I used to work for the swiss government where there's internal language service since it all had to be translated. I sat on the other side of the table, being the one requesting the translatioins. They were getting swamped with work by every department, everything on the shortest notice. Sometines there was no chance to circumvent it because when parliament had taken a decision for example, you had to stick to the deadlines included in those papers. But I did my best to give the translation professionals the longest deadlines possible. Most of them noticed and appreciated it. Because i knew how critical their services were to my work as a communications officer, I also passed by every now and then and dropped a big box of choccolate.
When I started out I fell into almost all of those "traps" :D I overworked like crazy just to get positive feedback TT The jobs were REALLY interesting though and I gained a lot of experience, but now that I don't work as a freelance translator anymore it feels to have been a little bit POINTLESS to work SO HARD for such low prices :D
I’m a newbie and I got scammed so badly by my first “job”. I replied to an ad by a company called Wagner International. They were looking for an English-German translator. Right away they started sending me these big jobs with short deadlines. I worked my behind off and kept track of everything in my “billing sheet”. After a month the time came for my first paycheck: and you guessed it, radio silence. Then came the crazy stories about accountants being deceased, sick, the systems being down. It’s been almost two months and I haven’t seen a penny. I feel so discouraged but I’m going to keep trying.
So sorry that happened to you :( unfortunately, Wagner is known for that. Make sure to always do your research first on places like the Blueboard or on facebook. When you see their horrible rating, dont work for them or ask a prepayment.
Just set my foot on the boat, just joined the crew, and by far this is the best tips everyone rookie translator must take them for granted. I've just joined the translation field, and this video has answered all my questions especially when I try to devaluate myself in order to convince a client to hire me (which is smthg still trying to lol). Getting started is really difficult, and your videos and advice made it easier, thankfully I'm trying to learn from people's mistakes since we have similar backgrounds as you pointed on another video about the struggles a freelance translator will face and how to start on ProZ. Keep it up buddy.
Great vid, Adrian. I am not a newbie but these tips serve as a reminder anyway because times are dire, especially in some countries so even experienced professionals have to lower their revenue standards in order to be working at all. One tip I have for the ever so annoying VOLUME DISCOUNT issue is this, if you really MUST give a discount. Tell them that they will get the rebate incrementally, meaning if they reach a certain volume throughout the year they will get discount on such future work (if ever there was going to be any!). As an example, the first X thousand words will be at full rate, then the next Y-thousands will get a 5% discount, etc. It works for a number of other services and goods as well. :)
Firstly congratulations on your channel. Totally agree with almost everything you mention in this video. As far as I am concerned, I do not charge recurring clients for a sentence. If however it's a new client you need to explain how you work and ask for an upfront deposit. If your client doesn't agree then he' rather move on. Believe me it always pays to be safe than sorry. Except for if you are doing translations for the flea market in which case you're alright. Another tip is to cooperate with your clients and do not hesitate to ask them to explain or clarify certain things. It so happens that even writers sometimes make mistakes or simply are unable to elucidate clearly the exact meaning of what they have in mind. Finally never accept to translate for translation agencies who ostensibly give you lots of texts as a test. They give the same texts to many people and use their ideas and translation techniques but never hire anyone.
Thank you very much for this advice. I have taken a long translation test, I ask first to my colleagues in the association I belong to and they told me that it’s a good agency to work with and that I have not to worry but next time I will think it twice before taking these long tests!
Actually, we see one or more of these trapes every day, but thru experience one became more careful with them... It is very important topic. Thank you for tackling them... You got deep in our business life and these tips reads our mind.
