| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Ask for commitment when taking a translation test? Thread poster: Juan Pablo Sans
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Hello,
Many times has it happened to me and so I would like to know your experience about it. I have been asked to take a translation test and:
1) I never get an answer
or
2) The most frustrating: they say it was great but they have chosen another translator.
My question would be, what I can I demand to the translation agencies? Do you ask for a commitment to give you the feedback or to assign you the project immediatedly after gr... See more Hello,
Many times has it happened to me and so I would like to know your experience about it. I have been asked to take a translation test and:
1) I never get an answer
or
2) The most frustrating: they say it was great but they have chosen another translator.
My question would be, what I can I demand to the translation agencies? Do you ask for a commitment to give you the feedback or to assign you the project immediatedly after grading the sample? I mean, otherwise, all your efforts would be useless because they can simply choose a lower rate saying "your work was the best, but we chose the second best translator" and sell the costumer your sample in order to obtain the job just because someone is charging peanuts.
What do you say?
Regards ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Ethical procedures | Apr 2, 2012 |
I think any one appreciating the work of others as well as one's one would have the ethical codes in the mind not to let the one trying without proper response.
| | | | Christophe Lefrancois (X) 
Local time: 20:10
French
+ ...
Hi,
Do not take any translation tests or at least paid translation tests. There even have been cases of agencies using free translations tests given to several translators in order to complete a whole project.
| | | | Juan Pablo Sans
Mexico
Local time: 14:10
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER
Yes, I have heard it, but what can I do if the agency needs a proof of my work (obviously, I mean, I would not hand out any project to a person I do not know). I would like to know if you would ask the agency a commitment to assign you the project immediatedly aftewards. What else would you do?
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Andy Lemminger
Canada
Local time: 12:10
Member (2002)
English to German
| No free tests | Apr 2, 2012 |
That's the only solution.
There are tons of alternatives to free tests but as long as we still agree to them, we will have to spend our time for doing unpaid free work.
Best regards
Andy
www.interlations.com
| | | | | Free tests should be banned! | Apr 2, 2012 |
My opinion is that all unpaid "tests" offered to freelancers should be banned once and for all as an illegal and highly abusive practice. Let's press our national and international professional associations, including ProZ.com, for this goal.
[Edited at 2012-04-02 18:08 GMT]
| | | | Vladimír Hoffman
Slovakia
Local time: 20:10
Member (2009)
English to Slovak
+ ...
| I strongly disagree. | Apr 2, 2012 |
Sample tests are standard method of testing translator's skills and I acquired several good clients owing to successful sample tests. Moreover, I have never believed in the myth about agencies selling sample texts. Taking into account the costs of necessary proofreading and fact that the sample texts rarely exceeed 500 words (not talking about time needed for administration), than an agency could hardly make any profit from selling such texts.
Do not never make a sample trans... See more Sample tests are standard method of testing translator's skills and I acquired several good clients owing to successful sample tests. Moreover, I have never believed in the myth about agencies selling sample texts. Taking into account the costs of necessary proofreading and fact that the sample texts rarely exceeed 500 words (not talking about time needed for administration), than an agency could hardly make any profit from selling such texts.
Do not never make a sample translation before agreement on prices.
Christophe Lefrancois wrote:
Hi,
Do not take any translation tests or at least paid translation tests. There even have been cases of agencies using free translations tests given to several translators in order to complete a whole project.
[Edited at 2012-04-02 19:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Peter Linton (X)
Local time: 19:10
Swedish to English
+ ...
| Look at it from the agency?s point of view | Apr 2, 2012 |
juanpablosans wrote:
1) I never get an answer
The purpose of the test is to enable the agency to assess your work. Why should they spend time discussing it with you?
2) The most frustrating: they say it was great but they have chosen another translator.
Frustrating, but that is their decision. Again, why should they spend time explaining their decision to you?
...what I can I demand to the translation agencies?
Absolutely nothing. You can ask for feedback, but why should they spend time on you?
Many other professions have tests like this – singers and musicians are asked to attend an audition, writers and photographers are asked to provide samples of their work. Translators are asked to provide test translations.
You are trying to sell your services in a competitive market. In a sales situation, you do what you are asked to do. Have you ever been in a sales situation? You do not impose demands. Ignore all the advice here about not doing free tests. Do whatever you need to get the business. It's all about survival of the smartest.
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Juan Pablo Sans
Mexico
Local time: 14:10
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER | About translation tests | Apr 2, 2012 |
OK, but again- it is my time and my effort we are talking about. So many times I have been trashed away to the agency's "database" (never call me back) although I do good translation tests. I mean, should not we protect ourselves against falling into oblivion and working for nothing?
| | | | | | Vladimír Hoffman
Slovakia
Local time: 20:10
Member (2009)
English to Slovak
+ ...
| I do not want | Apr 2, 2012 |
to cast any doubts about your skills and capabilities, but I need to ask you something. Have you had any of your sample texts proofread by someone independent? You wrote that you had made good translation tests. Did you also done perfect, excellent or high-ranking translation tests?
Of course, there are unscrupulous agencies, which let translators to make translation tests and then choose the cheapest translator in each category. I have also burnt myself several times. Therefore, i... See more to cast any doubts about your skills and capabilities, but I need to ask you something. Have you had any of your sample texts proofread by someone independent? You wrote that you had made good translation tests. Did you also done perfect, excellent or high-ranking translation tests?
