| A témához tartozó oldalak: [1 2] > | Poll: In general do you trust other translators enough to share names of your outsourcers? Téma indítója: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "In general do you trust other translators enough to share names of your outsourcers?".
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
| | | | Mariam Osmann
Egyiptom
Local time: 10:40
Tag (2007 óta)
angol - arab
+ ...
As translator I may have one or two translators that I trust.
As outsourcer no but to some extent because I think in several translation fields I have succeeded in gaining clients trust even If they were communicated by others who may depend on offering services with lower price or higher daily outputs.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 09:40
angol - francia
+ ...
| The other way around | Oct 20, 2008 |
Any translator may have the name of my customers, and send them a CV or apply.
Actually, it works the other way around: I give the name of colleagues I trust to my outsourcers/customers when I am not available.
We have been networking for years with a handful of colleagues, taking care of jobs and customers for each other during the holidays.
| | | |
I do not think being scared to share is ever a good thing.
If someone wants to "steal" my clients, please feel free. If my clients are happy with me they will stick with me. If not, then fine that they find someone else that they are happier with. It doesn't worry or bother me.
Or did the question mean "do you trust other translators ability enough to recommend them to your clients"? That is something else and I would only recommend translators that I have personal expe... See more I do not think being scared to share is ever a good thing.
If someone wants to "steal" my clients, please feel free. If my clients are happy with me they will stick with me. If not, then fine that they find someone else that they are happier with. It doesn't worry or bother me.
Or did the question mean "do you trust other translators ability enough to recommend them to your clients"? That is something else and I would only recommend translators that I have personal experience with, and otherwise I will point out to the client that I don't.
Cecilia
[Edited at 2008-10-20 14:34] ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Translation is a creative work. every translator has his own style in writing in his mother language, there may be a translato has more experience in the source language but when translating his style in writing in target language will be different from any other translator, if he translate literly or creativly this will make a great difference in the target text.
| | | | D BANNON 
Local time: 03:40
koreai - angol
+ ...
| Do we trust ourselves? | Oct 20, 2008 |
Whether I trust other translators is, to me, irrelevant. Outsourcers and translators have complete access to each other via all the usual channels irregardless of my willingness to share information.
In the translation industry today, connected internationally via the 'Net, I would be naive to think I could keep other translators from communicating with outsourcers. I can't possibly keep a list of outsourcers from other translators, even if I wanted to do so, which I do not. Ev... See more Whether I trust other translators is, to me, irrelevant. Outsourcers and translators have complete access to each other via all the usual channels irregardless of my willingness to share information.
In the translation industry today, connected internationally via the 'Net, I would be naive to think I could keep other translators from communicating with outsourcers. I can't possibly keep a list of outsourcers from other translators, even if I wanted to do so, which I do not. Even the attempt seems (to me, based on my experiences only) based on fear that I might lose a potential job because one too many other translators bid on that project. It also buckles under the weight of the shocking assumption that outsourcers are easily manipulated by translators and unable to find their own translators as needed. In my experience, project managers are usually very bright and busy people quite capable of making their own decisions irregardless of which translator is keeping a given outsourcer's contact information from others.
The question itself might perhaps be a little flawed, at least from my perspective. The question asks if I trust others enough to share information that they can already gain via any normal procedure; and more, the questions seems to assume that I have access that others do not, and therefore sharing it is a trust issue. With this, I emphatically disagree. An outsourcer may choose from dozens, if not hundreds, of other translators who are just as visible in the industry as myself; another translator has equal access to any potential client or outsourcer through similar channels.
The question, then, might perhaps be shaped differently:
Do I trust myself and my work enough to stand the test of potential competition?
TRUST:
I trust outsourcers to attempt to choose the appropriate translator for a particular project, within the time and budget constraints of that project. Some outsourcers are concerned with long-term clients and producing quality, which takes time; others have immediate short-term needs that are better served by speed rather than absolute accuracy. Some project managers are so busy, they choose the first name in the rolodex. Others think of a reliable translator, or one whose experience seems a match. The outsourcer may choose poorly or wisely, but that is a project manager's role, and most are quite good at finding the right translator.
I trust other translators to work hard and quote as low as feasible within their time and budget contraints. In general, I've found my colleagues to be hard-working, committed professionals. Frequently there is stiff competition, but ultimately an outsourcer must choose which translator fits the time and quality requirements of the project. Outsourcers that are in the business long-term will ultimately find the translators that fit their company needs.
I trust myself to produce quality work that stands comparison and competition. For me, that's the only trust that matters. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Nesrin
Egyesült Királyság
Local time: 08:40
angol - arab
+ ...
| Agree with Cecilia | Oct 20, 2008 |
Cecilia Falk wrote:
If someone wants to "steal" my clients, please feel free. If my clients are happy with me they will stick with me. If not, then fine that they find someone else that they are happier with. It doesn't worry or bother me.
Exactly, Cecilia, I agree with every word.
Also, don't we (many of us at least) already share the names of our clients - the good and the bad - when we post on the BlueBoard?
