Poll: Are you receiving fewer translation jobs than a year ago?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
May 24, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are you receiving fewer translation jobs than a year ago?".

This poll was originally submitted by Ana Maria Medeiros. View the poll results »



AlexMakarenko
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 05:08
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No May 24, 2019

About the same number of translation jobs, though with a larger number of words than last year. The big difference in comparison to last year is that I’m receiving much more editing and transcreation jobs…

 
Kay-Viktor Stegemann
Kay-Viktor Stegemann
Germany
Local time: 06:08
English to German
In memoriam
Please ask open questions May 24, 2019

May I again suggest to ask poll questions in an open form, i. e. not simply yes-no-questions, but questions with a range of possible answers? A yes-no-question is always leading and polarizing. This question would actually work much better with answer options like "a lot fewer than a year ago; a little fewer; about the same; a little more; many more; ..." and the results would be more meaningful.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Samuel Murray
Philip Lees
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 06:08
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes May 24, 2019

Yes, but so far, it isn't a problem. I've had a couple of quiet weeks, which has enabled me to see to other affairs without stressing about having to take time away from my work.

 
Angus Stewart
Angus Stewart  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:08
Member (2011)
French to English
+ ...
Yes May 24, 2019

Yes, I suspect two factors are contributing to this: (1) the dreaded Brexit effect and (2) the trend towards more demand for PEMT is leading to me receiving far fewer traditional translation projects from at least two of my regular clients.

Mr.Q
Henry Schroeder
Adam Warren
 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:08
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Yes May 24, 2019

Yes, alas, I've been receiving far fewer translation jobs in the last year or two. Like Angus, I suspect the reason is the apparently interminable uncertainty caused by the "Brexit effect" and the rise in the use of MT and the demand for "PEMT".
Also, a large Paris agency for which I used to work occasionally has recently taken over several smaller agencies for which I worked frequently and has imposed tougher terms and conditions.


Henry Schroeder
Adam Warren
 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 06:08
French to English
More May 24, 2019

It seems that I'm getting more projects, and more large projects too, because I'm definitely earning more.
Haven't felt a Brexit effect (yet at any rate).
A couple of agencies seem to have dropped me, after sending several requests for my "best price" and "could you lower your rate just for this project/client?", so I presume I'm now too expensive for them. However other agencies are now sending more work, and I have gained a few new clients too.


Liena Vijupe
 
Henry Schroeder
Henry Schroeder  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 01:08
Member (2002)
German to English
+ ...
Yes. And good question. May 24, 2019

Neural/Machine translations are the number one factor in this.

A second may be economic concerns due to the length of the business cycle, i.e. less spending and investment by companies.

You also see this drop in demand in the job board at proz.com. And very reasonable rate offers are simply ignored.

I believe there will be some changes in the industry. Many of my regular translation agencies (for years) are only sending me crazy jobs or rush work.
... See more
Neural/Machine translations are the number one factor in this.

A second may be economic concerns due to the length of the business cycle, i.e. less spending and investment by companies.

You also see this drop in demand in the job board at proz.com. And very reasonable rate offers are simply ignored.

I believe there will be some changes in the industry. Many of my regular translation agencies (for years) are only sending me crazy jobs or rush work.

One big question is becoming the level of perfection. Neural machine translation post edited + another round of editing produces very good results. BUT NOT PERFECTION. The question is how much the necessary next round of editing and proofreading is worth. Or whether it is necessary. If you just need to understand the text, but don't need perfection, then a machine translation + a little editing is sufficient. This would require a downward adjustment in prices or at least such an offer.
Collapse


writeaway
Ana Maria Medeiros
Angus Stewart
Susanna Martoni
Adam Warren
 
Susanna Martoni
Susanna Martoni  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 06:08
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
+ ...
Yes May 24, 2019

Our job is changing and I think that this is a crucial moment.
I am attending some meetings and roadshows where several stakeholders say "Do not worry, you have to learn how to manage changes. Learn to sell, to market and satisfy all these new needs trying to diversify yourself".

Uhm. I am sincerly worried.


writeaway
Ana Maria Medeiros
Angus Stewart
Barbara Niessen
 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 00:08
German to English
+ ...
No, same or more May 24, 2019

It is probably due to the kind of work I do, and word of mouth.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 22:08
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
About the same May 26, 2019

Fewer jobs, but as many or more words. I've had three humongous (book-length) jobs so this year and another one is coming up soon.

 


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Poll: Are you receiving fewer translation jobs than a year ago?






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