Definitely don't start too low. Start with a high bid and then you can always go lower in negotiations. Test how many words you can translate per hour, decide what you want to earn per hour and then divide this amount by the words and you have your word price :)
I recently fell in a scam. Despite having experience as translator for more than 10 years. I was just trying to get a new client in one of the most popular freelancers sites
I got my first job recently but the deadline was absurd for me looking back and I pulled an all nighter. The client hasn't come with any feedback but I suspect my sleep-deprived brain overestimated how good my translation was and that he'll come back furious, lol. I hope to God all actually went well because that'd be embarrassing 😬 but I suppose mistakes like that sometimes goes with the territory
Yeah mistakes like that definitely happen, especially in the beginning. You feel like you need to say yes to everything. You'll learn with experience how to prevent this. I really hope that the client is happy. And if not, don't let this crush you. You can grow back stronger from it :) Next time make sure to calculate enough time and if the client doesn't give you the needed time, then look for something else :)
@@Freelanceverse thank you for your answer! Btw, the client got back for payment and did not complain :D a huge relief, lol. Thank you for your videos, God bless
@@jennykhalid That is incredible. So sorry to hear that. You should threaten them with legal steps and when this still doesn't help, contact a lawyer. When you have emails of them confirming you to work on the job, then you have a strong case.
I used to work for the swiss government where there's internal language service since it all had to be translated. I sat on the other side of the table, being the one requesting the translatioins. They were getting swamped with work by every department, everything on the shortest notice. Sometines there was no chance to circumvent it because when parliament had taken a decision for example, you had to stick to the deadlines included in those papers. But I did my best to give the translation professionals the longest deadlines possible. Most of them noticed and appreciated it. Because i knew how critical their services were to my work as a communications officer, I also passed by every now and then and dropped a big box of choccolate.
When I started out I fell into almost all of those "traps" :D I overworked like crazy just to get positive feedback TT The jobs were REALLY interesting though and I gained a lot of experience, but now that I don't work as a freelance translator anymore it feels to have been a little bit POINTLESS to work SO HARD for such low prices :D
This realization comes for everyone at some point :)
Freelance translators who are beginning their journey NEED to see this! Very important tips, thank you for the video
I’m a newbie and I got scammed so badly by my first “job”. I replied to an ad by a company called Wagner International. They were looking for an English-German translator. Right away they started sending me these big jobs with short deadlines. I worked my behind off and kept track of everything in my “billing sheet”. After a month the time came for my first paycheck: and you guessed it, radio silence. Then came the crazy stories about accountants being deceased, sick, the systems being down. It’s been almost two months and I haven’t seen a penny. I feel so discouraged but I’m going to keep trying.
So sorry that happened to you :( unfortunately, Wagner is known for that. Make sure to always do your research first on places like the Blueboard or on facebook. When you see their horrible rating, dont work for them or ask a prepayment.
Just set my foot on the boat, just joined the crew, and by far this is the best tips everyone rookie translator must take them for granted.
I've just joined the translation field, and this video has answered all my questions especially when I try to devaluate myself in order to convince a client to hire me (which is smthg still trying to lol).
Getting started is really difficult, and your videos and advice made it easier, thankfully I'm trying to learn from people's mistakes since we have similar backgrounds as you pointed on another video about the struggles a freelance translator will face and how to start on ProZ.
Keep it up buddy.
Thanks so much! That's great to hear :) whenever I can help a newcomer with my videos, that tells me that I'm doing something right :) Good luck!
Being able to say no is an essential skill, so that you can focus on one task and do it well. Overworking will damage one's health in the long run.
Great vid, Adrian. I am not a newbie but these tips serve as a reminder anyway because times are dire, especially in some countries so even experienced professionals have to lower their revenue standards in order to be working at all. One tip I have for the ever so annoying VOLUME DISCOUNT issue is this, if you really MUST give a discount. Tell them that they will get the rebate incrementally, meaning if they reach a certain volume throughout the year they will get discount on such future work (if ever there was going to be any!). As an example, the first X thousand words will be at full rate, then the next Y-thousands will get a 5% discount, etc. It works for a number of other services and goods as well. :)
That is a good tip actually, thanks Sonia!! :)
Totally agree. In fact, there is an agency that requested a copy of your passport before they include you in their list of translators
wow that's super strange. be careful with that.