I don't see the sense of hiding our client's name away like some precious secret treasure. It's like me never introducing my husband to my friends for fear they may "steal" him. If he's happy with me, he should stick with me regardless. If he isn't, he's going to find someone else anyway - and the world doesn't stop at my friends!!
| | | |
Depends on the outsourcer and on the translator!
| | |
|
|
|
Theo Bernards (X)
Franciaország
Local time: 09:40
angol - holland
+ ...
As a rule I think that, when in business, do as businesses do. I don't see an airline giving the contact details of their advertising agency to another airline, so why should I trust my direct and indirect competition with my sources, outsourcers or clients? I understand the input of yes-voters in this poll, and they are each and everyone so far valid arguments. I too have occasionally referred a new or existing client to another translator, for a number of reasons (overloaded with work or my s... See more As a rule I think that, when in business, do as businesses do. I don't see an airline giving the contact details of their advertising agency to another airline, so why should I trust my direct and indirect competition with my sources, outsourcers or clients? I understand the input of yes-voters in this poll, and they are each and everyone so far valid arguments. I too have occasionally referred a new or existing client to another translator, for a number of reasons (overloaded with work or my specialisations do not match what the client needs), but there is a difference between wanting to help a client the best way I can and colleague translators asking for my outsourcers. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Agree - the issue is not ethics but quality | Oct 20, 2008 |
Nesrin wrote: Cecilia Falk wrote:
If someone wants to "steal" my clients, please feel free. If my clients are happy with me they will stick with me. If not, then fine that they find someone else that they are happier with. It doesn't worry or bother me.
Exactly, Cecilia, I agree with every word. Also, don't we (many of us at least) already share the names of our clients - the good and the bad - when we post on the BlueBoard? I don't see the sense of hiding our client's name away like some precious secret treasure. It's like me never introducing my husband to my friends for fear they may "steal" him. If he's happy with me, he should stick with me regardless. If he isn't, he's going to find someone else anyway - and the world doesn't stop at my friends!!
When I choose to work with an outsourcer, I am more concerned with the quality of work than with the chance that he/she will try to steal the customer from me. My outsourcers and I have an agreement to complement each other.
But even if an outsourcer wants to steal a customer, he/she will not gain much in terms of profit since my fees are very competitive . In the end, the customer is the one who will get the best deal out of it.
However, being a strong believer of work ethics, be assured that I will not send any more work in the way of that outsourcer.
| | | | | If one trusts oneself, there's nothing to fear | Oct 20, 2008 |
D BANNON wrote:
I trust myself to produce quality work that stands comparison and competition. For me, that's the only trust that matters.
I completely agree with this statement.
| | | | | It's not a matter of trusting "other translators" | Oct 20, 2008 |
I understand other translators as unknown people who say they translate. They'll inevitably discover some of my outsourcers - if they want to - from my BlueBoard entries. The known other translators are treated first as colleagues, and most often as friends.
Due to a matter of professional pride, I consider myself the best in my #1 specialty. No, I'm not blind. I'll immediately admit to being the second best, if compared to my best and longest-standing client. I... See more I understand other translators as unknown people who say they translate. They'll inevitably discover some of my outsourcers - if they want to - from my BlueBoard entries. The known other translators are treated first as colleagues, and most often as friends.
Due to a matter of professional pride, I consider myself the best in my #1 specialty. No, I'm not blind. I'll immediately admit to being the second best, if compared to my best and longest-standing client. I learned a lot from studying his early work and m.o., which he hasn't been doing for more than two decades, as he's got to manage the company he built from scratch with that.
So I don't recommend any friend/colleague to clients in my #1 specialty. As a matter of fact, I did. For some 14 years in a row, as another business front required me to spend some 3 weeks every year away in the USA, I almost always left a colleague to replace me. Once I didn't, this client tried a couple of newbies, and on my return I had my hands full of rework to do.
On the other extreme there are my non-specialties: subjects that I won't translate even at gunpoint, so to speak. I have a list of selected friends/colleagues specialized in these areas, that I refer immediately to anyone who asks me to do this kind of work.
In the middle, it's all in the game. Sometimes I share with colleagues; sometimes they share with me, if it's too much for one to handle the whole job alone in the time given. Otherwise, it's the client's choice.
However I don't trust outsourcers/agencies with my direct clients' contact info, often named "references". I don't do it, not because of fear that I might lose these clients to them, but because they'll be pestered for life with spam from such outsourcers, saying Whatever this jerk does for you, we can do it faster, better, and cheaper! ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
For me, it depends on how well I know the translators and the outsourcers. It also depends on the reasons why the information should be shared !
| | | | | | Steven Capsuto
Egyesült Államok
Local time: 03:40
Tag (2004 óta)
spanyol - angol
+ ...
| Trust isn't the issue | Oct 21, 2008 |
The word "trust" turns this into a loaded question. The translators I work with are certainly trustworthy or I wouldn't work with them.
But certain things aren't any of their business (my client list, my bank statements, etc.)
| | | | | A témához tartozó oldalak: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: In general do you trust other translators enough to share names of your outsourcers? | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
| | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
