| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Which one of the following would most lead you to believe that a translator is qualified? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| Applications are mind boggling nevermind the credentials | Jan 16, 2020 |
ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which one of the following would most lead you to believe that a translator is qualified?". View the poll results »
Ive just spent a week plowing through applications to a job posting relayed for a client who has a project in a language pair that I do not work in. I cannot believe the things people wrote in or did in their applications:
First observation: my surname spelt wrong - my first doubt: attention to detail ?
Other observations:
the REQUESTED necessary obligatory experience isn't there but they apply anyway;
the REQUESTED obligatory attachments to to application in order to be considered aren't there;
the REQUESTED obligatory other information has also just been ignored;
they ask you to download the above info from a website;
they send you links to online PDFs or jpgs and nothing else;
the REQUESTED above attachments/information are provided but are highly irrelevant;
they can't meet the work deadline or don't like the deadline and ask you to change it for them;
your budget doesn't agree with them and they ask you to change it for them;
their "brief" CV isn't relevant or is 20 pages long and they can't be bothered making it brief and/or relevant;
their CV is mostly irrelevant but has been obviously altered in small parts to make it seem relevant, ie specialise in creative writing, but oops look have experience in industrial robot manuals - cant provide requested samples;
they don't like the project plan and ask you to change it, tell you how it would better suit them, abd could you please write back;
... and these ...
they can't understand the source language of the project and ask repeatedly for the job posting in another language;
they can't understand the source language of the project and send you some wildly nonsensical irrelevant application anyway full of "happy to meet you" enthused collaborative banter and instructions for the upfront deposit.
Many of these people list multiple Translation courses in their CV and credentials.
I have to wonder who I am competing with when I send an application.
Usually I spend some time writing a cover letter adressing job posting details, editing my CV to 2 relevant pages, and providing the appropriate information/attachments.
If I don't have the experience I dont apply.
If I don't work in that area I dont apply.
If I can't meet the deadline I dont apply.
If I don't like the rates I dont apply.
If I don't like the project I don't apply.
If I can't understand the job language pairs I DONT APPLY.
So I'd say, experience, able to prove competence/experience, attention to detail, honesty and common business sense.
[Edited at 2020-01-16 15:36 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-01-16 15:38 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-01-16 15:43 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-01-16 15:45 GMT]
| | | | Lincoln Hui 
Hong Kong
Local time: 04:55
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
And that would have been the answer regardless, but either the options were intentionally designed to steer answers towards a certain direction, or this is exhibit A in inept question design. TWO satisfied clients? THREE years of experience? Why be so specific, yet set it at numbers that wouldn't impress any layman? And why so vague with the university degree option?
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 17:55
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
A translation test is not the best way, it's the only way. In my experience, all other suggestions have led me to hire very bad translators.
Indeed most agencies and clients use a translation test as their criteria. Only ISO 9000 agencies/companies require credentials/certifications/diplomas in the área and the like, and they end up engaging bad professionals regularly for that reason. Any experienced agency/PM who has hired translators based on credentials in the past, for a while, have ... See more A translation test is not the best way, it's the only way. In my experience, all other suggestions have led me to hire very bad translators.
Indeed most agencies and clients use a translation test as their criteria. Only ISO 9000 agencies/companies require credentials/certifications/diplomas in the área and the like, and they end up engaging bad professionals regularly for that reason. Any experienced agency/PM who has hired translators based on credentials in the past, for a while, have surely already changed their criteria to a test.
[Edited at 2020-01-17 03:23 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 15:55
English to Russian
+ ...
| Kudoz to Mario | Jan 17, 2020 |
Mario Freitas wrote:
A translation test is not the best way, it's the only way. In my experience, all other suggestions have led me to hire very bad translators.
Indeed most agencies and clients use a translation test as their criteria. Only ISO 9000 agencies/companies require credentials/certifications/diplomas in the área and the like, and they end up engaging bad professionals regularly for that reason. Any experienced agency/PM who has hired translators based on credentials in the past, for a while, have surely already changed their criteria to a test.
[Edited at 2020-01-17 03:23 GMT]
Couldn't agree more. Back in times when Russian market in Houston was so crazy that we had to hide under the beds and turn off the lights and all means of communication to scavenge a day off once a month or so:-), corporations and agencies would hire anyone who could say "hello" in Russian. As the years went by, natural selection took its course yet still, all those "translators" have more than impressive clients, projects, diplomas etc etc on their resumes.
I'm afraid that every time anyone revolts against the tests, free or paid, a rejection is based on a sweeping generalization. Who could argue that faceless, mass mail, "potential project" test offers are ridiculous? "Who wants to know?" is the first question one must ask himself each and every time before doing any tests. There were multi-million projects already in the hands of known clients behind every free test I took over my career. About half a dozen total in 30 years.
The second indicator on my list would be "a recommendation from a trusted colleague". I have a few deeply respected and admired colleagues, whose word I'll trust without blinking. I honestly think that after following several Prozians over the years, I would trust their word too without even working with them for 1 day.
Edited for typos
[Edited at 2020-01-17 13:55 GMT]
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DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Usually (1) recent feedbacks/references from trusted parties would do.
Yet most businesspersons prefer (2) a relevant portfolio and (3) a short interview in a field.
Sometimes (4) a short paid test is ok too.
I don't understand neither translators who accept jobs without checking at least a few passages or negotiating favorable terms, nor clients who insist a "professional" translator should never ask any questions at all doing 1500+ words/hour for $0.02/w with ... See more Usually (1) recent feedbacks/references from trusted parties would do.
Yet most businesspersons prefer (2) a relevant portfolio and (3) a short interview in a field.
Sometimes (4) a short paid test is ok too.
I don't understand neither translators who accept jobs without checking at least a few passages or negotiating favorable terms, nor clients who insist a "professional" translator should never ask any questions at all doing 1500+ words/hour for $0.02/w with freebies and "discounts" in mind. ▲ Collapse
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