Firstly congratulations on your channel. Totally agree with almost everything you mention in this video. As far as I am concerned, I do not charge recurring clients for a sentence. If however it's a new client you need to explain how you work and ask for an upfront deposit. If your client doesn't agree then he' rather move on. Believe me it always pays to be safe than sorry. Except for if you are doing translations for the flea market in which case you're alright. Another tip is to cooperate with your clients and do not hesitate to ask them to explain or clarify certain things. It so happens that even writers sometimes make mistakes or simply are unable to elucidate clearly the exact meaning of what they have in mind. Finally never accept to translate for translation agencies who ostensibly give you lots of texts as a test. They give the same texts to many people and use their ideas and translation techniques but never hire anyone.
Thank you very much for this advice. I have taken a long translation test, I ask first to my colleagues in the association I belong to and they told me that it’s a good agency to work with and that I have not to worry but next time I will think it twice before taking these long tests!
Yes if they dont pay you for it, you shouldnt spend more than 2h on it.
This is definitely helpful, thank you. I totally agree with you on all the 7 traps
Thank you Safa!
Actually, we see one or more of these trapes every day, but thru experience one became more careful with them... It is very important topic. Thank you for tackling them... You got deep in our business life and these tips reads our mind.
Great to hear!
I am so glad I found this channel!!!!!!!!!!!
😊♥️
Thanks for another insightful video.
♥️
This is actually pretty helpful
Cheers
Great video as usual!💪🏻
Worthwhile insight. Please provide the main points as an overview in the summary.
Good idea!
Very useful content, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful, thank you :)
Thank you Denise!
Thanks so much for this.
You're very welcome!
Thank you so much! I was wondering… how do I decide as a newbie my prices? Hope you will make a video on this 🤞🏻
Definitely don't start too low. Start with a high bid and then you can always go lower in negotiations. Test how many words you can translate per hour, decide what you want to earn per hour and then divide this amount by the words and you have your word price :)
Great video Adrian, thanks 👍
One client asked me to translate 7,500 words within 6 hours 😃
Lol 😂 what did you reply?
Hello Adrian
Thx for the video !!! = )
Tell me how much do we have to ask per translated word ?
Hi there, that is very subjective. I just made a video on the channel called 'How to set your rates', make sure to check that out.
Hi Andrian! I was wondering how many hours/day are you working. I find it very hard to work 8 h as a translator. What do you think ?
Hi Christina, I usually work about 7-9h per day.
@@Freelanceverse oh you are very patient and it seems that you love your job. Keep going with the videos. You help us a lot!
@@christinagoga6097 I do indeed :)
I recently fell in a scam. Despite having experience as translator for more than 10 years. I was just trying to get a new client in one of the most popular freelancers sites
Yeah it can happen to anyone. Thanks for the support of the channel Cesar :)
@@Freelanceverse thanks for alerting all of us about that
Thank you,
You are welcome!
I got my first job recently but the deadline was absurd for me looking back and I pulled an all nighter. The client hasn't come with any feedback but I suspect my sleep-deprived brain overestimated how good my translation was and that he'll come back furious, lol. I hope to God all actually went well because that'd be embarrassing 😬 but I suppose mistakes like that sometimes goes with the territory
Yeah mistakes like that definitely happen, especially in the beginning. You feel like you need to say yes to everything. You'll learn with experience how to prevent this. I really hope that the client is happy. And if not, don't let this crush you. You can grow back stronger from it :) Next time make sure to calculate enough time and if the client doesn't give you the needed time, then look for something else :)
@@Freelanceverse thank you for your answer! Btw, the client got back for payment and did not complain :D a huge relief, lol. Thank you for your videos, God bless
Awesome well done!!
What year does the map on the wall show? And what's the purpose of the map? Like mountains, borders etc.
The map is from 2015 :) it's just an aesthetic choice for decoration :) no special purpose
@@Freelanceverse Who is holding Istanbul there in the map? It's like another country.
It's a map of Europe, and Istanbul is the only European part of Turkey. That's why it's more intensely coloured
@@Freelanceverse Oh I see. Nice design!
Please how can I contact you ?
either on LinkedIn or via email.
I have lost 18000 €
How???
They gave me work but took money
They did not pay me but took money from me
This is not a joke
@@jennykhalid That is incredible. So sorry to hear that. You should threaten them with legal steps and when this still doesn't help, contact a lawyer. When you have emails of them confirming you to work on the job, then you have a strong case.