| Lapas par tematu: < [1 2] | Agencies' reactions to being asked for references Tēmas autors: Nesrin
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Nesrin 
Apvienotā Karaliste
Local time: 04:35
angļu - arābu
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I agree - I think! | Dec 17, 2004 |
Moonia wrote:
I don't know about other countries but in the UK agencies very often require that a translator provides them with references and they verify it rather thoroughly, at times by sending some form out to them to be filled out. This form might be rather lenghthy and requires that your client gives detailed information about your work for them.
I agree with you, Moonia, that - at least here in the UK - this matter with references is often taken quite seriously. On some online forms the references field is even obligatory - can't be left blank. I wouldn't cite my references to anyone that comes along, it will have to be an established agency (e.g. corporate member of the ITI).
However, I do agree with others here that agencies can sometimes place too much emphasis on that request. I mean, if you're a member of a respected professional organisation already (e.g. IoL or ITI) shouldn't that be enough evidence of your qualifications?
| | | | | Simply ABSURD.. | Dec 18, 2004 |
Moonia wrote:
..in the UK agencies very often require that a translator provides them with references and they verify it rather thoroughly, at times by sending some form out to them to be filled out. This form might be rather lenghthy and requires that your client gives detailed information about your work for them.
I used to work for an agency briefly and know how irritated clients get when they have to spend 15 mins by filling the form out.
IRRITATED? As I would be that client, I would answer with the worst words I know!
WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!!!!
What are you doing? Such an idiotic boss think such a demential procedure and u say that's ok? ARE YOU SLEEPING? Really, we are entrepreneurs, as said Dieter!
- CHILDREN thinks that adult are wise, "my father morning dress very fine, and go to office. There I has very very serious things to do" - "Entreprise are such a serious place, where very serious and wise people make important and wise things"
- ADULTS know that this "boss" or this "company" is HUMAN, is LIKE ME, is like my neighbour, so can DO clever things OR can do stupid things.
Are you children or adults?
Daniele
[Edited at 2004-12-18 09:09]
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Hirschmann wrote:
As an entrepreneur, you shouldn't provide references. Why should you? Do the freelancers who provide services to you such as dentists, lawyers or tax consultants provide you with references?
No, they don't, and they never will.
So, why should free-lance translators?
I fully agree - but the question then arises, why are these references then so often asked from translators..? As people above have said, some agencies even demand that you provide them.. Unfortunately, it's not so much use for translators to see themselves as entrepreneurs, if others (i.e. agencies or clients) don't see it that way...
| | | | | Can't avoid references - unless you don't necessarily need new clients | Feb 23, 2005 |
I agree with Heli. It's no use for translators to see themselves as entrepreneurs if others don't. If you start out in the business, references are unavoidable. It was hard to get my first job ... but easier to get my second (I had good references!). Many agencies ask for references. Question is: How do you avoid something that is so widely requested by potential employers?
Nesrin, I do think it's okay to ask the same people for references. However, I'd use them as "sparingly" as p... See more I agree with Heli. It's no use for translators to see themselves as entrepreneurs if others don't. If you start out in the business, references are unavoidable. It was hard to get my first job ... but easier to get my second (I had good references!). Many agencies ask for references. Question is: How do you avoid something that is so widely requested by potential employers?
Nesrin, I do think it's okay to ask the same people for references. However, I'd use them as "sparingly" as possible. True, people might get annoyed when they need to fill out long questionnaires, but the agencies you ask for references probably realize that the questionnaires they fill out for *you* are smiliar to the questionnaires *they* send to potential translators....
Good luck
[/quote]
I fully agree - but the question then arises, why are these references then so often asked from translators..? As people above have said, some agencies even demand that you provide them.. Unfortunately, it's not so much use for translators to see themselves as entrepreneurs, if others (i.e. agencies or clients) don't see it that way...[/quote] ▲ Collapse
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Andy Lemminger
Kanāda
Local time: 21:35
Biedrs (kopš 2002)
angļu - vācu
| You can avoid them | Apr 18, 2005 |
Hi Annika,
I think you can avoid them very well. Of course I agree that the situation is different if you are looking for first jobs but in this case you don't even have any references that you could provide.
If an agency asks me for references I explain why I don't provide any. I tell them about my experiences, education and skills but I also tell them that I won't give them any references because I don't want to aks my clients to work for me.
Some take it... See more Hi Annika,
I think you can avoid them very well. Of course I agree that the situation is different if you are looking for first jobs but in this case you don't even have any references that you could provide.
If an agency asks me for references I explain why I don't provide any. I tell them about my experiences, education and skills but I also tell them that I won't give them any references because I don't want to aks my clients to work for me.
Some take it well and others don't. If they don't I am not too upset because my current clients are more important to me than potential new ones so I don't want to risk annoying them with such requests.
It's almost the same as free sample translations. There will always be colleagues who agree to work for free and they don't even know if they will get the job afterwards.
But that doesn't mean that anybody else has to do it. We aren't sheep or lemmings (not even me, in spite of my name).
Take care
Andy ▲ Collapse
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