| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Have you ever considered a career change after working as a freelancer for some time? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Jack Doughty wrote:
I am not too young to remember the rest of the words. It's just as well you didn't quote them here!
| | | | Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 11:57
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Michael Harris wrote:
although, I have considered being a lotto millionaire;-)
That definately is an option, Michael, that I'm keeping an eye on myself.
I'll probably always be a freelance translator, so dropping this career is totally out of the question. However, things might shift when my other profession picks up. Then writing will take more of my time than translating, but... I'll always have the opportunity to translate my own books & screenplays.
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Not really considered, but I was forced to by visa requirements (either full employment or leave the country).
It's a relief to return to freelancing
Anni
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:57
Hebrew to English
| I consider it.... | Aug 12, 2013 |
....after going on the forums sometimes.
But otherwise, no.
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Sure.
But the bar is very, very high.
| | | | Helen Hagon
Local time: 10:57
Member (2011)
Russian to English
+ ...
After three years of freelancing, I am really enjoying the freedom and flexibility, so I think it would be very difficult to go back to working regular hours as an employee. I would have to be desperate, or given an amazing offer I couldn't refuse...
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Every time I see an airplane I feel that little spark that wants to be a pilot, but I'm happy where I am. We are still adding new services to our line-up, but everything is related to our translation work.
I had to google that song...
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...only about another freelancing career. I will not get back being employed.
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After 19 years of full-time freelance technical translation, I have to say: I am looking forward to the next 19 years
The only thing that would take me away from translation would be winning the lottery!
I enjoy constantly learning new topics, being at the cutting edge of technology at times and mining the Internet for terminology.
And I love being able to work at any time of day or night, no-one cares as long ... See more After 19 years of full-time freelance technical translation, I have to say: I am looking forward to the next 19 years
The only thing that would take me away from translation would be winning the lottery!
I enjoy constantly learning new topics, being at the cutting edge of technology at times and mining the Internet for terminology.
And I love being able to work at any time of day or night, no-one cares as long as I meet my deadlines. Having this freedom allows me to spend quality time with my family and pets.
So I cannot really imagine another job where the satisfaction is so high. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 05:57
Member (2009)
French to English
| How do you keep them down on the farm.... | Aug 12, 2013 |
Steven Sidore wrote:
Sure.
But the bar is very, very high.
I agree, Steve. Sometimes when business is slow, I consider other professions, but it would take a lot to beat the independence, flexibility, and creativity required to be a freelance translator.
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Vibeke Degn-P wrote:
The translation part of it could change, but I'll be a freelancer/independent worker for ever.
Vibeke
Similar, but I could actually take normal salaried work in an in-house position or managerial position somewhere. I just sure as heck am not gonna work under any dude with an ego that factors too much in the processes.
Since I can always make a living freelancing, I will probably have much more leverage and leeway when talking to headhunters and hiring managers, which means I might be able to insert my own language in the contract to protect me from some things, and even put my foot down about not reporting to their resident psycho.
My list grows longer by the minute, even though freelancing has enabled me to appreciate salaried work more. So:
– conscience clause,
– no psycho managers,
– any managers to act like gentlemen (or ladies) anyway,
– no ego-driven processes, I'm an INTJ and I want procedures to make sense,
– no significant assignments that don't make business sense (no matter if they make ego sense),
– I'm not gonna pervert any sort of document or otherwise twist the truth for anybody or anything like that, soever,
– I wanna have a right to challenge any sort of employee assessment opinion I disagree with,
– I'll try to solve matters informally (you don't even know...) but if I do file something formal, I want a real, substantive process, not a smoke-screen,
– no cotton-picking side-tracked careers, I want clarity on my perspectives,
– lie to me, and I'm out,
– and I'm not taking orders from junior professionals in the same job line, unless it's a purely organisational matter and the guy or gal's a manager more than a pro', then maybe.
See how my prospects of finding salaried employed grow by the minute?
| | | | Alexandranow
Romania
Local time: 12:57
Romanian to English
+ ...
ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever considered a career change after working as a freelancer for some time?". View the poll results »
I am thinking about that even now, because I have work (even tough texts) but with the money I get I cannot have a decent live, and because I feel my work is not recognized ( I mean even if I translate texts, books my name does not appear as a translator........- of course there are clients- client who like to work with me, but not even willing to give here a feedback, wwa...maybe they fear so I might find a better paying client.
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inkweaver
Germany
Local time: 11:57
French to German
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I would have said "no" a year ago, but I have now come to the conclusion that the German system is simply unfavourable for freelancers, at least for translators etc. (doctors, lawyers etc. are a completely different story).
Plus the added frustration of "proofreaders" who think they need to twist your well-worded sentences around, just to proof that they have done something and deserve their fee, just makes me think that freelancing isn't worth it in the long run.
I ne... See more I would have said "no" a year ago, but I have now come to the conclusion that the German system is simply unfavourable for freelancers, at least for translators etc. (doctors, lawyers etc. are a completely different story).
Plus the added frustration of "proofreaders" who think they need to twist your well-worded sentences around, just to proof that they have done something and deserve their fee, just makes me think that freelancing isn't worth it in the long run.
I never thought I would ever want to be an employee again, but right now I am in a frame of mind where I would not refuse a good offer. But then again, at the age of 45 I am definitely too old for the German job market (although we are supposed to work until the age of 67 and will probably be supposed to work indefinitely by the time I reach that age...) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mami Yamaguchi
Japan
Local time: 18:57
Member (2008)
English to Japanese
+ ...
inkweaver wrote:
I would have said "no" a year ago, but I have now come to the conclusion that the German system is simply unfavourable for freelancers, at least for translators etc. (doctors, lawyers etc. are a completely different story).
Plus the added frustration of "proofreaders" who think they need to twist your well-worded sentences around, just to proof that they have done something and deserve their fee, just makes me think that freelancing isn't worth it in the long run.
I never thought I would ever want to be an employee again, but right now I am in a frame of mind where I would not refuse a good offer. But then again, at the age of 45 I am definitely too old for the German job market (although we are supposed to work until the age of 67 and will probably be supposed to work indefinitely by the time I reach that age...)
When I just started this career, I was convinced that it is my vocation. And I still love this work itself.
However recently I noticed that several brilliant translators left this industory. I know they have talent and ability to try a new thing or quit for another job. It is not only in German but in Japan, freelancing (not company) is low-status. But Ithink acquisition of qualification such as national vocational qualification would alter one's situation. There are many bilinguals, trilinguals or more here and there. And 'sangyo'-translators who handle translation of industrial fields requires some expertise. it would be differenciated from non-qualification.
To get a quarification means to have strong expertise. Maybe, I would continue to work as a translator. All the more reason, I wanted to get some new qualifications. Now I could find what I really want to do like them. To get it or not to get it, that is the point.
[Edited at 2013-08-25 06:14 GMT]
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