Comments on: Avoiding beginner’s mistakes http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/ ...the translation industry and becoming a translator Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: L’observatoire de la traduction » Blog Archive » Que savoir pour démarrer comme traducteur indépendant ? http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-2192 L’observatoire de la traduction » Blog Archive » Que savoir pour démarrer comme traducteur indépendant ? Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:01:51 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-2192 [...] aux traducteurs débutants : il y a par exemple le Journal d’une apprentie traductrice, Getting started as a translator, ou Advices to beginning translators, pour ne citer que [...] [...] aux traducteurs débutants : il y a par exemple le Journal d’une apprentie traductrice, Getting started as a translator, ou Advices to beginning translators, pour ne citer que [...]

]]> By: Diventare traduttore, tariffe, aumentare la qualità http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-977 Diventare traduttore, tariffe, aumentare la qualità Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:19:57 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-977 [...] Corinne McKay, “Thoughts On Translation”: Avoiding beginner’s mistakes [...] [...] Corinne McKay, “Thoughts On Translation”: Avoiding beginner’s mistakes [...]

]]> By: Corinne McKay http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-968 Corinne McKay Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:22:58 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-968 @Holly, if I recall correctly, I sent an initial inquiry to the general e-mail address on the agency's website, then if someone responded to me, I asked them for the informational interview. Good luck to you! @Holly, if I recall correctly, I sent an initial inquiry to the general e-mail address on the agency’s website, then if someone responded to me, I asked them for the informational interview. Good luck to you!

]]> By: Holly Behl http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-964 Holly Behl Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:41:59 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-964 Corinne, Thanks for another invaluable post. When asking for an informational interview, who did you request to have it with? Or did you just ask for an interview and leave it up to them to decide? Corinne,

Thanks for another invaluable post. When asking for an informational interview, who did you request to have it with? Or did you just ask for an interview and leave it up to them to decide?

]]> By: Marie-Louise Desfray http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-960 Marie-Louise Desfray Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:02:45 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-960 Having just started as freelance, I do indeed keep track of contacts in an xls sheet, incl. rates I offered and the counter-offer. I include the rate structure since it seems each agency has a different discount rate for fuzzies and 100%/repetitions, as well as the payment terms, and anything that may impact my decision to accept the deal. Once the client and I have reached an agreement, I only have to transfer that information into my finance info. As for the tax money, I put it on a saving account so that I get some interests and I do not inadvertently use it for other purposes. And a question for Janine: what you're describing is close to harassment. However, I'm thinking of reminding a few people of my great skills and availability a few times a year and would like to hear whether once per quarter/semester would still sound too much for you. /ml Having just started as freelance, I do indeed keep track of contacts in an xls sheet, incl. rates I offered and the counter-offer. I include the rate structure since it seems each agency has a different discount rate for fuzzies and 100%/repetitions, as well as the payment terms, and anything that may impact my decision to accept the deal. Once the client and I have reached an agreement, I only have to transfer that information into my finance info.
As for the tax money, I put it on a saving account so that I get some interests and I do not inadvertently use it for other purposes.

And a question for Janine: what you’re describing is close to harassment. However, I’m thinking of reminding a few people of my great skills and availability a few times a year and would like to hear whether once per quarter/semester would still sound too much for you.

/ml

]]> By: Corinne McKay http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-956 Corinne McKay Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:52:18 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-956 Wow! Even more great tips here, these could be a post in themselves, thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and those who have enjoyed the post. Wow! Even more great tips here, these could be a post in themselves, thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and those who have enjoyed the post.

]]> By: Victoria Aris http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-952 Victoria Aris Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:56:11 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-952 Thank you SO much for this. A lot of the points were advice I'd already been given by people in business, or things that I'd learned during the whole process of qualifying. But even if it was something I knew already, it's good to be reminded now and again. Loved the reminder about realistic expectations. I was guilty of this before I even got my first job (I'm currently on client #2... so still very early days), after contacting countless agencies, replying to various jobs posted on forums, and getting no response. It still probably only amounted to a few dozen attempts, though - really not enough to be getting discouraged about at that point. And I shall be keeping a note of who I've contacted from now on! Better late than never... Thank you SO much for this. A lot of the points were advice I’d already been given by people in business, or things that I’d learned during the whole process of qualifying. But even if it was something I knew already, it’s good to be reminded now and again.

Loved the reminder about realistic expectations. I was guilty of this before I even got my first job (I’m currently on client #2… so still very early days), after contacting countless agencies, replying to various jobs posted on forums, and getting no response. It still probably only amounted to a few dozen attempts, though – really not enough to be getting discouraged about at that point.

And I shall be keeping a note of who I’ve contacted from now on! Better late than never…

]]> By: Franziska http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-951 Franziska Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:55:54 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-951 I am a beginner and I'll learn this article by heart ;-) Thanks for the advice! I am a beginner and I’ll learn this article by heart ;-)
Thanks for the advice!

]]> By: Percy Balemans http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-950 Percy Balemans Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:31:53 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-950 Excellent advice! What I'd like to add: REMEMBER YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Your clients are your business partners, not your employers. This means that you determine your rates and payment terms, not the client. You can negotiate them, but ultimately you're the one who decides what you do and don't accept. So if you are unhappy about your rates, payments terms, conditions, etc., don't complain, but negotiate better rates and conditions! Excellent advice!

What I’d like to add: REMEMBER YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Your clients are your business partners, not your employers. This means that you determine your rates and payment terms, not the client. You can negotiate them, but ultimately you’re the one who decides what you do and don’t accept. So if you are unhappy about your rates, payments terms, conditions, etc., don’t complain, but negotiate better rates and conditions!

]]> By: Istvan Fulop http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2009/01/12/avoiding-beginners-mistakes/#comment-945 Istvan Fulop Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:05:38 +0000 http://thoughtsontranslation.com/?p=416#comment-945 Think about what agencies can offer you: the option to say no to a job when you are busy, when you don't feel like it, or when you want to go on a holiday. An end client may go and seek another translator if you can't help them, as they need the job done (and this may erode your clientele), but an agency will just give you a ring two weeks later with a new project. And this is a major advantage worth considering when comparing agencies' fees and fees for end clients. Think about what agencies can offer you: the option to say no to a job when you are busy, when you don’t feel like it, or when you want to go on a holiday. An end client may go and seek another translator if you can’t help them, as they need the job done (and this may erode your clientele), but an agency will just give you a ring two weeks later with a new project. And this is a major advantage worth considering when comparing agencies’ fees and fees for end clients.

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