| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4] > | References for rates on the market - another attempt to lower rates by an agency Thread poster: Geneviève Granger
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Michael Newton 
United States
Local time: 04:08
Japanese to English
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Everyone INDEED has a right to success in their favored line of work. When will translators learn to ditch the agencies and find their own private/direct clients?! People should stop groveling before the bottom-feeders and the "opportunities" offered by the proz.com favored companies, strike out on their own and get some real clients. The proz.com ads are nothing but a crutch and people who exist on crutches will never stop being "invalids".
| | | | | Just don't give up. There're still good agencies (and direct clients) out there. | Jul 22, 2022 |
Michael Newton wrote:
Everyone INDEED has a right to success in their favored line of work. When will translators learn to ditch the agencies and find their own private/direct clients?! People should stop groveling before the bottom-feeders and the "opportunities" offered by the proz.com favored companies, strike out on their own and get some real clients. The proz.com ads are nothing but a crutch and people who exist on crutches will never stop being "invalids".
As you must be aware, it's not that easy to be an English-Russian freelance translator based in Russia (or Belarus) now. In fact, it's never been easy even before 2022. Nevertheless, judging by many local colleagues I know personally, with hard work and persistence you can make a decent living.
"When you start living the life of your dreams, there will always be obstacles, doubters, mistakes and setbacks along the way. But with hard work, perseverance and self-belief there is no limit to what you can achieve.” © Roy T. Bennett
"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work." © Colin Powell
“It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.” © George Herman Ruth
[Edited at 2022-07-22 07:13 GMT]
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:08
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| Encouraging - didn't realise it was this simple | Jul 22, 2022 |
Michael Newton wrote:
Everyone INDEED has a right to success in their favored line of work
Great! I'm looking forward to seeing my right to become a hugely successful actor in Hollywood being exercised.
I'm not sure about the mechanics - does it just magically happen or do I have to apply somewhere? - and the actual timing. Thing is, I have quite a few deadlines this month so if my inevitable superstardom could be postponed until I have submitted those projects, that would be just great.
Dan
PS Thinking about ordering my Beverly Hills mansion now but worried that it might be considered forward, any advice welcome
PPS Just to be clear, I'm not greedy, and would settle for success as a top-tier Premier League footballer instead of Hollywood, provided that I don't have to move to Manchester
| | | | Geneviève Granger
Germany
Local time: 10:08
Member (2006)
German to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Yes, hard work is reputed to bring success. I must be an exception... In my case, in some company I was formerly employed, hard work has only brought me ever more work/responsibilities assigned to me, ever increasing expectations towards me, not even recognition nor gratitude, all that for a stagnant salary and a damaged health.
I always invest the best of me in every job I perform (and am also recognised as a good translator by my customers). Yet, this does not seem to be enough and there... See more Yes, hard work is reputed to bring success. I must be an exception... In my case, in some company I was formerly employed, hard work has only brought me ever more work/responsibilities assigned to me, ever increasing expectations towards me, not even recognition nor gratitude, all that for a stagnant salary and a damaged health.
I always invest the best of me in every job I perform (and am also recognised as a good translator by my customers). Yet, this does not seem to be enough and there seems to be still some ingredient missing in the magic potion. ▲ Collapse
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Dan Lucas wrote:
Funny, isn't it, that people continue to insist that such agencies must be raking it in. The evidence suggests that most are on single- or at best low double-digit margins, when they're making money at all.
Dan, you know full well there are dozens of reasons why those companies might have reported a loss.
How a sensibly-run agency can fail to make money when charging 2-3 times what they pay their suppliers is beyond me.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:08
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Suggested reading | Jul 22, 2022 |
Geneviève Granger wrote:
Yes, hard work is reputed to bring success. I must be an exception... In my case, in some company I was formerly employed, hard work has only brought me ever more work/responsibilities assigned to me, ever increasing expectations towards me, not even recognition nor gratitude, all that for a stagnant salary and a damaged health.
I always invest the best of me in every job I perform (and am also recognised as a good translator by my customers). Yet, this does not seem to be enough and there seems to be still some ingredient missing in the magic potion.
Die Menschenfreunde in zerlumpten Hosen
von Robert Tressell
https://www.librarything.de/work/56684
[Edited at 2022-07-22 09:08 GMT]
| | | | | Willingness to change your life + Persistence + Lifelong learning + Collaboration | Jul 22, 2022 |
Geneviève Granger wrote:
In my case, in some company I was formerly employed, hard work has only brought me ever more work/responsibilities assigned to me, ever increasing expectations towards me, not even recognition nor gratitude, all that for a stagnant salary and a damaged health.
How long did you stay with them? Why didn't you quit as soon as you realized your employer would always treat you as a "resource"?
“Control your own destiny or someone else will” © Jack Welch
“If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” © Jim Rohn
I always invest the best of me in every job I perform (and am also recognised as a good translator by my customers). Yet, this does not seem to be enough and there seems to be still some ingredient missing in the magic potion.
Let's take direct clients. They typically have three options:
Set up an in-house translation team
Hire a translation agency (MLV, SLV, boutique agency)
Hire a freelancer
Each option has its pros and cons, which are beyond this discussion.
I'm afraid it's a losing battle for lone freelancers (direct clients are likely to be reluctant to rely on them on mission-critical localization projects for obvious reasons).
To compete for direct clients in 2022 and beyond, freelancers need to either set up boutique agencies or team up with other language professionals (translators, editors, proofreaders, DTP experts, subtitlers, voiceover artists) to offer a one-stop solution to their clients.
“Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game.” © Tony Alessandra
| | | | Geneviève Granger
Germany
Local time: 10:08
Member (2006)
German to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | New track - thank you | Jul 22, 2022 |
Vladimir Pochinov wrote:
How long did you stay with them? Why didn't you quit as soon as you realized your employer would always treat you as a "resource"?
12 years, because I did not find any other employment where I could fit in as well as would have brought me better financial conditions (the other jobs in this field were very rare and mostly even less paid). Becoming a freelancer was the only solution I found to get out of there, at least lead a more healthy and happier life despite of the ups and downs and enjoy a more friendly environment.
Vladimir Pochinov wrote:
... team up with other language professionals (translators, editors, proofreaders, DTP experts, subtitlers, voiceover artists) to offer a one-stop solution to their clients.
I have tried to team up with other translators in the past, but not yet with the other professionals named. Thank you for this idea, I will see how to include this in my future marketing approach. In my case, I should include engineering consultancy offices and such, as I am specialised in technical translations, and often translate in really high-tech subject areas.
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Adieu wrote:
Their accounting figures? If so, maybe they're just cheating on their taxes.
It's the figures from Infogreffe, 'the french [sic] commercial court registries official economic interests group', as they describe themselves in English.
We have to presume that the figures are correct. Cheating on that scale does not seem realistic.
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David GAY wrote:
the only winner will be MT because clients will soon realize that it s pointless to pay for this kind of service. So they ll soon find that MT is not bad after all and it s free.
MT cannot deliver proper quality. MT can provide some typing assistance and sometimes gets it right, particularly the more trivial sentences, but it cannot provide a translation that is usable without editing by a competent translator. The end client cannot evaluate when MT gets it right and when it doesn't.
The winners will be competent agencies and translators. Let the bad ones sink and just tell them to get lost. Enough of all this gloom.
My first accountant here in Portugal turned out to ignore emails and neglect mandatory procedures. He failed to make me benefit from common and legitimate tax advantages and generally made a mess. I sacked him after a few months and replaced him with another one recommended by a local colleague. He gets things done. In other words, I sacked the incompetent one and replaced him with a competent one (and he's slightly cheaper than the incompetent one). What I didn't do was to buy automatic software to do it all for me (it would probably not have been legal anyway for a limited company).
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David GAY wrote:
Their policy is to destroy the companies they take over.
That seems to be the result, in any case.
David GAY wrote:
The ultimate goal is to reduce competition.
Yes, but that doesn't work if they just destroy themselves from the inside. Then they'll just end up leaving space for properly run companies.
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:08
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| Seen it many times | Jul 22, 2022 |
Ice Scream wrote:
How a sensibly-run agency can fail to make money when charging 2-3 times what they pay their suppliers is beyond me.
It's always cost control, in the end. Companies expand their cost base on the expectation that revenue will always grow, and they never see that thing that causes sales to fall 10%, 20%, 30%. Suddenly income no longer covers outgoings.
Dan
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| Sensibly run? | Jul 22, 2022 |
Ice Scream wrote:
Dan, you know full well there are dozens of reasons why those companies might have reported a loss.
How a sensibly-run agency can fail to make money when charging 2-3 times what they pay their suppliers is beyond me.
There can be many reasons indeed, but this agency doesn't strike me as being sensibly run. This may well be the primary reason. The hubris in trying to gobble up all their competition to monopolise the sector, bullying their staff and bullying their suppliers may well lead to their downfall.
| | | | | Accounting is a tricky thing | Jul 22, 2022 |
Thomas T. Frost wrote: Adieu wrote:
Their accounting figures? If so, maybe they're just cheating on their taxes.
It's the figures from Infogreffe, 'the french [sic] commercial court registries official economic interests group', as they describe themselves in English. We have to presume that the figures are correct. Cheating on that scale does not seem realistic.
A joke about accounting and accountants.
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A recruitment agency interviews applicants.
Applicant 1.
Q: What was your previous employment?
A: A high school math teacher.
Q: How much is 2 +2?
A: 4
- OK, thank you. We'll get in touch if we decide to hire you.
Applicant 2.
Q: What was your previous employment?
A: A sales manager.
Q: How much is 2 +2?
A: 3 if we buy, 5 if we sell.
- OK, thank you. We'll get in touch if we decide to hire you.
Applicant 3.
Q: What was your previous employment?
A: A senior accountant.
Q: How much is 2 +2?
A: How much do you want it to be?
- OK, thank you. When can you start?
| | | | Christina B.
Sweden
Local time: 10:08
French to German
+ ...
| missing ingredient | Jul 22, 2022 |
Hello Geneviève!
I really do feel your pain.
I have been trying to find more direct clients and in my experience Vladimir is right, they are looking for a relyable one-stop-solution. (Especially if they have big volumes and/or are looking for a long term relationship.)
Many translators are rather introvert, nice and helpfull people. The "missing ingredient" you mentioned might have to do something with unconscious self sabotage.
Suggested rea... See more Hello Geneviève!
I really do feel your pain.
I have been trying to find more direct clients and in my experience Vladimir is right, they are looking for a relyable one-stop-solution. (Especially if they have big volumes and/or are looking for a long term relationship.)
Many translators are rather introvert, nice and helpfull people. The "missing ingredient" you mentioned might have to do something with unconscious self sabotage.
Suggested reading (knowing that German is one of your working languages):
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.de/ebook/Das-Ende-der-Selbstsabotage/Walter-Grothkopp/Koesel/e457837.rhd
[Edited at 2022-07-22 13:23 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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