrote: Taija Salo wrote: Someone on this forum once said that agencies send you EITHER tests to translate, forms to fill, agreements to sign, more forms to fill online, instructions to read and follow, OR jobs. I have found this to be quite true. Usually the amount of time and effort it takes to fulfill all the agency's wishes is inversely proportional to how much income working with them will actually generate. I have no idea why. This is not to say that I would reject any agency with such procedures, just that I wouldn't put anything else on hold for them. Taija, reading your post, I just come to realize the same thing. I believe I wouldn't get there myself, so I have to thank you for it. To Abdelhalim: Once I heard a story at a conference of a renowned Portuguese translator - he had received a proposal from a company with very low rates and to "educate" the client, he sent an Invoice to him charging him for the time he wasted reading his proposal. From time to time I remember this story always with a smile and I believe that even though we don't profit directly from educating them, we can try to spare others from bad experiences if we do take the time to educate them. Regarding BB, I've seen at least one entry about a translator who had done tests and received no job. Perhaps you could send a support ticket to Proz.com staff to learn more about this. I loved the story too. As for the BB, I think I have seen a similar case. Maybe I will submit an entry in the near future but I need to check it out first. Thank you for your wishes, advice and story, Susana. | | | Ildiko Santana United States Local time: 08:24 Member (2002) Hungarian to English + ... MODERATOR free + within 5 hours | Jun 11, 2010 |
Attila Piróth wrote: The American Translators Association's Code of Professional Conduct and Business Practices contains the following point for employers: "I further commit myself to the following practices with translators and interpreters: I will not require translators or interpreters to do unpaid work for the prospect of a paid assignment." Free test samples – especially with a rush-job-like deadline of 3 hours – fall in this category, in my opinion. Thanks Attila, I really like how you put it, and thank you for the quote. I, too, have been spending (wasting?) some time over the past few days communicating with a PM who found me on ProZ but who seems to disregard the information included both on my profile page (samples and client list included) and in my Resume (job history, software/hardware, etc) and yesterday asked me to set a time and date when I can complete a free test for them within 5 hours from its receipt. I'm almost tempted to send her the above quote. Is it really worth it? Do you (readers of this thread) generally respond to such request and, if yes, do you explain why you won't agree to do a free test? | | | Ildiko Santana United States Local time: 08:24 Member (2002) Hungarian to English + ... MODERATOR you have my sympathy... | Jun 11, 2010 |
Abdelhalim Zeid wrote: a test of 320 words and they have asked to return the translated test within three hours. Hi Adbelhalim, Sorry to hear your story, I wish you much more pleasant and rewarding experiences in your career than this one. If you DO receive work from them, you should definitely ask for a test money transfer within 3 hours from delivery! : D | |
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Abba Storgen (X) United States Local time: 10:24 Greek to English + ...
"Then, I whispered to the guy next to me: "hey, what pages do you have?" He answered: 22, 23, 24 and 25. I looked at mine: 26, 27, 28, 29... Then the other guy whispered the same to the girl in front of him: 18, 19, 20, 21. I got up and walked out." That's an extraordinary story! Where do these things happen? Sounds like a concentration camp (with voluntary entry). "they have sent me a test of 320 words and they have asked to return the translated test within ... See more "Then, I whispered to the guy next to me: "hey, what pages do you have?" He answered: 22, 23, 24 and 25. I looked at mine: 26, 27, 28, 29... Then the other guy whispered the same to the girl in front of him: 18, 19, 20, 21. I got up and walked out." That's an extraordinary story! Where do these things happen? Sounds like a concentration camp (with voluntary entry). "they have sent me a test of 320 words and they have asked to return the translated test within three hours" ... "Later on, they told me that they have received a very positive feedback on my translation..." I guess everyone was waiting for your translation in there... and they picked it up immediately and started evaluating it. Does this sound like a normal scenario? No. You may get some jobs from them, but it's better to think of yourself like a store; people come in, they check the products, some buy, some don't. Never hold your breath for a "potential" client. Move on quickly. ▲ Collapse | | | Abdelhalim Zeid Egypt Local time: 18:24 Member (2010) English to Arabic + ... TOPIC STARTER
ildiko wrote: Abdelhalim Zeid wrote: a test of 320 words and they have asked to return the translated test within three hours. Hi Adbelhalim, Sorry to hear your story, I wish you much more pleasant and rewarding experiences in your career than this one. If you DO receive work from them, you should definitely ask for a test money transfer within 3 hours from delivery! : D Thank you very much for your wishes, ildiko. I think this could be a good comeback, 3 hours test for 3 hours money transfer. P.S: I love your profile's tagline! | | | Abdelhalim Zeid Egypt Local time: 18:24 Member (2010) English to Arabic + ... TOPIC STARTER @Eleftherios | Jun 11, 2010 |
Eleftherios Kritikakis wrote: I guess everyone was waiting for your translation in there... and they picked it up immediately and started evaluating it. Does this sound like a normal scenario? No. You may get some jobs from them, but it's better to think of yourself like a store; people come in, they check the products, some buy, some don't. Never hold your breath for a "potential" client. Move on quickly. Thank you, Eleftherios. I think I am going to think about myself as a salesperson or a store. I offer my products/services and as you have already said some buy and some don't. I think I will get over it, very soon. Thank you again, Eleftherios. | | | Alex Eames Local time: 16:24 English to Polish + ... Turn it around to your advantage :) | Jun 11, 2010 |
Abdelhalim Zeid wrote: Hi, Few weeks ago, a translation agency posted a job that they need translators to work on a sports project. I have contacted them, then they have sent me a test of 320 words and they have asked to return the translated test within three hours. Since I am very passionate about sports' translations, it was OK with me. I have managed to complete the translation test on time. Later on, they told me that they have received a very positive feedback on my translation and they listed me in their database as an EN>AR translator with extensive experience in sports translations. They have asked to sign their freelance agreement and send them a scanned version, I did! Abdelhalim, you need to turn it around to your advantage. One day a project may turn up from this investment of your time. But if it doesn't, how can you use it in your efforts to get more work? Well, you now have a 320 word test translation you can put on your website as an example of your work. There can be no comeback about this, since you own the copyright in your work (although the original text is not yours, it's doubtful anyone will object over 320 words). I would also suggest doing a web search of some key phrases in the text to see if the client has published your work anywhere. If they have, don't get sore, but you can use the link as proof of your satisfactory work. You have either been misled or the project took a change of direction. The result to you is the same, but I wouldn't bother with a blue board entry on this in case it kills your chance of working with these guys after you invested time and effort. Unless you are very sure that they strung you along deliberately, that is. Hope this helps Alex Eames http://www.translatortips.com helping translators do better business | |
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Attila Piróth France Local time: 17:24 Member English to Hungarian + ...
The present thread may have inspired ProZ.com's staff to start two new ProZWiki articles on test translations, see Jared's announcement here. The articles contain quite a few arguments and counterarguments; some good points mentioned in this thread are missing though, so please consider adding them. I ... See more The present thread may have inspired ProZ.com's staff to start two new ProZWiki articles on test translations, see Jared's announcement here. The articles contain quite a few arguments and counterarguments; some good points mentioned in this thread are missing though, so please consider adding them. I added something about what translators associations' codes of professional conduct have to say about this topic, as I believe such references have much more weight than anonymous surveys. Best regards, Attila ▲ Collapse | | | concentration camp | Jun 12, 2010 |
That's an extraordinary story! Where do these things happen? Sounds like a concentration camp (with voluntary entry). Sorry Eleftherios, but clearly your understanding and my own of a concentration camp differ greatly. | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Test, Agreement, Training, then NO Job! TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
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