Overview

Connect! is ProZ.com's next-generation sourcing platform, designed to help serious outsourcers find specialized linguists for their premium projects, quickly and efficiently.

The new state-of-the-art web service ("web 2.0") enables companies to rapidly and efficiently find, select and manage the language professionals they need from among ProZ.com's network—the world's largest—of over 170,000 translators and interpreters working in more than 100 languages.

History

ProZ.com Connect! was developed, beta tested and piloted over a period of 10 months with the cooperation of 25 charter customers. Among them were six of the world’s twenty largest language companies and a number of global firms that purchase translation services, including a global 100 enterprise. Many mid-sized language companies also took part in the charter program, one with as few as two employees.

We recognized that the traditional method of sourcing translators - wading through piles of CVs (curriculum vitae) and tracking candidates with spreadsheets and emails takes far too long to find the qualified candidates companies need – often for urgent assignments. As such, many language industry players working closely with ProZ.com, created a platform that solves these long-standing and costly problems.

Who should use Connect?

Connect! is designed to be used by any outsourcer seeking language professionals for a "premium" opportunity (paying at or above market rates). It is especially useful for quickly finding linguists with specialized skills or in a specific location.

How it works

With ProZ.com Connect!, the process of finding the right language professionals is broken down into three simple steps.

1. Define your need (project) - Specify your detailed requirements, describe the job or project, and optionally create a screening questionnaire for candidates. The more detailed you are in this step, the better.
   
   
2. Find and contact candidates - Use PowerSearch to hand-pick candidates who match your requirements, or post a premium job listing to have candidates come to you.
   
   
3. Select and manage candidates - Use your candidates folder to annotate, prioritize, evaluate, and communicate with candidates, and then select the candidate(s) best suited to your need.

Need-based sourcing

Connect! uses a patent-pending "need-based" method to streamline the sourcing process. You define your need first, in as much detail as possible.

This helps ensure the system presents you with only the most promising candidates, and helps prevent you from being overwhelmed by a large number of unsuitable candidates. It also allows you to specify requirements or criteria that may not be available in ProZ.com's database, by creating a screening questionnaire that must be answered by interested candidates.

You can then easily find and contact candidates (via PowerSearch or a premium job posting) with just a few clicks.

Advantages over the standard job system and public directory

• Time savings searching for linguists – up to 50%. The new Requirements Wizard and new search engine in Connect! enable very targeted filtering to find relevant translators faster.
  
  
• Faster response from translators. Because you are using Connect! to source for premium jobs, your inquires get higher visibility in the network and receive greater attention from translators when they hear from you.
  
  
• Candidate Management. Filter responses, communicate with candidates via a convenient message center and easily organize your selected translators online. Plus, you can evaluate and easily keep track of your favorite translators.
  
  
• More flexibility and control. Be able to see who will be informed of your job opportunity before you post your job. Plus your sourcing and candidate management account is private only to your company, keeping your sourcing activities private and not visible to your competitors or clients.
  
  
• Broader reach. In some language pairs, Connect! provides access to many more translators than are available in the public directory.

Learn more or get started

To learn more about ProZ.com Connect!, or to get started now, visit the main Connect! page.