Poll: Have noticed a rising trend of crazy/impossible deadlines? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Marjolein Snippe 
Netherlands
Local time: 04:15
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Most of my clients are pretty well organised, so although they may have the odd rush request, most deadlines are feasible.
I did use to have a client who seemed to include "URGENT!!!" or "RUSH!!" on every project request, but they have wandered off - perhaps discouraged as their requests would mostly be sent outside my office hours, so by the time I read them, it was too late for them.
| | | | | About the same | Mar 17, 2020 |
I’ve been working with most of my customers for a long time, so they know me quite well and what I can and can't do. More often than not, they ask me when I will have their job done. If a new client comes with an unreasonable deadline there are only two options: reject or negotiate…
| | | | Jan Truper
Germany
Local time: 04:15
English to German
And it really is a non-issue:
-If a deadline is crazy, charge a crazy rate.
-If a deadline is impossible, say no.
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Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 00:15
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Deadlines are negotiable or you can refuse the job. If the deadline is equivalent to up to 3000 words per business day, the regular rate applies. From 3000 to 5000 words per B.D. or any number on weekends and holidays, the urgency rate applies. Anything other than this is a "no, thank you". There is no way on Earth the client is entitled to "require" you to do something out of your standards.
| | | | | Tight but doable | Mar 17, 2020 |
Since last week I have been translating many same-day notices for a large company adapting to the outbreak, working from home and social distancing measures. Tight deadlines, but low volume per text, so they’re manageable. I don’t charge extra since this info needs to get out and everybody’s going to be hit hard enough as it is without inflating prices.
What surprises me more is that I keep getting new client requests almost every day in a time where commerce is supposed to be... See more Since last week I have been translating many same-day notices for a large company adapting to the outbreak, working from home and social distancing measures. Tight deadlines, but low volume per text, so they’re manageable. I don’t charge extra since this info needs to get out and everybody’s going to be hit hard enough as it is without inflating prices.
What surprises me more is that I keep getting new client requests almost every day in a time where commerce is supposed to be slowing down. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes, right now | Mar 17, 2020 |
There is currently a genuine urgency about some jobs.
I can’t imagine many translations about the Coronavirus coming with a two-month deadline...
But otherwise, no.
| | | | | Definitely not | Mar 17, 2020 |
I see no noticeable trend in deadlines over at least 20 years. However, I must say that a widely accepted workload limit of 2500 words/day, give or take, is not a hallmark of an experienced professional. If that's all you can do without compromising the quality of your work, consider additional training or face a tough competition.
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Mervyn Henderson (X)
Spain
Local time: 04:15
Spanish to English
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| I'm with Anton | Mar 17, 2020 |
I got used to high volume + tight deadlines in an agency I worked for back in the day, and doing 6K a day under pressure of time and the demand for top quality got me thinking, Why not do this for yourself? My rule of thumb used to be get up early, 3K in the morning, 2/3K in the afternoon/evening. Words in, words out, touch-typing and concentration.
| | | | | Yes, coronavirus announcements | Mar 18, 2020 |
Yes. Coronavirus announcements.
Understandably, they're urgent. But they're not crazy, because they're short and doable.
| | | | | Surprised 3,000/day is holding strong | Mar 18, 2020 |
Mervyn Henderson wrote:
I got used to high volume + tight deadlines in an agency I worked for back in the day, and doing 6K a day under pressure of time and the demand for top quality got me thinking, Why not do this for yourself? My rule of thumb used to be get up early, 3K in the morning, 2/3K in the afternoon/evening. Words in, words out, touch-typing and concentration.
That was my standard turnaround ... 15 years ago. Now I'm better, and faster, and the tools I use are MUCH better. And yet ... 3,000/day seems to be holding strong as a turnaround rule of thumb. Baffled.
| | | | | Too many variables | Mar 18, 2020 |
Justin Peterson wrote:
That was my standard turnaround ... 15 years ago. Now I'm better, and faster, and the tools I use are MUCH better. And yet ... 3,000/day seems to be holding strong as a turnaround rule of thumb. Baffled.
Perhaps these translators are thick and/or lazy. Perhaps they translate harder texts. Perhaps they don’t specialise enough. Perhaps they don’t like the pressure or need the money. Perhaps they take more care and do a better job. The list goes on...
I think we can raise an eyebrow at the 10k-a-day brigade, but otherwise we just have to accept that we’re all different and we don’t all do the same work to the same standards.
I can do 6k in a day at a push, but I always budget for 2k and generally end up doing about 3k. I hate being rushed.
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