| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | ChatGPT: "It takes about 3 years for a translator to fully establish themselves." Your experience? Thread poster: Henry Dotterer
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After reviewing this forum, ChatGPT says:
The time it takes for a new freelance translator to build a full-time client base varies significantly, but there are some general trends and insights from experienced translators on ProZ.com.
Initial Phase (0-1 year): Many translators report that the first year is often the most challenging. It's common to not earn enough to live on during this period without additional savings or other income sources. Building a client base from scratch requires substantial effort, including creating a strong profile, networking, and marketing oneself (ProZ) (ProZ).
Building Momentum (1-3 years): Translators who start with some existing clients or can leverage previous work experience may find it easier to transition to full-time freelancing. By the end of the second year, many are able to sustain themselves if they continuously seek new clients and maintain relationships with existing ones. The key is to be persistent, available for work, and to continually improve skills and services (ProZ) (ProZ).
Stabilization (3+ years): It typically takes about three years for a translator to fully establish themselves and have a steady stream of work. By this time, many translators have built a solid reputation, have regular clients, and can rely on a more predictable income. This period also allows for setting higher rates and specializing in niche markets, which can lead to better earnings and work stability (ProZ) (ProZ).
In summary, while some translators may achieve full-time status faster, a general timeframe of 1-3 years is common to build a sustainable and reliable client base. This period involves significant networking, learning, and adaptability.
What's your experience? Does that sound right?
| | | | Mario Chávez
United States
Local time: 22:01
Member (Jun 2024)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Asking ChatGPT for a summary | Jul 16 |
Well, I disagree with whatever ChatGPT spewed there. Well before the 2000s, I sensed that it would take 5-10 years for a proper translator to establish themself (or themselves). It's not just about finding bonafide clients but, most importantly, to develop the required competences.
Cheers,
Mario Chávez
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 04:01
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
It took me 0 months to earn a fulltime income (not of the highest of course, but enough to live from). My first client was my former employer and he gave me so much work that I didn't necessarily need other clients to maintain myself in my first year. Then gradually other clients came (with zero effort from my side) and that situation lasts until today, 19 years later.
I was possibly very lucky, but if there would be one lesson to be learned: start your career with an inhouse positi... See more It took me 0 months to earn a fulltime income (not of the highest of course, but enough to live from). My first client was my former employer and he gave me so much work that I didn't necessarily need other clients to maintain myself in my first year. Then gradually other clients came (with zero effort from my side) and that situation lasts until today, 19 years later.
I was possibly very lucky, but if there would be one lesson to be learned: start your career with an inhouse position (although I'm not sure this is still a realistic option nowadays).
[Bijgewerkt op 2024-07-16 18:37 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I agree more or less | Jul 16 |
It took me about 6 months to earn what I needed, 1 year for a good income, 3 years for developping my skills in my specialisations.
[Edited at 2024-07-16 18:35 GMT]
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Same experience as Lieven. I started getting freelance work before I left my job.
Time is not what’s needed. Talent is. And luck.
PS Henry, why are you quoting ChatGPT? Have you not been listening to what people on the ground think of it and ProZ’s big push on AI?
[Edited at 2024-07-16 18:42 GMT]
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Me: Someone said to me: "Henry, why are you quoting ChatGPT? Have you not been listening to what people on the ground think of it and ProZ’s big push on AI?" How should I reply?
ChatGPT:
You could respond with something like:
"I value input from all sources, including ChatGPT, because it provides quick, data-driven insights that can complement feedback from people on the ground. At ProZ, we believe in leveraging AI to enhance productivity while still prioritizing human expertise and community input. Balancing both perspectives helps us make informed decisions."
Sorry, just being silly there. I don't actually agree with what ChatGPT said there. ("Balancing both perspectives"? That's an odd thought.)
To explain where I am coming from: We recently had a powwow in Nairobi. It was so nice. There were around a hundred freelancers there, many of whom, it was apparent to me, could benefit from some of the wisdom shared in these forums over the years. The idea of using AI to mine our forums for collective wisdom, and subject the LLM's summaries to correction, confirmation and updating by the community, crossed my mind. This topic represents an exercise of that sort.
Does that make any sense to anyone?
| | | | | Two years in my case (with a headstart from an existing client) | Jul 16 |
Lieven wrote: It took me 0 months to earn a fulltime income (not of the highest of course, but enough to live from). My first client was my former employer...
I also had a headstart with an existing client. Not full time, though. If my memory is correct, it was after about two years that things felt really smooth and ideal for me.
| | | | ibz 
Local time: 04:01
English to German
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Henry Dotterer wrote:
Me: Someone said to me: "Henry, why are you quoting ChatGPT? Have you not been listening to what people on the ground think of it and ProZ’s big push on AI?" How should I reply?
ChatGPT:
You could respond with something like:
"I value input from all sources, including ChatGPT, because it provides quick, data-driven insights that can complement feedback from people on the ground. At ProZ, we believe in leveraging AI to enhance productivity while still prioritizing human expertise and community input. Balancing both perspectives helps us make informed decisions."