Of course, there are unscrupulous agencies, which let translators to make translation tests and then choose the cheapest translator in each category. I have also burnt myself several times. Therefore, it is necessary to agree on price for your services in advance. If an agency is not willing to discuss about rates, then run away. But believe that there are agencies, which are really seeking for new, good translators for specific projects, and you have a chance to how that YOU are the most suitable person.
There are some indicators:
1. If you are contacted directly, there is big chance that the agency needs your specialization/languge combination.
2. If the agency is advertising for 40 some languages and posts the advertisement regularly, there is big chance that it is only for filling a database (recently, I was hardly disappointed when I found that an agency with which I exchanged about 10 e-mails, signed contracts, made references, discussed conditions etc., simply spent few hours of my time, makes such advertising on almost monthly basis)
3. If the agency do not want to discuss prices and conditions in advance, there is no reason to make sample test.
But, in general, sample tests are excellent markeing tool and definitely worth of the time spent.
juanpablosans wrote:
OK, but again- it is my time and my effort we are talking about. So many times I have been trashed away to the agency's "database" (never call me back) although I do good translation tests. I mean, should not we protect ourselves against falling into oblivion and working for nothing? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 20:10
French to English
| just don't do it for free | Apr 2, 2012 |
When I worked as Project Manager, I sent out tests occasionally. For example a trusted translator was about to have a baby, so I tested a few others to find one who could replace her until she reported back. I certainly didn't have a budget for that, but I only tested a couple of people I found on ITI and gave them both work, although obviously I gave more to the better one.
Other times I had to outsource tests in technical fields that I couldn't do myself. I asked our best technic... See more When I worked as Project Manager, I sent out tests occasionally. For example a trusted translator was about to have a baby, so I tested a few others to find one who could replace her until she reported back. I certainly didn't have a budget for that, but I only tested a couple of people I found on ITI and gave them both work, although obviously I gave more to the better one.
Other times I had to outsource tests in technical fields that I couldn't do myself. I asked our best technical translator, who said sure, it would be 50€.
His reasoning was that failure to get the project we were bidding for would not be due to a bad quality test. Well of course he was right, he was our best translator and we were a top-rate agency, and I really admired him for sticking up for himself.
My boss freaked out but I said nobody else in our database could do a test that I could be fully confident of (since I barely understood it myself, I couldn't improve on a badly done test even with extensive proofreading). So the boss got back to the client, discussed rates and once he saw that they really were concerned with quality more than anything, he decided to fork out for the test.
And the translator was quite right, when we didn't win the project it would be because of our price or the fact that we didn't have a branch in Hong Kong or whatever other criterion clients could dream up apart from quality. ▲ Collapse
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Marek Buchtel
Czech Republic
Local time: 20:10
Member (2005)
English to Czech
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SITE LOCALIZER | Advertisement | Apr 2, 2012 |
Hello,
I take free tests as a kind of advertisement.
As a rule, they should not exceed 300 words, and the fee you would get for that is usually not so high that you couldn't regard is as "promotion costs", where the result is not sure as well.
A common advice you get in this forum is "Don't do free tests". That's perfectly fine, if you have already secured a steady inflow of translation jobs, and you're only looking to improve your position (do the same amount of work for more ... See more Hello,
I take free tests as a kind of advertisement.
As a rule, they should not exceed 300 words, and the fee you would get for that is usually not so high that you couldn't regard is as "promotion costs", where the result is not sure as well.
A common advice you get in this forum is "Don't do free tests". That's perfectly fine, if you have already secured a steady inflow of translation jobs, and you're only looking to improve your position (do the same amount of work for more money).
Even then, however, you can benefit from free translation tests.
I always check the agency background first (Blue Board, their website, the Internet). You learn a lot at this stage.
Then I make sure they're ready to accept my rates (better ask twice than be disappointed later).
I do the test, when I have enough time to spare - free translation can't have tight deadlines.
Even with all these precautions, I'm disappointed in the end sometimes ("Your results are great, Can you lower your rate to 50 %" - "Of course not! Didn't I ask you twice...?")
However, if you do a great test translation, you have a good a chance to succeed, if you proceed wisely.
Regards,
Marek ▲ Collapse
| | | | Vladimír Hoffman
Slovakia
Local time: 20:10
Member (2009)
English to Slovak
+ ...
| It seems to me something totally different. | Apr 3, 2012 |
You asked your existing supplier (the "our best technical translator") to help you in your marketing efforts by making free sample. And he, logically, refused. I would have refused too. It is the agency's business to acquire new clients and a translator, who already works for the agency, has no reason to help it in the business for free.
We are discussing the first case you have mentioned - when your trusted translator had to interrupt collaboration due to baby and you had to tempo... See more You asked your existing supplier (the "our best technical translator") to help you in your marketing efforts by making free sample. And he, logically, refused. I would have refused too. It is the agency's business to acquire new clients and a translator, who already works for the agency, has no reason to help it in the business for free.
We are discussing the first case you have mentioned - when your trusted translator had to interrupt collaboration due to baby and you had to temporarily replace her. Did you pay to prospective collaborators (even to failed ones) for translation tests also in given case?
What is interesting is that also an agency needs to submit some samples (free, I suppose) to its clients.
Texte Style wrote:
Other times I had to outsource tests in technical fields that I couldn't do myself. I asked our best technical translator, who said sure, it would be 50€.
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| | | | Owen Yang
China
Local time: 03:10
Chinese
+ ...
| Proz should consider this | Apr 3, 2012 |
Free-test shall be completely restricted in PROZ. Any agencies requiring free-test must be punished by PROZ, such as forbidden to publish a job in a certain time, etc.
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