| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: When is your work volume the heaviest? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When is your work volume the heaviest?".
This poll was originally submitted by Kimrey Batts. View the poll results »
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 14:40
Member (2006)
German to English
But I do most of my work over the weekend as I get distracted a lot less
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On how much work I take on and how projects overlap.
I agree with Michael here. Weekends are quality time workwise since there are very few distractions. 
I tend to take weekdays off since the places I want to go invariably are less crowded.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:40
Spanish to English
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Whenever it mounts up, or several clients all decide to have "urgent" moments at the same time...
Like Michael and Julian, I don't mind working at weekends, as I can do things like shopping etc during the week when the city is less crowded. I quite often get work sent to me on the Friday due for Monday and 99% of the time it's not a problem.
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| It varies a lot | Apr 24, 2013 |
but, me too, I prefer to work on weekends and have days off during the week...
| | | | | Friday night for delivery Monday morning! | Apr 24, 2013 |
This is when I get most of my work! Or at least when I receive the most "urgent" projects!
| | | | | Over the weekend? | Apr 24, 2013 |
I think we all know that feeling of having a quiet week, then getting in a rush job on Friday evening to be done for Monday morning!
However, I doubt that this would stand up to robust statistical analysis..
Steve K.
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As most of you guys, I usually get the odd rush job on Friday afternoon for early Monday morning.
What I am wondering here is why the answer "over the weekend" only has a 3% when most of us is when we work the hardest.
Just wondering.
Have a nice translating day.
Natalie
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| At the end of a month | Apr 24, 2013 |
This is far from invariable, but it is a pattern I have noticed some years, and it is coming back again. (Could it mean the economy is picking up??)
The times when I am really, really busy are when I have accepted a large job that is not very well paid. I ALWAYS regret it - I accept a big job as a favour for a good client, or because I am less booked than usual ... and my mail is then inundated with requests I really feel bad about turning down. Not to mention better-paid work.
... See more This is far from invariable, but it is a pattern I have noticed some years, and it is coming back again. (Could it mean the economy is picking up??)
The times when I am really, really busy are when I have accepted a large job that is not very well paid. I ALWAYS regret it - I accept a big job as a favour for a good client, or because I am less booked than usual ... and my mail is then inundated with requests I really feel bad about turning down. Not to mention better-paid work.
I did it again this week... I took on a huge proof because a good client slyly called a couple of weeks ago instead of mailing, and asked if I was busy. I wasn't feeling overworked and agreed to look at the text, subject to confirmation.
Ten days later, when I thought it was forgotten - the go-ahead came. Most proofs from this client are fine, but this was a collection of product descriptions compiled by the end client. Like the curate's egg, parts of it were excellent... But the rest was a fascinating mix of Chinglish, non-native engineer English and MT.
And mails have been flooding in - I could have earned twice as much over the last couple of days with the jobs I have turned down, besides the ones I have squeezed in! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kimrey Batts
United States
Local time: 08:40
Member (2011)
Spanish to English
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| Interesting responses, thanks! | Apr 24, 2013 |
Thank all of your for your comments. I asked this precisely because I just got through a busy weekend and found myself in complete relax mode on Monday, while those with "normal" jobs griped about having to head back to work. I quite enjoy the freedom this allows me, to be honest, but I´m relatively new to freelancing and was thus curious as to whether others see a similar pattern of receiving jobs on Thursday and Friday and then having a lighter load on more standard working days.
... See more Thank all of your for your comments. I asked this precisely because I just got through a busy weekend and found myself in complete relax mode on Monday, while those with "normal" jobs griped about having to head back to work. I quite enjoy the freedom this allows me, to be honest, but I´m relatively new to freelancing and was thus curious as to whether others see a similar pattern of receiving jobs on Thursday and Friday and then having a lighter load on more standard working days.
In response to why "weekends" doesn´t have a higher rate of response, I´m assuming it´s because, while many freelancers do seem to note this phenomena, overall distribution of workload varies in accordance with on-going projects and with the different business models being used. I would also guess that more experienced and established translators have more control over when they accept work, and are less at the whim of clients and agencies.
Again, thank you everyone for your responses, and happy translating!
Kimrey ▲ Collapse
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I've actually noticed that everything seems to shut down on Thursdays. I typically receive ~100 work related e-mails a day Monday through Thursday, and then it drops to maybe 5 a day Friday-Sunday. The majority of my projects come in on Monday mornings.
On a side note, I've also noticed that when ever I have a large test or project due at school, I receive large and well paid projects that I just can't refuse. I have my final exams for the semester in a couple of weeks, so here's ho... See more I've actually noticed that everything seems to shut down on Thursdays. I typically receive ~100 work related e-mails a day Monday through Thursday, and then it drops to maybe 5 a day Friday-Sunday. The majority of my projects come in on Monday mornings.
On a side note, I've also noticed that when ever I have a large test or project due at school, I receive large and well paid projects that I just can't refuse. I have my final exams for the semester in a couple of weeks, so here's hoping! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | During the week | Apr 24, 2013 |
I have two kids, and they attend a Saturday language/culture school in addition to school and activities during the week, and I sometimes teach in that program as well (in any case, we are there all day Saturday). So, I generally advertise myself as unavailable on weekends, but use what weekend time I have for work on "overflow" work, i.e., I don't schedule work on the weekends, but I may work then to catch up.
[Edited at 2013-04-24 16:19 GMT]
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Kimberly Wastler
United States
Local time: 08:40
Member (2005)
Italian to English
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| The week before a holiday | Apr 24, 2013 |
That's when I see things really pick up on a constant basis. And every one wants their translation delivered either the day before or the day after.
So this week's been a busy one here in Italy - but I will enjoy the day off with my family tomorrow
| | | | Jana Kinská
Czech Republic
Local time: 14:40
English to Czech
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| I used to work over weekends, but... | Apr 24, 2013 |
tseliot wrote:
As most of you guys, I usually get the odd rush job on Friday afternoon for early Monday morning.
What I am wondering here is why the answer "over the weekend" only has a 3% when most of us is when we work the hardest.
Just wondering.
Have a nice translating day.
Natalie
... I realized I worked all the time and did not manage to get weekdays off. So some time ago, I decided I would not normally work over weekends - if it was not reeeally necessary (in such cases I always find a weekday or two to compensate that). Otherwise I only work on Saturday or Sunday if I am out of office on a weekday to compensate that.
Also, my partner is employed so I like to have weekends off and do something together instead of saying Yes to uninteresting "urgent" projects offered on Friday afternoon/evening to be finished by Monday morning (I hate those ,D).
| | | | | Two sides of the coin | Apr 24, 2013 |
Jana Kinská wrote:
Also, my partner is employed so I like to have weekends off and do something together instead of saying Yes to uninteresting "urgent" projects offered on Friday afternoon/evening to be finished by Monday morning (I hate those ,D).
I think there are two sides to this coin: how your clients in your particular specialization schedule their projects (in my case, financial stuff comes on a quarterly schedule, press releases are always rush, etc.) and your own preferences/commitments (kids, taking care of old/ill relatives, like to party on the weekend, etc.)!
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