Sorry, just being silly there. I don't actually agree with what ChatGPT said there. ("Balancing both perspectives"? That's an odd thought.)
To explain where I am coming from: We recently had a powwow in Nairobi. It was so nice. There were around a hundred freelancers there, many of whom, it was apparent to me, could benefit from some of the wisdom shared in these forums over the years. The idea of using AI to mine our forums for collective wisdom, and subject the LLM's summaries to correction, confirmation and updating by the community, crossed my mind. This topic represents an exercise of that sort.
Does that make any sense to anyone?
No, not really. Asking ChatGPT every possible question seems rather boring and senseless to me. You could also ask ChatGPT "What's the weather like today?" but then again you could also just look out the window ... (Sorry, being silly here as well. )
Why not just asking real people what you want to know? Or actually taking into account that many here have been critical of ChatGPT?
As to your original posting: What exactly does the famous ChatGPT mean by (Proz) (Proz)?
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I'm not sure my experience is really relevant as it's decades since I started out and everything has changed in the meantime.
But anyway:
I left a job in a translation agency (that was basically on the point of collapse) to set up as a freelance. I spent about 6 months writing to agencies and direct clients and got almost no response. At that point I ran out of money (collapsing translation agency owed me several weeks' wages) and took a job in an German-owned engineer... See more I'm not sure my experience is really relevant as it's decades since I started out and everything has changed in the meantime.
But anyway:
I left a job in a translation agency (that was basically on the point of collapse) to set up as a freelance. I spent about 6 months writing to agencies and direct clients and got almost no response. At that point I ran out of money (collapsing translation agency owed me several weeks' wages) and took a job in an German-owned engineering company. Work started to trickle in from the agencies I'd contacted and I combined freelancing with full-time work for a while (I developed something of a specialism in jobs that come in on a Friday and are needed for Monday morning).
After about 18 months I was offered a book translation about wind turbines that was so big it would have been impossible to manage part time so I left to go full time freelance. After that, I was pretty much fully booked most of the time. (Until the last couple of years, which have been all over the place). ▲ Collapse
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 04:01
English to German
+ ...
... why we need bot ouput (not input) for this conversation, most of all on something ProZ should already have known after 25 years, and that has been discussed over and over again.
I find it quite strange to treat a software program that only mimics human language like a living being with intellectual grasp.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 04:01
French to English
Zea_Mays wrote:
... why we need bot ouput (not input) for this conversation, most of all on something ProZ should already have known after 25 years, and that has been discussed over and over again.
I find it quite strange to treat a software program that only mimics human language like a living being with intellectual grasp.
Yeah, I'm not telling ChatGPT anything, it's not like we're friends or even colleagues.
| | | | | "I'm not telling ChatGPT anything"? | Jul 17 |
Yeah, I'm not telling ChatGPT anything, it's not like we're friends or even colleagues.
Maybe I misunderstand what you mean by that, Kay, but you do know that this forum is public, and that ChatGPT (and other LLMs) have or will read what you just wrote there, right? (So actually you are telling them something.)
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Peter Motte
Belgium
Local time: 04:01
Member (2009)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| ChatGPT is desillusionary, as usual | Jul 17 |
Wrong. It's ironic that something like ChatGPT, which lots of people consider as a proof that translators can be replaced by computers, thinks you can become established after 3 years.
It's nonsense.
Some people might have the connections to be established after only a year, for others it might take over 5 years.
At the moment, it will only become more difficult.
And anyway, what would you call 'established'? Having a regular client who only pays 0.035 USD/word?
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Freelancing is not that rosy, despite what ChatGPt might “think”. When I started out translating some 40 years ago, I had just a single excellent client: a Belgian translation agency who gave me regular work (circa 150 pages every month) very well paid and on time until suddenly for no fault of mine their contract was cancelled and I found myself with no work at all. It was quite a blow and it took me a whole year to recover from! It has been a rollercoaster ride filled with numerous ups and... See more Freelancing is not that rosy, despite what ChatGPt might “think”. When I started out translating some 40 years ago, I had just a single excellent client: a Belgian translation agency who gave me regular work (circa 150 pages every month) very well paid and on time until suddenly for no fault of mine their contract was cancelled and I found myself with no work at all. It was quite a blow and it took me a whole year to recover from! It has been a rollercoaster ride filled with numerous ups and downs, but 40 years after I’m still translating (as we say in Portuguese I'm as stubborn as a mule)… ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Speaking of ChatGPT | Jul 18 |
Is it still answering questions on KudoZ? I haven't seen any for a while, and I know this option was very unpopular.
Also, Henry, it would be nice to see you interacting more with members like this. I've tried to contact you on more than one occasion, but have never received a reply.
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » ChatGPT: "It takes about 3 years for a translator to fully establish themselves." Your experience? | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
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