| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you refuse jobs just because you don't feel like doing them? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you refuse jobs just because you don't feel like doing them?".
View the poll results »
| | | | Erik Matson 
Thailand
Local time: 14:46
English to Norwegian
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Often, almost every day.
Thanks to proz.com, I have the luxry of doing just that - pick and choose what I work on, and for who. Of course, for steady, long-term clients I am much more reluctant to turn down a request.
| | | | Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
Spanish to English
Most jobs offered in PowerPoint and Excel, for example.
| | | | Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
German to English
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Things that look like they're going to be fiddly. Especially if the rates aren't good!
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I refuse jobs if I don't have time, don't have sufficient knowledge of the field or don't feel it is a subject I can condone on ethical grounds.
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 09:46
Spanish to English
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As I'm rarely offered work outside of my areas, I only refuse work if I don't have time to do it. Otherwise I'd be increasing my rates.
| | | | Jacques DP
Switzerland
Local time: 09:46
English to French
If I see the project will be a pain, I just tell the client that for this project I can offer them a rate of such and such (where such and such is a rate at which the project would not be a pain after all).
Just feel free to adapt your rates, instead of refusing jobs. For example no one likes very small jobs; but minimum fees makes them fine. (If they don't, just raise them until they do.)
Put yourself in your client's shoes. They can understand that a certain project i... See more If I see the project will be a pain, I just tell the client that for this project I can offer them a rate of such and such (where such and such is a rate at which the project would not be a pain after all).
Just feel free to adapt your rates, instead of refusing jobs. For example no one likes very small jobs; but minimum fees makes them fine. (If they don't, just raise them until they do.)
Put yourself in your client's shoes. They can understand that a certain project is problematic. Give them the opportunity of still hiring you if they want, paying the right price, rather than declining the job with an excuse, which forces them to work with someone else.
There are a few exceptions:
- I don't do ads of the b...s...ting type
- I may refuse other jobs for ethical reasons
- I don't do boring non-translation tasks ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I try not to refuse | Jun 9, 2010 |
I have worked for the same clients for a long time, so if it happens that I cannot do a translation because:
- I have other deadlines
- It would take more time than necessary due to the field
I explain the situation, and most of the times we change deadlines to both the translation at issue or another one, in order to have it done.
I have refused jobs in the following cases:
- deadline could not be changed
- new client asking for a very long tran... See more I have worked for the same clients for a long time, so if it happens that I cannot do a translation because:
- I have other deadlines
- It would take more time than necessary due to the field
I explain the situation, and most of the times we change deadlines to both the translation at issue or another one, in order to have it done.
I have refused jobs in the following cases:
- deadline could not be changed
- new client asking for a very long translation in a very short time
- very low budget
In this case, (except when the budget is really low), before refusing, I call one of my colleagues and ask them if they are interested. In case they are, I tell the client that I have this solution and that I will do the proofreading, in order to check their preferred terminology I am confident with.
[Edited at 2010-06-09 13:03 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 09:46
Spanish to English
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If I don't feel like doing something it's usually because I am unable to, either because of prior workload or maybe the complexity, the state of the original text, or whatever.
I accept most transaltion work, but I do do insist on certain conditions.
For example, I prefer texts in Word or compatible formats, and I send reminders to the clients about, for example, not being able to guarantee the correct translations of undefined acronyms and abbreviations other than the most common o... See more If I don't feel like doing something it's usually because I am unable to, either because of prior workload or maybe the complexity, the state of the original text, or whatever.
I accept most transaltion work, but I do do insist on certain conditions.
For example, I prefer texts in Word or compatible formats, and I send reminders to the clients about, for example, not being able to guarantee the correct translations of undefined acronyms and abbreviations other than the most common ones. There is nothing more annoying to me, especially when on a deadline, than having to waste time because the author of a text has either not bothered or thought it necessary to define things, only to be told "it doesn't matter" or "that didn't need to be translated"... (which happened this weekend again...) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 09:46
English to French
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I am glad I can afford the luxury of refusing a job because I do not feel like doing it.
After working most of last weekend, and knowing that work was due to come late on Monday, I accepted a certain number of pages to keep busy but make it a “lighter” day. When asked by another PM of the same customer to take on extra 1500 words for Tuesday morning, I declined. I could have accepted, there was plenty of time, but I felt a bit lazy and preferred to be fit for another 3 intensive weeks... See more I am glad I can afford the luxury of refusing a job because I do not feel like doing it.
After working most of last weekend, and knowing that work was due to come late on Monday, I accepted a certain number of pages to keep busy but make it a “lighter” day. When asked by another PM of the same customer to take on extra 1500 words for Tuesday morning, I declined. I could have accepted, there was plenty of time, but I felt a bit lazy and preferred to be fit for another 3 intensive weeks ahead. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 03:46
Member (2005)
German to English
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| Usually not "just" because I don't want to | Jun 9, 2010 |
There is often a second reason:
I don't have time,
it's outside of my field,
the rates are poor, or
I just worked XX days straight and now it's my weekend regardless of anyone else's concept of time.
And there are some project that I will simply never accept, regardless.
Proofreading pdf files tops that list.
| | | | | what is "don't feel like doing them"? | Jun 9, 2010 |
Nobody rejects jobs which he or she "feels like doing". In my opinion, iIf one "does not feel like doing a job" there should be reasons. I reject jobs which I don't feel like doing because they are beyond my field of expertise or deadline is impossible or payment method or rate is unacceptable. I don't reject jobs just out of whim or sloth )
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Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 01:46
English to Spanish
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In memoriam
Do I refuse jobs just because I don't feel like doing them?
No. Anyone with a work ethic like that would be a dismal failure.
| | | | Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:46
Spanish to English
| Reply from a dismal failure | Jun 9, 2010 |
Henry Hinds wrote:
Do I refuse jobs just because I don't feel like doing them?
No. Anyone with a work ethic like that would be a dismal failure.
Guess I must be a dismal failure then. I like to enjoy my work, which is why I refuse translations I don't like the look of, for various reasons, unless, of course, I really don't have anything better to do.
P.S. I agree with neilmac about the acronyms and abbreviations. Trying to decipher them all can be such a time waster and a very frustrating experience. I'm thinking of telling clients upfront that unles they provide me with a list, they'll all be left as they are (except the obvious ones, of course)
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 09:46
English to French
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| So, I am a dismal failure! | Jun 10, 2010 |
Henry Hinds wrote:
Anyone with a work ethic like that would be a dismal failure.
I love what I do and I intend to keep it that way. I work long hours most days but I am not a slave to my job or my customers.
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