Job Postings Always Indicate Last Minute. Why? Thread poster: Michael and Raimunda Poe
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I have noticed that almost all postings in here are urgent, last minute, anyone know why someone would wait to the last minute to do their translation, isn't that one of the most important parts of a business job? I have noticed this a lot especially in my languages just wondered what you all think? If I were having something translated for my company I don't think I would want to rush the translator, I'd want a good job.
Thanks
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2007-1... See more I have noticed that almost all postings in here are urgent, last minute, anyone know why someone would wait to the last minute to do their translation, isn't that one of the most important parts of a business job? I have noticed this a lot especially in my languages just wondered what you all think? If I were having something translated for my company I don't think I would want to rush the translator, I'd want a good job.
Thanks
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2007-10-11 18:29] ▲ Collapse
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In some (most?) cases it might be end client's demand. They give an agency a file, saying they need it "tomorrow morning", not really realising they demand impossible.
So maybe it's not that they wait until last moment, but get it so late from the end client.
However IMHO it is agency's duty to explain how it works, especially if they accept an urgent job not having a translator to do it!
Anni
| | | | Jan Willem van Dormolen (X) 
Netherlands
Local time: 09:08
English to Dutch
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...it's because the agency has accepted the job, and then finds out that all of its regular translators are unavailable. By the time they're sure they can't place the job among their known translators, it's getting awfully close to delivery time. Something like that?
| | | | Irene N
United States
Local time: 02:08
English to Russian
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| Wishful thinking:-( | Oct 11, 2007 |
isn't that one of the most important parts of a business job?
It's only us and some educated clients that think that way. For many it's nothing but simple retyping using different characters and machine translations.
Plus, business is all about speed these days. You snooze - you lose, and the translation part is the last thing on money-cooking parties' minds.
Anna is correct - it's the agency job, but there are just as few honest professional agencies (relative to the overall number of them) as there are educated clients out there. Welcome to the club:-)
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Csaba Ban
Hungary
Local time: 09:08
Member (2002)
English to Hungarian
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| I agree with Jan Willem | Oct 11, 2007 |
I just wanted to write something along these lines when I noticed his post. Basically all of my regular clients give me more than sufficient time to complete translation assignments.
That's just the way it is: outsourcers have their regular translators they like working with. If they are not available, they try to look for someone else, etc. So chances are that when they finally announce a job publicly on Proz.com, they are really short of time.
Csaba
| | | | Maria Amorim (X)
Sweden
Local time: 09:08
Swedish to Portuguese
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| English- Portuguese pair | Oct 11, 2007 |
I have also noticed this, Michael and Raimunda. I think there are many aspects to be considered behind this. One is a high offer English-Portuguese translators, where the rules of the market apply: low-paid translation jobs. At least one these “for-yesterday” offices pay very low values for freelancers translators while having a small staff of well-paid, or better paid, proof-reading translators. So, work must be delivered within a restricted deadline to continue for a final translation se... See more I have also noticed this, Michael and Raimunda. I think there are many aspects to be considered behind this. One is a high offer English-Portuguese translators, where the rules of the market apply: low-paid translation jobs. At least one these “for-yesterday” offices pay very low values for freelancers translators while having a small staff of well-paid, or better paid, proof-reading translators. So, work must be delivered within a restricted deadline to continue for a final translation session of “proof-reading”. They gain with this procedure as they pay less for proof-reading (even paying to a final translator).
There is the unavoidable situation of having to accomplish a client deadline. We know that this happens everywhere, in any company and within most types of jobs. But I am sure that companies attached to quality don’t work on a daily basis under this frame, and if this happens would they give this for a low-cost professional or to an expert with a known and trustable experience ?
Many discussions have come out in PROZcom forums about low-paid translations jobs. The topic that you pointed out has an interface with this. The rules are on the other side, why not to change them: If a work is urgent the translation rates should be much higher otherwise ignore them, together with all companies that want a translator to work for “free”. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lia Fail (X)
Spain
Local time: 09:08
Spanish to English
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Michael and Raimunda Poe wrote:
I have noticed that almost all postings in here are urgent, last minute, anyone know why someone would wait to the last minute to do their translation, isn't that one of the most important parts of a business job? I have noticed this a lot especially in my languages just wondered what you all think? If I were having something translated for my company I don't think I would want to rush the translator, I'd want a good job.
Thanks
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2007-10-11 18:29]
It wd seem logical that the translation market operates on the basis of speed and quality. These 2 factors, in fact, are fundamentally what I personally - as a freelancer - rely on to retain my clients: they will (have to) find someone else if I'm bad and/or if I'm slow, but especially if I'm both.
When agencies have beaten price to rockbottom, then the only way to get business (unless they carve a niche ...like quality) is speed.
[Edited at 2007-10-12 00:21]
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