| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Which would be the main reason why you might reject a job? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which would be the main reason why you might reject a job?".
This poll was originally submitted by Giada Gerotto. View the poll results »
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I don't turn down jobs from my regular clients, when the deadline doesn’t suit me, I offer an alternative and usually they accept, otherwise I’ll manage somehow (I’m always willing to go an extra mile for them). As for whether or not to accept jobs from a first-time client there are a lot of different considerations involved in that, starting with their creditworthiness or reputation. But I also turn down projects if it's in an area I'm not familiar with, if the text is badly written or il... See more I don't turn down jobs from my regular clients, when the deadline doesn’t suit me, I offer an alternative and usually they accept, otherwise I’ll manage somehow (I’m always willing to go an extra mile for them). As for whether or not to accept jobs from a first-time client there are a lot of different considerations involved in that, starting with their creditworthiness or reputation. But I also turn down projects if it's in an area I'm not familiar with, if the text is badly written or illegible, the deadline is impossible, a language I don’t work with (usually Brazilian Portuguese), a MTPE project, very long payment terms, etc. So, most of the time it will be the combined effect of some factors that make me reject a project. I'll even turn down jobs from time to time because they look dreadful to work on (Excel). ▲ Collapse
| | | | Zea_Mays 
Italy
Local time: 13:35
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Mismatch with my specializations
Unrealistic deadlines
Prioritizing better-budgeted offers
[Bearbeitet am 2024-01-04 08:41 GMT]
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 13:35
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
I accept any job as long as it meets my pricing conditions and I only refuse jobs if I'm not available. All my clients, without any exception, are treated equally.
[Bijgewerkt op 2024-01-04 09:08 GMT]
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Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 13:35
Member (2020)
English to German
+ ...
I do not lightly reject any job offers from my regular clients, but there are certain fields in which I am simply too clueless to accept a job in good conscience. At the end of the day, there are no winners when a translator has not idea what they are doing.
With new/potential clients, I will also not work below a certain rate per word.
When it comes to tight and unrealistic deadlines, I will always try to offer a more feasible alternative before rejecting a job.
[Edited at 20... See more I do not lightly reject any job offers from my regular clients, but there are certain fields in which I am simply too clueless to accept a job in good conscience. At the end of the day, there are no winners when a translator has not idea what they are doing.
With new/potential clients, I will also not work below a certain rate per word.
When it comes to tight and unrealistic deadlines, I will always try to offer a more feasible alternative before rejecting a job.
[Edited at 2024-01-04 09:27 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:35
Member (2008)
Italian to English
"Which would be the main reason why you might reject a job?"
If you mean a new client - someone I haven't worked with before:
1. A lot would depend on how they make their first contact with me. If they are over-friendly and say things like "pleased to e-meet you", it's a no-no. I prefer a professional approach (formal but warm).
2. If it's obvious that I am one of a large number of translators they are contacting, in a scattergun approach, that's a no-no too.
3. If they ask for my "best rate". Absolute no-no.
| | | | | I curate my client portfolio carefully | Jan 4 |
The main reason for me would be that I curate my client portfolio with the intention of achieving several things:
1) Deepen my niche
2) New clients make me learn things that all my clients will benefit from
3) It allows me to offer my services following high standards
4) It allows me to contribute to their success, which in turn means success for myself
The list of criteria for taking on new clients is long and includes but isn't limited to them:
... See more The main reason for me would be that I curate my client portfolio with the intention of achieving several things:
1) Deepen my niche
2) New clients make me learn things that all my clients will benefit from
3) It allows me to offer my services following high standards
4) It allows me to contribute to their success, which in turn means success for myself
The list of criteria for taking on new clients is long and includes but isn't limited to them:
- accepting my payment terms
- agreeing to my SOPs and willingness to adhere to agreed project steps and milestones
- operating in a certain industry and fields within that industry
- focussing on mutually important values
- having a great reputation as a business with their clients and also as an employer ▲ Collapse
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 14:35
Member
English to Turkish
Tom in London wrote:
If they are over-friendly and say things like "pleased to e-meet you", it's a no-no. I prefer a professional approach (formal but warm).
What if they said "Hiya! Happy Thursday! pleased to e-meet you  We have like this project you know, which is about buildings and shit. It pays 22 cents per word, we want it delivered in like two weeks' time. You have a great day, you hear?"
Would it still be a no-no at 22 cents per word?
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:35
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Baran Keki wrote: Tom in London wrote:
If they are over-friendly and say things like "pleased to e-meet you", it's a no-no. I prefer a professional approach (formal but warm). What if they said "Hiya! Happy Thursday! pleased to e-meet you We have like this project you know, which is about buildings and shit. It pays 22 cents per word, we want it delivered in like two weeks' time. You have a great day, you hear?" Would it still be a no-no at 22 cents per word?
That is not going to happen.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:35
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Tanya Quintieri wrote:
- agreeing to my SOPs ...
If they use incomprehensible TLAs, that would be another turnoff for me.
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As ever, it depends. I have two top clients and will do everything I can to fit in their requests - they pay well, on time and send large projects. Often I refuse projects from other clients due to their requirements - online translation tools which take time to get used to, or huge Excel files containing lists of products (eeek, these send shivers down my spine), uneditable formats... In the end, if I deem the effort/result ratio to be good, I'll take it on.
I've learned to say no ... See more As ever, it depends. I have two top clients and will do everything I can to fit in their requests - they pay well, on time and send large projects. Often I refuse projects from other clients due to their requirements - online translation tools which take time to get used to, or huge Excel files containing lists of products (eeek, these send shivers down my spine), uneditable formats... In the end, if I deem the effort/result ratio to be good, I'll take it on.
I've learned to say no - at the beginning, I took on everything. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 13:35
French to English
The reason I cite most often, with agencies at least, is that I don't do legal/financial/very technical/medical translations.
The reason I cite most often with my direct clients is an unreasonable deadline.
However, the vast majority of both categories know what I'm good at and ask for reasonable deadlines, especially once I've given them my little spiel about bread tasting better when it's risen in the fridge overnight, and once they've seen the work I'm capable of producing when I ... See more The reason I cite most often, with agencies at least, is that I don't do legal/financial/very technical/medical translations.
The reason I cite most often with my direct clients is an unreasonable deadline.
However, the vast majority of both categories know what I'm good at and ask for reasonable deadlines, especially once I've given them my little spiel about bread tasting better when it's risen in the fridge overnight, and once they've seen the work I'm capable of producing when I have enough time.
Last year I culled a few clients, mainly those who were unpleasant and sent boring work and didn't let me know when they found a mistake in my bill, but just put the bill aside and refused to answer my polite reminders until I told them I wouldn't work for them any more unless they paid up. ▲ Collapse
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My main reason for turning down work is simply that I don’t want to do it.
Either because it’s boring or because I’d rather take the time off to do something else.
I don’t get offered much that is beyond my capabilities or has too tight a deadline.
But I do have a very low boredom threshold.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 13:35
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
I have a list of potential reasons, but if I have to pick just one, that’s probably how project managers communicate (chaotic organization, bad English, out of depth when it comes to the translation process) and how the project & payment are organized. These things even go before the rate factor because they will affect my time & energy (and these two will affect earnings).
| | | | Marek Tulipan
Poland
Local time: 13:35
Member (2023)
English to Polish
+ ...
| Rule no. 1 - don't let your regular client down... | Jan 4 |
... especially when they account for a significant part of your income
For all others, I follow a rule I read somewhere and find very wise: "At every job, you should either earn or learn. Either is fine, both are best. But if it's neither, quit".
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