Daniel Frisano wrote:
I don’t know about you, but personally, I’ve had it with clients forcing me to use certain tools or doing things their way, and it’s happening more and more. I wish there were more of us adhering to professional principles, such as:
1. No requiring any specific CAT tools. I’ll use whatever tool I deem appropriate. Try telling your dentist or plumber to use a certain tool, and see what they’ll answer.
2. No working on the cloud, remote servers, etc. Once I had a client complaining that I hadn’t started yet with a 4000-word project with the deadline 3 days away. Dear client, if I do it in a week or an afternoon, this is none of your business. All that matters is that the final product is flawless.
3. No using clients’ platforms for job management or accounting. I have my system, I’ll send my invoices at the end of the month. Imagine having 20 clients with 20 different platforms to logon to. Would your life be easier?
4. No signing 12-page Terms and Conditions, NDAs, etc. Why must I accept terms and conditions when I am the user of something and also when I am a provider?
5. No tests. Do you require that your accountant or your gardener pass a “test” before you hire them?
6. Enough with calling ourselves “freelancers”. Is a lawyer a freelancer?
7. Enough with first-name basis right from the start. It’s Mr. (or Ms., or Mrs.), if you don’t mind.
In the past, yes, I have accepted to use a specific tool, yes, I have worked on Memsource and such, yes, I have used client-side invoicing platforms, yes, I have signed NDAs without even looking, yes (sigh), I have done a few tests, et cetera.
But you know what? Of all my good, long-standing clients, none has ever forced me or even suggested that I do any of the aforementioned.
Conclusion: if we are not treated as professionals, we have none but ourselves to blame. Time to re-focus.
These are my 7 guidelines. Feel free to add yours.
(Proviso: this has nothing to do with rates. To all the usual whiners, you’ll have plenty of future chances to let us know how underpaid you think you are).
[Edited at 2017-12-26 22:20 GMT]
I thought the internet would gradually kill them off but they have got stronger.
Many are probably zombie companies kept alive by low interest rates. I know of a couple of big names who are struggling behind the scenes.
2) Anyway, I tell them I work the way I want to work since I am a freelancer. If they want me to work a certain way they can hire me or words to that effect.
4) I understand NDAs though TandCs are all asymmetric and anyway not enforceable so why not sign and be damned. Of course objectively it is nonsense but have you ever tried to get anywhere in this field with a lawyer?
1) I use a few tools and try to stay flexible. Again understand it if there are memories. Shame the industry hasnt come up with a properly enforced standard and still fragmented despite diminishing returns
I thought by new paradigm you would mean
* instant payments (after quality review)
* cryptocurrency payments also accepted
* rate based on location of translator not company!!!
* standard word output minimums