Comments on: Just what do you take me for? http://www.jodybyrne.com/1246 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:58:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: :::JodyByrne.com - Fool me once, shame on you… ::: http://www.jodybyrne.com/1246/comment-page-1#comment-118 :::JodyByrne.com - Fool me once, shame on you… ::: Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:04:02 +0000 http://www.jodybyrne.com/?p=1246#comment-118 [...] for free has once again reared its ugly, miserable, penny-pinching head again. Some time ago I wrote about a job posting on Proz asking for a specialised text to be translated for free. Now, according to an article in [...] [...] for free has once again reared its ugly, miserable, penny-pinching head again. Some time ago I wrote about a job posting on Proz asking for a specialised text to be translated for free. Now, according to an article in [...]

]]> By: Jody Byrne http://www.jodybyrne.com/1246/comment-page-1#comment-78 Jody Byrne Thu, 28 May 2009 10:49:17 +0000 http://www.jodybyrne.com/?p=1246#comment-78 Thank you Laurent and Geraldine for your comments. I think part of the problem is that translation, unlike medicine and law, isn't a protected profession. You don't need particular qualifications or experience to get in. As long as you can convince someone that you can do the job, there's nobody there to say you can't do it. Obviously there could be some freedom of speech issues too but that's a different kettle of fish. I think that because people without qualifications and ability can come into the profession at will, they don't take the same pride in their work as qualified professionals. When you don't have pride in your work or your profession that's when you start working for peanuts. Maybe the only way forward is to turn translation into a regulated profession but I'm not sure how this would work and I'm not sure who I would trust to regulate us. Thank you Laurent and Geraldine for your comments. I think part of the problem is that translation, unlike medicine and law, isn’t a protected profession. You don’t need particular qualifications or experience to get in. As long as you can convince someone that you can do the job, there’s nobody there to say you can’t do it. Obviously there could be some freedom of speech issues too but that’s a different kettle of fish.

I think that because people without qualifications and ability can come into the profession at will, they don’t take the same pride in their work as qualified professionals. When you don’t have pride in your work or your profession that’s when you start working for peanuts. Maybe the only way forward is to turn translation into a regulated profession but I’m not sure how this would work and I’m not sure who I would trust to regulate us.

]]> By: GR http://www.jodybyrne.com/1246/comment-page-1#comment-66 GR Fri, 22 May 2009 20:28:34 +0000 http://www.jodybyrne.com/?p=1246#comment-66 Hi Jody, Thank you for the jaw-dropping post. Personally, and fortunately it seems, I've only ever used Proz as a way of keeping up to speed with aspects of the translation business. I've been put off from bidding for jobs by comments similar to your own, claiming that Proz is a pay-peanuts-get-monkeys job site. Well, your post certainly confirms this! You're right: the fact that there are translators out there prepared to work for such low rates doesn't do any good whatsoever for the image of the translation profession. It always amazes me how you never see doctors and lawyers bidding for crappy rates, yet translators take no shame in doing so. @laurent As for the solution, well I think the more translators who seek accreditation with professional translation bodies and the more we communicate to the business world the importance of paying professional translators decent rates, the more the situation will improve. Just my two cents! Hi Jody, Thank you for the jaw-dropping post. Personally, and fortunately it seems, I’ve only ever used Proz as a way of keeping up to speed with aspects of the translation business. I’ve been put off from bidding for jobs by comments similar to your own, claiming that Proz is a pay-peanuts-get-monkeys job site. Well, your post certainly confirms this! You’re right: the fact that there are translators out there prepared to work for such low rates doesn’t do any good whatsoever for the image of the translation profession. It always amazes me how you never see doctors and lawyers bidding for crappy rates, yet translators take no shame in doing so.

@laurent As for the solution, well I think the more translators who seek accreditation with professional translation bodies and the more we communicate to the business world the importance of paying professional translators decent rates, the more the situation will improve.

Just my two cents!

]]> By: Laurent http://www.jodybyrne.com/1246/comment-page-1#comment-58 Laurent Wed, 20 May 2009 13:36:34 +0000 http://www.jodybyrne.com/?p=1246#comment-58 Great post. I feel exactly the same when I'm looking for new jobs. And although I'm a young translator (graduated a year ago), I never accepted underpaid jobs (though I did volunteer translation during my studies). I think clever translators don't look for potential jobs on these sites (I tried, when looking for my firsts clients, but quickly abandoned the idea). So what's the solution to avoid prices being underestimated? Creating a new Elite translator forum with a serious job filter ? Great post. I feel exactly the same when I’m looking for new jobs. And although I’m a young translator (graduated a year ago), I never accepted underpaid jobs (though I did volunteer translation during my studies).

I think clever translators don’t look for potential jobs on these sites (I tried, when looking for my firsts clients, but quickly abandoned the idea). So what’s the solution to avoid prices being underestimated? Creating a new Elite translator forum with a serious job filter ?

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