Comments on: The art of saying no http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/03/22/the-art-of-saying-no/ ...the translation industry and becoming a translator Thu, 17 May 2012 02:54:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Corinne McKay http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/03/22/the-art-of-saying-no/#comment-136 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:28:18 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-136 Yes, this is an excellent point! I agree that sometimes you just have to give a kind but firm “No, thanks!” and move on. This situation definitely arises when you can tell that you and the client are not going to amicably agree on a rate/deadline/etc.; rather than quibbling over it, I think it’s best to just thank the client for contacting you and decline, rather than, as you said, going through a lengthy explanation of why your rates are what they are or why you can’t give a discount/do a rush job at your regular rate/work on the weekend, etc.

]]> By: Fabio Said http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/03/22/the-art-of-saying-no/#comment-121 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:47:25 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-121 Your article is excellent, especially where you try to balance the various approaches to saying no. You’re absolutely right to take into account the specifics of the situation and of course the translator’s background. But sometimes one needs to just say NO (in a polite but firm way) and nothing (or almost nothing) else. This applies, for instance, to when you simply don’t have much time to spend several minutes explaining why you won’t take the job. Sometimes it’s better to concentrate on the job you’re actually doing (meaning: incoming $) than on jobs that won’t ever happen (meaning: no $). :-)

]]> By: Corinne McKay http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/03/22/the-art-of-saying-no/#comment-118 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:57:50 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-118 Yes, that’s a great comment, thanks! I agree, in some cases I am willing to extend credit to a new client, but sometimes not. Personally I check whether an agency is a member of ATA or the corresponding organization in their country, and whether they have been rated/highly rated on Payment Practices. If those two factors check out, I think that the chances of being paid are good. If the agency is new, not rated, not a member of professional associations, etc., I also ask for an intermediate payment before returning the entire translation. If they are poorly rated I decline altogether unless they pay in advance. Thanks for your comment!

]]> By: Professional translator http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/03/22/the-art-of-saying-no/#comment-117 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:53:35 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-117 It is also good to share the risk, particularly in the case of projects of a considerable amount for brand new clients, and ask for 50% payment up front and the remaining 50% after delivery of the translation. If I client doesn´t trust me with 50% of their money, I won´t trust them with 100% of potentially unpaid income.

In those cases in which brand new clients have not agreed to the 50% prepayment condition, I have also said no.

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