| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How would you like to be paid for review or proofreading jobs? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How would you like to be paid for review or proofreading jobs?".
This poll was originally submitted by AlbaLTD. View the poll results »
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X) 
United States
Local time: 11:28
Spanish to English
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| I don't do them anymore... | Feb 22, 2017 |
...but if I did, I would want to be paid by the hour, time actually spend and reported by me.
| | | | Thomas Pfann
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:28
Member (2006)
English to German
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| No preference | Feb 22, 2017 |
The only preference I have is to settle the total cost in advance rather than afterwards.
But it terms of rate per words or per hour I have no preference - ideally the result will be the same anyway. What counts is the time I spend on the job and the amount I get in the end.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 20:28
French to English
Not per word because you don't know the extent of the damage until you're at least a page in.
If I were to quote per word it would be more than for translation, because you have to first assess whether the translation is good or not, and if not come up with something better. That takes more time than simply translating.
I'm not having time tracking software on my computer. Because the time spent is not just literal but subjective. If it takes me half an hour but gives... See more Not per word because you don't know the extent of the damage until you're at least a page in.
If I were to quote per word it would be more than for translation, because you have to first assess whether the translation is good or not, and if not come up with something better. That takes more time than simply translating.
I'm not having time tracking software on my computer. Because the time spent is not just literal but subjective. If it takes me half an hour but gives me a headache for the rest of the day, so that I'm only half as productive, I think I'm entitled to bill more than half an hour.
Another instance: sometimes I might only do tangible work on a text for twenty minutes. By "tangible" I mean reading, researching terms, drafting a translation then honing it. At some point, mostly in between the draft and the polishing stage, I'll put it to one side and do other things. The time I spend doing other things, and the inclusion of a good night's sleep among those other things, somehow affects the quality of the polishing. So I'll suddenly hit on a perfect translation for a term I understood but was struggling to translate the day before. I don't know what happens in my brain while I'm asleep or having lunch or taking the dog out, but it's beneficial to the translation, so I feel entirely justified in rounding those twenty minutes up to an hour. ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:28
Spanish to English
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| Per hour based on declared time spent ... | Feb 22, 2017 |
But to operate this way the client needs to TRUST you, and to merit their trust, you must be scrupulously honest and not be tempted to "pad out" the calculation.
However, I also offer the option of a per-word rate. In fact, I've found that I tend to round the figures down in favour of the client when billing by the hour, so would actually earn more if I did it all on a per-word basis.
| | | | inkweaver
Germany
Local time: 20:28
French to German
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| I don't accept proofreading jobs any more | Feb 22, 2017 |
I did until a few years ago and used to charge a per-word rate.
| | | | | any way but the way most translation agencies pay | Feb 22, 2017 |
...primarily because the rates they offer are too low...
[Edited at 2017-02-22 11:15 GMT]
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I would like to be paid the time spent on the job. Anyway, I refuse nearly all editing/proofreading jobs, except for some rare regular clients.
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Like others, I don't want time-tracking spyware on my computer. It doesn't give a realistic picture of the time I actually spend on the job. I check texts on paper, look up terminology if I need to, and may get distracted... I take coffee breaks when necessary. All that is too complicated for a mere machine to register fairly!
So far this week I seem to have done nothing but proofread/edit, in spite of trying to give it up! I do still do it, however, for a few long-term clients. A c... See more Like others, I don't want time-tracking spyware on my computer. It doesn't give a realistic picture of the time I actually spend on the job. I check texts on paper, look up terminology if I need to, and may get distracted... I take coffee breaks when necessary. All that is too complicated for a mere machine to register fairly!
So far this week I seem to have done nothing but proofread/edit, in spite of trying to give it up! I do still do it, however, for a few long-term clients. A couple pay per-word rates which are OK for the quality of the translations they send. (One pays generously per word, but is somewhat stingy if I choose their hourly rate.) Generally, however, I ask to be paid by the hour. ▲ Collapse
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In diamonds or gold bullion in a Swiss bank account 
Seriously, though, only rarely will I accept review or proofreading jobs. I may do it for a long-standing customer as part of a larger project as a goodwill gesture (they know I hate it) but never on its own.
In fact, I have been asked to do exactly this a couple of times recently and the customers have offered a rate that works out to 2/3 of the translation... See more In diamonds or gold bullion in a Swiss bank account
Seriously, though, only rarely will I accept review or proofreading jobs. I may do it for a long-standing customer as part of a larger project as a goodwill gesture (they know I hate it) but never on its own.
In fact, I have been asked to do exactly this a couple of times recently and the customers have offered a rate that works out to 2/3 of the translation rate, which isn't bad. So saying, I generally end up reworking entire documents which takes almost as much time as if I had translated the stuff from scratch. So, I am basically loathe to take on such assignments. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Strictly by the hour | Feb 22, 2017 |
I charge by the hour for reviewing/editing/proofreading, strictly according to the time I actually spend on the work and have set my hourly rate fairly high. This means that most agencies don't appoint me for such jobs "because of their budget". That's OK with me because, like others here, I dislike the work anyway.
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 20:28
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
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SITE LOCALIZER | I do this in the client's (lawyer) office | Feb 22, 2017 |
so there is evidence the time is monitored/controlled (with discount for minimum 2 coffee+smoke-breaks
Otherwise, rather not.
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Ricki Farn
Germany
Local time: 20:28
English to German
I recommend an a actual proofreader, and I have no idea by what metrics she charges. We're still friends, so I think she has some means of turning the projects I push over to her with the tip of the proverbial barge pole, into an acceptable income. (She's probably some kind of wizard.)
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Surprised so many want to be paid by the word.
Not only are you asking to be shafted with some really shit texts, but you don't get paid to drink coffee, read the paper, clean the loo, practise your juggling and waste time on ProZ.
It's madness I tell you.
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I ask to see the translated text, and base my rate on how long I estimate it will take. I use a sliding scale, based on my translation rate, depending on how much work is needed, always erring on the side of generosity.
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