| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How quickly do you return test translations? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How quickly do you return test translations?".
This poll was originally submitted by Jenn Mercer
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information,... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How quickly do you return test translations?".
This poll was originally submitted by Jenn Mercer
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tim Drayton 
Cyprus
Local time: 05:32
Turkish to English
+ ...
I would return them as speedily as possible, but would obviously prioritise any paid work or other pressing business that I had, so it all depends on how many other more pressing calls there were on my time.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 04:32
English to French
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| I seldom do accept | Nov 19, 2009 |
I generally do not do test translations: I do not have the time.
I do accept some from my regular agency customers though, and always return them before the agreed deadline. They are paid just as any other translation.
Lately, it has been a means for the end customer to approve entry into a regular translators’ team, or allow him to make a choice between several service providers of the agency.
| | | | | If I do consent to do one | Nov 19, 2009 |
I'll do it if I'm available...obviously, paid work takes precedence.
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| I rarely do test translations | Nov 19, 2009 |
I rarely accept test translations as I know some may take profit of it to get a free translation.
Moreover, some companies ask tests which take you a long time and I can not afford to work two or three hours for free!
What I sometimes ask is to be paid for the test if I'am chosen for the whole translation. Unfortunately, it has never been accepted so far...
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I do test translations, but it is still obvious that paid work takes over, so I do tests whenever I have time.
| | | | | I voted 'Other' | Nov 19, 2009 |
Interlangue wrote:
I generally do not do test translations: I do not have the time.
I do accept some from my regular agency customers though, and always return them before the agreed deadline. They are paid just as any other translation.
Same here.
| | | | DianeGM
Local time: 05:32
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
I don't do test translations.
It's not a policy I have or anything, it's just in practice I don't have time. If I had some down time and I was sent one concerning a client or job I was really interested in I guess I would. But no existing customers are sending me any and I'm not actively looking for any new clients at the moment .. so I'm not receiving any.
When I started out I freelancing and my schedule wasn't always full I remember I think I did a handful - but I n... See more I don't do test translations.
It's not a policy I have or anything, it's just in practice I don't have time. If I had some down time and I was sent one concerning a client or job I was really interested in I guess I would. But no existing customers are sending me any and I'm not actively looking for any new clients at the moment .. so I'm not receiving any.
When I started out I freelancing and my schedule wasn't always full I remember I think I did a handful - but I never heard anything back, postive or negative, and they never lead to any jobs. I don't know if I was unlucky or inexperienced or too slow in returning them or if that's generalisable. But these days nobody is even asking me. ▲ Collapse
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DianeGM wrote:
When I started out I freelancing and my schedule wasn't always full I remember I think I did a handful - but I never heard anything back, postive or negative, and they never lead to any jobs. I don't know if I was unlucky or inexperienced or too slow in returning them or if that's generalisable.
same here from this point of view.
Now I do test translations, the time needed to do it depends on the workload first, secondly on the (potential) client, I mean if I send my CV because I read a job offer and they need a test translation, ok, but I choose "WHO" can ask test translations. So because I think that who asks me for a test translation is important to me, I try to do it within hours, if it's possibile, otherwise the following day
Anyway things changed, I got some jobs, I got feedbacks... but I think it also goes with experience, and now I am able to provide better samples, a list of references, and a website where I explain who I am and my fields.
Regards
PS today I cannot write smoothly, I have just re-read my post and... well please do not insult me!!
| | | | | I return short ones right away; don't do long ones | Nov 19, 2009 |
I don't mind the short ones. Sometimes they come as a nice change of pace.
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 04:32
French to German
+ ...
| I don't do them test translations... | Nov 19, 2009 |
except when I can ascertain that I compete on equal grounds with colleagues working in the same pair(s) - which is e.g. possible through the ProZ.com job posting system and in which case I return them within 12 to 24 hours.
[Edited at 2009-11-19 11:46 GMT]
| | | | Romeo Mlinar
Portugal
Local time: 03:32
English to Serbian
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| If you are an established translator | Nov 19, 2009 |
...I assume you do not have to waste time on test translations.
I have done several. Interesting thing is that test translation can prove how professional an agency is. Also, good agencies give enough time, especially if they ask for comments and backtranslation.
I generally do not translate more than 300 w for testing.
One agency that recently reposted their application asked of me to do 1000 w of subtitles. I translated 300 and refused to do more. The rep... See more ...I assume you do not have to waste time on test translations.
I have done several. Interesting thing is that test translation can prove how professional an agency is. Also, good agencies give enough time, especially if they ask for comments and backtranslation.
I generally do not translate more than 300 w for testing.
One agency that recently reposted their application asked of me to do 1000 w of subtitles. I translated 300 and refused to do more. The reply was that I "do not meet the requirements". Alas, how sorry I am... ▲ Collapse
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| Usually do not do test. NEVER do long tests | Nov 19, 2009 |
What is particularly weird is that very often - if not always! - the "JUDGES" are by far less qualified than translators being tested
As a rule, they give you either jobs or unpaid tests.
So do not deceive youselves too much.
| | | | Rebekka Groß (X)
Local time: 03:32
English to German
Even as an established translator, localization companies rarely add you to their database without a test translation.
I do them if I've initiated contact with a potential new client but limit the number of words to 300-350 and return them when I can fit it in.
Overall, I prefer paid test translations, where a company will give me a small file from a live project (e. g. 3000 words), review my translation and if they're happy with the standard include me in the team. On... See more Even as an established translator, localization companies rarely add you to their database without a test translation.
I do them if I've initiated contact with a potential new client but limit the number of words to 300-350 and return them when I can fit it in.
Overall, I prefer paid test translations, where a company will give me a small file from a live project (e. g. 3000 words), review my translation and if they're happy with the standard include me in the team. One disadvantage of this is that I usually have to wade through all the project related guidelines, which can be time consuming. On the other hand, once accepted for a project I don't have to review all that info again as I usually receive related work straight away. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Romeo Mlinar
Portugal
Local time: 03:32
English to Serbian
+ ...
| There is a difference | Nov 19, 2009 |
Alexander Kupriyanchuk wrote: What is particularly weird is that very often - if not always! - the "JUDGES" are by far less qualified than translators being tested
True! I had an example when I had "not passed". I requested detailed results and comments that were not initially sent. To my surprise, some things were declared "grammatically incorrect" while being perfectly fine, and some entries were not commented at all, just declared "invalid".
Not to mention that I had to point out that the test in question was more copyriting than mechanical translation (ad info).
The above is far cry from an established agency, which had very detailed notes on every entry, comments on style, grammar, text understanding, commented backtranslation... with a separate conclusion in another file. Oh, I passed, btw
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