Volunteering vs being paid for your work Thread poster: Veronica Lupascu
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Hi All,
I just came across an interesting issue. I have an article about volunteering on my blog and was contacted today for some volunteering work.
The person that contacted me represents a mediation office based in Romania. Judging by the data entered on their website, they are serious and professional. My question is whether to accept such kind of cooperation or not. I don´t mind doing volunteering work, but I am not sure if this is about volunteering or more about... See more Hi All,
I just came across an interesting issue. I have an article about volunteering on my blog and was contacted today for some volunteering work.
The person that contacted me represents a mediation office based in Romania. Judging by the data entered on their website, they are serious and professional. My question is whether to accept such kind of cooperation or not. I don´t mind doing volunteering work, but I am not sure if this is about volunteering or more about providing free services. The company doesn´t seem to support any causes or so, so it looks like they simply want to find somebody to translate their texts for free.
How do you know when to accept doing volunteer translations? I would like to answer that person back and to explain her somehow that there is a difference between volunteering and not being paid for your work. However, I don´t want to be rude and most of all I don´t want to scare a potential direct client.
What would you do in such a case?
Thank you for your input!
Veronica Lupascu
[Edited at 2011-06-04 21:23 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Are they doing pro bono work? | Jun 4, 2011 |
I think the criterion is fairly simple. Some law firms do a certain percentage of their work on a pro bono basis. Thus, if your translations will benefit one of these non-profit projects, this is clearly volunteering. Conversely, "free internship" and similar arrangements are not. Just tell them openly from the very beginning what you are willing to support and what you aren't, then the ball will be in their court.
| | | | | Only do it if your heart is in it | Jun 5, 2011 |
Personally I am always prepared to take on voluntary work on three grounds:
a. That I have the time to spare
b. - That it is for something I care about - I have done work for researchers who I knew had limited funding on things that I happened to be interested in, I regularly work on a volontary basis for Charities
c. If it is the sort of work that is going to be of potential use to me in future - ie diversifying my portfolio, giving me access to a company or a client I would... See more Personally I am always prepared to take on voluntary work on three grounds:
a. That I have the time to spare
b. - That it is for something I care about - I have done work for researchers who I knew had limited funding on things that I happened to be interested in, I regularly work on a volontary basis for Charities
c. If it is the sort of work that is going to be of potential use to me in future - ie diversifying my portfolio, giving me access to a company or a client I would like to further engage with...
Thinking about it, this usually comes about because I have contacted a particular charity or person. Not quite sure how I would respond if someone actually approached me... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Camelia Colnic 
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:47
Romanian to English
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| Whatever improves my skills | Jun 5, 2011 |
If you do have time and you think that this will improve your skills, then you could translate it. For some, this idea is better than finding documents by themselves to translate.
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Veronica Lupascu
Netherlands
Local time: 12:47
Dutch to Romanian
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TOPIC STARTER | Thank you all for your responses | Jun 5, 2011 |
@Anton
I will follow your advice, defining from the very beginning the work I can do pro bono. It is actually good for myself too, because I never really defined the term volunteering in my head, especially not related to translation work.
@Marion
Very good points. I totally agree with you. As I already mentioned, I don't have anything against doing pro bono work, I just don't want somebody to use my skills when they clearly have the possibility to pay me for my service... See more @Anton
I will follow your advice, defining from the very beginning the work I can do pro bono. It is actually good for myself too, because I never really defined the term volunteering in my head, especially not related to translation work.
@Marion
Very good points. I totally agree with you. As I already mentioned, I don't have anything against doing pro bono work, I just don't want somebody to use my skills when they clearly have the possibility to pay me for my services. So I will let them know what kind of work I can do pro bono and that's all.
@Camelia
Yes, volunteering can be a great way to improve your skills, to expand your services, to market yourself, etc. But there should always be a limit and all translators should probably have some criteria to define their own "volunteering limit", like Marion. So now I am working on my criteria
Thank you all!
Veronica ▲ Collapse
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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Hi Veronica)
I've seen this... And it was rather frustrating for me.
At first. I was a volunteer to translate non-profit sites and it was a flying start for me: so many interesting people and so much info. Later it turned out to be that they actually implemented a kind of 'ghosting' - they also took commercial orders and asked me to translate for free... The problem is they forgot that one who is good at dealing with the info will surely find it out sooner or later.
... See more Hi Veronica)
I've seen this... And it was rather frustrating for me.
At first. I was a volunteer to translate non-profit sites and it was a flying start for me: so many interesting people and so much info. Later it turned out to be that they actually implemented a kind of 'ghosting' - they also took commercial orders and asked me to translate for free... The problem is they forgot that one who is good at dealing with the info will surely find it out sooner or later.
The second blackout was when a person asked me to translate short medical extracts for our regional hospital. I considered it as a non-commercial deal and agreed to translate free of charge and provided some data-mining for them too, but very soon I got almost 10 full pages of 'free translation' followed by persistent 'very-very' polite requests. I thought it was a bad time for them and had to work rather hard almost a week, but it was my bad time - it appeared that it was very my bad time!
Blast it! Now I translate for free only for my people or very rarely when I feel sad.
All other have to pay at least some %% or a nominal price. Unfortunately many people don't value such help if it costs nothing for them... Then why should I?!
It's a pity if I did make you think twice, but it was a real flop to be a fair volunteer, so I hope it might save the day.
Stay sensible ▲ Collapse
| | | | Veronica Lupascu
Netherlands
Local time: 12:47
Dutch to Romanian
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TOPIC STARTER | what happened in the meantime | Jun 11, 2011 |
Thank you DZiW for your input.
I just want to share that I sent an answer to that person, clearly stating that I do volunteer translations for non-profit organizations, for projects supporting a cause or a charity and for scientific researches, that are not sponsored or financed in any way.
I did not receive any answer back! So I am now planning to add this information on my website, so that people know from the very beginning that pro-bono work has its limits.
... See more Thank you DZiW for your input.
I just want to share that I sent an answer to that person, clearly stating that I do volunteer translations for non-profit organizations, for projects supporting a cause or a charity and for scientific researches, that are not sponsored or financed in any way.
I did not receive any answer back! So I am now planning to add this information on my website, so that people know from the very beginning that pro-bono work has its limits.
Nice weekend to everybody!
Veronica ▲ Collapse
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