Translation agencies that post assignments rather than email?
Thread poster: Andrea Keown
Andrea Keown
Andrea Keown  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 21:02
Spanish to English
Jul 10, 2017

Hi! I'm looking for a list of translation companies that post their available translation projects for acceptance by translators on a first-come, first-serve basis, rather than via an email communication system. Thank you in advance for your time!

Andrea


 
Connected Tr (X)
Connected Tr (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:02
Chinese to English
+ ...
Most agencies don't work like this Jul 17, 2017

Do you mean agencies that post all their available jobs online and whoever accepts them first gets the job? As far as I know, there aren't any reputable translation agencies that work like that - clients expect a translator to be chosen because they are the best fit for the job rather than the fastest clicker. Gengo.com does have that system, but their rates are generally far too low for a professional translator.

 
Mirko Mainardi
Mirko Mainardi  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 04:02
Member
English to Italian
Too low Jul 17, 2017

Han-Qi wrote:

... but their rates are generally far too low for a professional translator.


$0.09 psw is actually pretty much in line with ProZ community rates for several pairs, and if you browse some rates-related threads here, or some profiles of people who decided to publish their rates, you'll find that many of them actually work for even lower rates...

To the OP: I am not sure you'll find such a list here, also considering that what you're asking implies that it's the agency that sets the rate and then (more or less automatically...) assigns the job to whoever answer first. But I agree with Han-Qi. If you're sure that's what you're looking for, then perhaps you should be looking for 'online translation platforms' such as the one they mentioned.


 
Connected Tr (X)
Connected Tr (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:02
Chinese to English
+ ...
True but... Jul 18, 2017

Yes, Gengo's professional rates are not too bad, but their standard rates would be impossible to make a living off. A colleague who's had experience with them said most jobs were put through at the standard rate rather than the professional rate.

 
Mirko Mainardi
Mirko Mainardi  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 04:02
Member
English to Italian
Pittance Jul 18, 2017

Han-Qi wrote:

Yes, Gengo's professional rates are not too bad, but their standard rates would be impossible to make a living off. A colleague who's had experience with them said most jobs were put through at the standard rate rather than the professional rate.


Indeed, that's a real pittance, but again, I've seen jobs published here (and elsewhere) with 'budgets', or specific rates, in that range, or even lower... And yes, I guess people using such services are primarily looking for cheap and fast translations...


Jose Gomes
 
Robert Rietvelt
Robert Rietvelt  Identity Verified
Local time: 04:02
Member (2006)
Spanish to Dutch
+ ...
I unfortunately can't give you such a list, but.... Jul 18, 2017

schandre wrote:

Hi! I'm looking for a list of translation companies that post their available translation projects for acceptance by translators on a first-come, first-serve basis, rather than via an email communication system. Thank you in advance for your time!

Andrea


.... go on in the business, and you will be able to make such a list yourself.

Why you are asking this question is really an enigma for me. My MO is first looking at the job/text before accepting it, so I know if/or not I can deliver a quality translation.

Unfortunately reality is that colleagues are accepting it right away and look afterwards. They got the job/money and I get to do the proofing, most of the times 'zum janken' so bad.

So I wonder if this is the right way to do it. I would advice all agencies to do it via a personal email communication system (as you name it), that is, if it is quality they are looking for in stead of the cheapest moonlighter.

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Wai Hin Lee
 
mariealpilles
mariealpilles  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 04:02
Member (2014)
English to French
+ ...
agencies posting on a first-come, first served basis Jul 19, 2017

Would you seriously consider working for such and agency as a professional? It gives me the impression that they just want to have their jobs assigned to so as to be able to deliver but could not care less about quality or qualifications. A professional agency assigns jobs according to the specialisation field of the translator, not on the basis of whomever answers first.

 
Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 11:02
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
Why? Jul 19, 2017

Just curious...is there any reason that you would prefer to do it this way, which by its nature means almost no opportunity to communicate with the client during the process? Even if you are in position to almost always grab these projects ahead of others, and the rate is reasonable, it doesn't seem like a situation that I want to work in.

 
Oksana Weiss
Oksana Weiss  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 04:02
Member (2011)
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
Some of them are... Jul 19, 2017

Vocabridge, Transperfect, Lionbridge, to name a few. But, as mentioned above, most of jobs there are priced at "flat rate" rather than per word/hour, and this flat rate is usually rather low:(

 
Andrea Keown
Andrea Keown  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 21:02
Spanish to English
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks! Jul 19, 2017

Thank you everyone for your input! My main reason for asking this question is that I am looking for a place where I can find quick, easily-accessible jobs as supplemental income in between jobs from larger, email-based companies. I am in transition between working outside the home/part-time translation and freelancing full-time. As a result, I would like to keep myself as busy as possible while I get on my feet and until I have enough work from the larger companies. I already work for OneHourTr... See more
Thank you everyone for your input! My main reason for asking this question is that I am looking for a place where I can find quick, easily-accessible jobs as supplemental income in between jobs from larger, email-based companies. I am in transition between working outside the home/part-time translation and freelancing full-time. As a result, I would like to keep myself as busy as possible while I get on my feet and until I have enough work from the larger companies. I already work for OneHourTranslation and enjoy their system to make a quick buck here and there, and to gain more experience. Personally I still always look over the files to make sure it is something I am able to translate well, though I do understand how the system attracts low-quality translators who don't pre-read, rush through the projects and do a poor job. Luckily, I've found that it is still possible to keep my standards high while working for them, though I completely agree that it is not the best long-term solution as a professional. The transition and finding reputable agencies with enough work is way harder than I ever anticipated it to be, but I'm getting closer! Thank you again for your posts.Collapse


 
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Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 04:02
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Something went wrong... fields in red are required. Mar 22, 2018

Angel Llacuna wrote:
Can anyone share your experience of working as translator for [agency name]? [Often], when I try to claim a job, it [is] already taken by another translator.


We're not allowed to discuss agencies on these forums, but you can join some of the blacklist groups and ask your questions there.

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1536857
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3415770
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/WPPF/
http://www.paymentpractices.net/


 


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Translation agencies that post assignments rather than email?







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