| Pages in topic: [1 2 3 4 5] > | Job posting: "Looking for honest translators..." Thread poster: Claudia Krysztofiak
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Now that job description really was fun to look at.
They want honest translators,
which are people who:
can work on weekends if necessary, those that can prove experience, those who can accept low rates due to huge volume, reliable, responsible, accurate, those who can comply with deadlines without complaining, those who can translate, proofread and edit a job if necessary.
There was no volume given as far as I have seen, but a low rate nevertheless.... See more Now that job description really was fun to look at.
They want honest translators,
which are people who:
can work on weekends if necessary, those that can prove experience, those who can accept low rates due to huge volume, reliable, responsible, accurate, those who can comply with deadlines without complaining, those who can translate, proofread and edit a job if necessary.
There was no volume given as far as I have seen, but a low rate nevertheless. And payment after 60 days. It seems this agency may has had some bad experiences with translators. I just wonder why, honestly ...
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2006-09-13 09:41] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rosa Maria Duenas Rios (X) 
Local time: 13:27
| The same outsourcer posted in Spanish too... | Sep 12, 2006 |
... and the job offer did not last long. I hope the English one will have the same fate... In the Spanish forum (http://www.proz.com/topic/55120), the offer was not considered funny, it was considered offensive...
| | | | | My thoughts exactly | Sep 12, 2006 |
Does spending quality weekends with my family and refusing to work for pittance make me dishonest?
Am I dishonest to admit that the deadline is too short and cannot be met without me working all hours of the day?
Or am I being dishonest when I expect to be paid within 30 days of invoice date?
Honestly, us translators are such a bunch of crooks!
[Edited at 2006-09-12 22:42]
| | | | Andy Lemminger
Canada
Local time: 11:27
Member (2002)
English to German
Claudia Krysztofiak wrote:
Now that job description really was fun to look at.
Exactly!
I wanted to reply to the job post but they said only people who satisfy all those requirements should dare to answer.
Since I am not really a match I got a bit scared there and didn't reply...
Very funny definition of being honest though. They might have confused it with being either silly or submissive. But that's a different topic...
So long
Andy
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craigs
Local time: 13:27
English to Portuguese
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| Any resaonable person would expect | Sep 12, 2006 |
Naturally the more hours you put in, the less your time is worth, right?
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 11:27
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
Just how honest THEY might be?
Especially when it comes time to pay...
| | | | Sophia Hundt (X)
Local time: 12:27
Russian to English
+ ...
| What a lucrative field for swindlers | Sep 13, 2006 |
Isn't it? Some old dude once called me on the phone, on the phone, you see? And what does he tell me? That he represents something-or-another-based-in-US-Translation Institute. And asks me what language pairs, fields, etc. I do and for what rate. Having quoted him my rate, he asks me if I would work for USD 0.02/word, trying to tell me in a sweet voice that expensive translators b/w projects ENJOY, yes, he said that, doing stuff for him. I, naturally, just told him point blank that I couldn't af... See more Isn't it? Some old dude once called me on the phone, on the phone, you see? And what does he tell me? That he represents something-or-another-based-in-US-Translation Institute. And asks me what language pairs, fields, etc. I do and for what rate. Having quoted him my rate, he asks me if I would work for USD 0.02/word, trying to tell me in a sweet voice that expensive translators b/w projects ENJOY, yes, he said that, doing stuff for him. I, naturally, just told him point blank that I couldn't afford doing something like that. (So I don't pubish my personal contact info anymore).
[Edited at 2006-09-13 04:26] ▲ Collapse
| | | | biankonera
Latvia
Local time: 20:27
Italian to Latvian
+ ...
that definition of theirs pronounces me to be absolutely dishonest because I do not work on weekends. but why do I get the feeling that neither do they, huh?
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Vito Smolej
Germany
Local time: 19:27
Member (2004)
English to Slovenian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | They want honest translators... | Sep 13, 2006 |
and then pile up so many dishonest expectations, which no honest and/or dishonest person can fullfill, so that (and here's a perfect mephistophelian arabesk if I ever saw one) the honest translators fall into the guilt trap and sign up for 2c a word.
| | | | Joost Elshoff (X)
Local time: 19:27
Spanish to Dutch
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| ban the guy? | Sep 13, 2006 |
Weird... I don't know any dishonest, cheating, overcharging expensive language professionals, even though I've been only around a couple of weeks now.
Not the outsourcer with the best LWA rating, I'd say. Postings like this one do make it clear why there should be a minimum rate for quoting and offering. It also calls for a code of conduct for outsourcers.
Of course we don't stop and drop everything we were doing for a project that barely pays enough to make a living. ... See more Weird... I don't know any dishonest, cheating, overcharging expensive language professionals, even though I've been only around a couple of weeks now.
Not the outsourcer with the best LWA rating, I'd say. Postings like this one do make it clear why there should be a minimum rate for quoting and offering. It also calls for a code of conduct for outsourcers.
