Страниц в теме: < [1 2] | Some serious mistakes no freelancer should ever make
| | EHI (X) Local time: 00:24 down payment? | Mar 28, 2011 |
Anthony Baldwin wrote:
I've been doing this for 7 years. Not once have I encountered an agency willing to make a deposit on a job. Ever.
I agree. This is not common in our line of business. But it's no problem. I've worked with over 90 agencies and they've all paid. For large translations which take me a couple of months to completeI obviously ask for several partial payments, which has never been a problem either. | | | Contract and down payment? | Mar 30, 2011 |
I agree with the list even if I believe that not all these points can be applicable to each translator/interpreter and client. Most of all, I agree with comments by Samuel and Krzysztof. According to my experience, I never had any contract with my clients. Usually I agree with them conditions rate and deadline and I receive the payment, usually, upon delivery or after a short period, oblyously upon agreement. Up to date, I got payment problems only with the Civil Court: too low ra... See more I agree with the list even if I believe that not all these points can be applicable to each translator/interpreter and client. Most of all, I agree with comments by Samuel and Krzysztof. According to my experience, I never had any contract with my clients. Usually I agree with them conditions rate and deadline and I receive the payment, usually, upon delivery or after a short period, oblyously upon agreement. Up to date, I got payment problems only with the Civil Court: too low rates and not always paid! I also agree with the point concerning "tariffs". They have to be determined according mainly to complexity and technicality of the translation, the field and the length. ▲ Collapse | | | Helen Johnston Испания Local time: 00:24 Член ProZ.com c 2007 каталанский (каталонский) => английский + ... Payment in advance. Wrong. | Mar 31, 2011 |
Agree with the comments about being paid in advance, it just doesn't happen. At least here in Spain, 30-60 days credit is the norm, and you bill agencies at the end of the month, not for every job.
The trick for me (apart from Blue Board checks, looking at the company's website, checking the e-mail address is genuine, getting a proper purchase order and agreed price for the job etc) is to start doing small jobs for a new customer. If they pay OK, I carry on working for them, and start... See more Agree with the comments about being paid in advance, it just doesn't happen. At least here in Spain, 30-60 days credit is the norm, and you bill agencies at the end of the month, not for every job.
The trick for me (apart from Blue Board checks, looking at the company's website, checking the e-mail address is genuine, getting a proper purchase order and agreed price for the job etc) is to start doing small jobs for a new customer. If they pay OK, I carry on working for them, and start acepting bigger and more projects. In fact I've never not been paid in 4 years as a freelancer, but I'm aware of the risk, so start off cautiously.
And as for not delivering until you've been paid, that's totally impractical. Even if a project manager could circumvent their company's normal payment cycle, it takes takes several days to process an invoice and authorise a bank transfer, and smaller translation jobs are generally for same- or next- day delivery.
There has to be some trust, on both sides. ▲ Collapse | | | Clive Phillips Великобритания Local time: 23:24 немецкий => английский + ... It's perhaps difficult to generalise | Apr 2, 2011 |
Serious mistakes in one part of the world may be recommended practice in another. It depends on what is regarded as generally acceptable or not in your region. And then your personal preferences and experience also have an influence.
Life has been interesting as an in-house translator/interpreter for 11 years, a project manager in a Government translations/interpreters supplier (outsourcing to freelances) for 8 years and latterly a freelance translator for 2 years.
My bias... See more Serious mistakes in one part of the world may be recommended practice in another. It depends on what is regarded as generally acceptable or not in your region. And then your personal preferences and experience also have an influence.
Life has been interesting as an in-house translator/interpreter for 11 years, a project manager in a Government translations/interpreters supplier (outsourcing to freelances) for 8 years and latterly a freelance translator for 2 years.
My biassed and subjective views:
1. Working without a contract– Agree. Agencies usually insist on their own terms and conditions but it's important to have a safety net.
2. Missing deadlines and appointments– Agree. Have a valid reason and discuss immediately with the client as soon as it seems a deadline cannot be met. 3. Starting work without getting paid first– Don't agree. Contrary to local practice here.
4. Charging too little– Can be a pitfall for novices but fee rates depend also on so many other factors. Discussions on rates engender much heat but little light.
5. Taking on too much work– Agree. How's my life/work balance? Life has so much more to offer.
6. Neglecting your marketing when times are good– Depends on your language pair(s) and the related demand, and whether freelancing is your only income, etc.
7. Not having clear deliverables– Agree. The client needs to know s/he's dealing with someone who's serious.
8. Not having a “kill fee” in the contract– Depends on local practice and whether you've researched your client's reputation (e.g. BB).
9. Not following up on proposals– Agree.
10. Not upselling clients– Don't agree. As a client I didn't warm to freelances who continually offered unsolicited, inappropriate and unwanted services.
11. Neglecting your finances– Agree. ▲ Collapse | | | Страниц в теме: < [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 » Some serious mistakes no freelancer should ever make TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
| CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |