Difficulties of integration as Translator Thread poster: Djeudje Aude
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Djeudje Aude 
Cameroon
Local time: 19:45
German to French
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Hello dear colleagues
It is less that 4 months that i am full member and have read some advices on proz. I translate within this combination: French-German-English. I negotiate regularly with outsourcers, take tests, sign many NDA, however no real job since i started. A bit discouraging, not so? Please how can i afford or have a breakthrough... See more Hello dear colleagues
It is less that 4 months that i am full member and have read some advices on proz. I translate within this combination: French-German-English. I negotiate regularly with outsourcers, take tests, sign many NDA, however no real job since i started. A bit discouraging, not so? Please how can i afford or have a breakthrough on Proz.com?
My profile: http://www.proz.com/profile/3422179 ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Welcome Djeudje | Jun 19, 2022 |
Welcome to the site Djeudje. But how can clients or agencies contact you if they know nothing about you? Your About me part is completely empty. The About You is a very important section as that is how clients and agencies find you. Don't underestimate it. You need to fill it with valuable information about your translation career, your competences maybe, specialisations and what you can offer them. Otherwise, they cannot find you. Start with that, your study, any work you've done that may be pe... See more Welcome to the site Djeudje. But how can clients or agencies contact you if they know nothing about you? Your About me part is completely empty. The About You is a very important section as that is how clients and agencies find you. Don't underestimate it. You need to fill it with valuable information about your translation career, your competences maybe, specialisations and what you can offer them. Otherwise, they cannot find you. Start with that, your study, any work you've done that may be pertinent or even hobby and interests. Underneath there should also be a part which you fill in with words and these are important too as clients search by these words to find translators they want. ▲ Collapse
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Have you been answering Kudoz questions? I would recommend you do as this will help you go up the directory, build your research skills and demonstrate your competence to potential clients. I must say that since I joined Proz in 2006 I have been contacted directly by clients much more often than I have responded to jobs…
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 21:45
Member
English to Turkish
Teresa Borges wrote:
Have you been answering Kudoz questions? I would recommend you do as this will help you go up the directory
I wouldn't like to sound too discouraging, but is there any question that hasn't already been asked/answered in French? I asked a few questions in the monolingual (English) section, and it's kind of dog-eat-dog out there, with pals agreeing with pals' answers/suggestions.. I wouldn't expect French Kudoz to be any different.
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Laura Gentili
Italy
Local time: 19:45
Member (2003)
English to Italian
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| My suggestions | Jun 19, 2022 |
I think you indicate too many language pairs, potential clients might think it's unlikely you can translate to and from so many languages at a high level. You should focus on your strongest language pairs.
I had a look at your CV and you should polish it, correct the mistakes (like Curriculum Vitea instead of Curriculum Vitae) and make it more clear and translation-oriented (from your CV someone gets the impression you are a language teacher, not a translator).
May be adding come tra... See more I think you indicate too many language pairs, potential clients might think it's unlikely you can translate to and from so many languages at a high level. You should focus on your strongest language pairs.
I had a look at your CV and you should polish it, correct the mistakes (like Curriculum Vitea instead of Curriculum Vitae) and make it more clear and translation-oriented (from your CV someone gets the impression you are a language teacher, not a translator).
May be adding come translator certifications could also help you to stand out of the crowd.
Laura ▲ Collapse
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There are always questions that haven’t been asked and answered, otherwise Kudoz would have died long ago of a mysterious condition. My Kudoz experience is limited to Portuguese (from French, English, Spanish and Italian, my working languages). I have been a member since 2006 and over the years I have seen some people consistently providing accurate answers in my areas of specialization. In 16 years only had two or three bad occurrences with arrogant and/or rude people, but, in general, they t... See more There are always questions that haven’t been asked and answered, otherwise Kudoz would have died long ago of a mysterious condition. My Kudoz experience is limited to Portuguese (from French, English, Spanish and Italian, my working languages). I have been a member since 2006 and over the years I have seen some people consistently providing accurate answers in my areas of specialization. In 16 years only had two or three bad occurrences with arrogant and/or rude people, but, in general, they tend to disappear after a while. Anyway, life taught me to be tolerant and open-minded… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 13:45
German to English
| Geographical prejudice | Jun 19, 2022 |
Unfortunately, since the dawn of the internet, Sub-Saharan Africa has been a major source of scams, ranging from Nigerian princes to romance scammers in Côte d'Ivoire and money laundering in Senegal. This has made it difficult for honest businessmen like yourself to have a career with an international clientele. Establishing an internet-based enterprise in Sub-Saharan Africa (or the Middle East, for that matter) is an uphill battle, and given the current dismal situation for beginning translat... See more Unfortunately, since the dawn of the internet, Sub-Saharan Africa has been a major source of scams, ranging from Nigerian princes to romance scammers in Côte d'Ivoire and money laundering in Senegal. This has made it difficult for honest businessmen like yourself to have a career with an international clientele. Establishing an internet-based enterprise in Sub-Saharan Africa (or the Middle East, for that matter) is an uphill battle, and given the current dismal situation for beginning translators – no matter where they live – an almost hopeless task.
There is a Proz member situated in Ghana. You might try contacting this person for advice. ▲ Collapse
| | | | TTilch
Local time: 19:45
English to German
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| ProZ is nice for meeting/exchange with colleagues... | Jun 20, 2022 |
... but unfortunately no help at all for finding great clients. All you find here nowadays is cheap jobs from which you cannot live.
You have to do your own marketing and find customers with whom you deal directly if you want to earn a living as a translator.
Best,
Tanja
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Rolf Keller
Germany
Local time: 19:45
English to German
| Language quality? | Jun 22, 2022 |
Laura is right: Focus on languages you have a good command of, esp. in written form.
Especially the errors in the translation examples in your profile deter customers. The translation F-DE contains serious errors. For the Translation DE-EN you chose a German original that is linguistically catastrophic - that reflects badly on you. Maybe you shouldn't offer translations from/to German.
Always keep in mind: Such examples (as well as test translations for potential cust... See more Laura is right: Focus on languages you have a good command of, esp. in written form.
Especially the errors in the translation examples in your profile deter customers. The translation F-DE contains serious errors. For the Translation DE-EN you chose a German original that is linguistically catastrophic - that reflects badly on you. Maybe you shouldn't offer translations from/to German.
Always keep in mind: Such examples (as well as test translations for potential customers!) are considered to be the best you can and will ever deliver. Why? Because you have any time to do them well. All potential customers know that you can't and won't always be as good at "real" orders later. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Djeudje Aude
Cameroon
Local time: 19:45
German to French
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TOPIC STARTER
Hello
I thank you all for having contributed in one way or another about my concern, most particularly those, who drew my attention on some lacks, that i didn't notice in my profile.
I am thankful even to those, who rather discouraged, for that is how life is. Since small beginnings should no be despised, i just hold on.
One more time, big thank-you!!😊
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