Of course we don't stop and drop everything we were doing for a project that barely pays enough to make a living. I myself would rather spend my spare time doing things I like. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | It's not about honest/dishonest translators... | Sep 13, 2006 |
They're not looking for honest translators (theirs is a funny definition of honesty...), they're just looking for translators ready to be exploited (extra-long working hours, low rates, complete availability and no questions asked).
In my opinion, this kind of "offers" should be completely ignored, no quotes, no replies, nothing.
| | | | Aurora Humarán (X)
Argentina
Local time: 15:27
English to Spanish
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| Creating the market we want to be in | Sep 13, 2006 |
Ramon Inglada wrote:
In my opinion, this kind of "offers" should be completely ignored, no quotes, no replies, nothing.
Hola, Ramon.
I respect your opinion, but I have a completely different point of view. I cannot ignore this situation and I feel the responsibility to warn junior colleagues.
I wrote a letter to this agency and shared my reply with lots of colleagues in my country and abroad. She has not replied so far and I don't think she will. Many other translators have sent her mails too.
Evidently there are some translators now ready to start working for her, but there are many more who have been informed that:
1) a Sunday is not the same as a Wednesday
2) low rates for huge projects is an abuse
3) the submissive attitude requested by this lady is against our dignity as professionals.
Hugs from Buenos Aires.
Au
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| I agree with you but... | Sep 13, 2006 |
Hola, Au.
I have to say that I share your point of view to a certain extent. I do believe that professional translators need to perform this task of a certain "proselytism", and we need to make clear what is and what is not acceptable in our profession. It's a bit sad, because you don't see professionals from our fields having to do this, but well, this is the situation in our profession, and I agree that we have to fight to create the market we want (as you very well put it in the ... See more Hola, Au.
I have to say that I share your point of view to a certain extent. I do believe that professional translators need to perform this task of a certain "proselytism", and we need to make clear what is and what is not acceptable in our profession. It's a bit sad, because you don't see professionals from our fields having to do this, but well, this is the situation in our profession, and I agree that we have to fight to create the market we want (as you very well put it in the title of your post).
Now, having said that, I also believe there was a point of cynicism in the job offer for "honest" translators. Maybe I'm just too naive or too new in the world of translation, but I can't believe the job poster was not aware of the fact that the conditions required were not acceptable, and that any translators working under those conditions would be effectively exploited.
This is only my humble opinion, but I'd say that the job poster was well aware of that. They knew the conditions were bad, they were prepared to receive some negative answers (as they were prepared to ignore them right away), and they also knew that some translators would accept them. For me, that's the key. When such a job offer is posted, the outsourcer shouldn't get any answer in reply to the unacceptable conditions suggested. If/when conditions are improved, then the situation is different. Of course, I know that then this would lead to another problem (who decides what is acceptable and what is not? What is acceptable for one person might definitely not be so for another one, and so on). Going back to my point: some job posters, like this one, are well aware of the fact that they want to impose unacceptable conditions for their profit, and they get away with it. That is a serious concern for me.
As far as warning junior colleagues, as myself, I'd like to say that I'm sincerely grateful for you efforts, but many of us are too well aware of this situation (and I'd dare to say this is true particularly in the English-Spanish combination).
Sorry for the long post and regards from the beautiful (and overcast) West coast of Ireland.
Ramon ▲ Collapse
| | | | | "honest" or deceivable? | Sep 13, 2006 |
If you take a look at the profile of the outsourcer who posted this job, you will notice that HER rates are 0.08 USD per word. So first of all, she is not really one of the so-called honest translators accepting to work for 0.055 EUR per word.
Second, she's apparently running an "agency". The languages required for this honesty project are ... HER working/specialty languages: English to German, English to Spanish, English to French, English to Italian. So I would not be surprised if... See more If you take a look at the profile of the outsourcer who posted this job, you will notice that HER rates are 0.08 USD per word. So first of all, she is not really one of the so-called honest translators accepting to work for 0.055 EUR per word.
Second, she's apparently running an "agency". The languages required for this honesty project are ... HER working/specialty languages: English to German, English to Spanish, English to French, English to Italian. So I would not be surprised if the outsourcer reselled the translations to gain the difference... On a 10.000 word project, even if the outsourcer's price remains 0.08 (which is already competitive), she will gain 100 euro (for having posted the job). New business idea: translation reseller!
I must agree with Ramon: I just ignored the post. I have a reputation of being a very honest person, but I'm definately not stupid... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Vito Smolej
Germany
Local time: 19:27
Member (2004)
English to Slovenian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | translation reseller a new business idea ? - Huh!.... | Sep 13, 2006 |
Nothing new about it: what else is an agency if not one (useful / useless take your pick) step in the food chain connecting the one needing the traslation with the person doing it....
And of course everybody's got a share; or his or her pound of flesh.
[Edited at 2006-09-13 12:12]
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