Changes to be made to the ProZ.com job posting system

FAQ concerning the changes to be made

This is a bit unlike anything that has done at ProZ.com before. Why the change?

It had been the feeling among ProZ.com administrators that it more or less went without saying that poster rates were merely positions subject to negotiation. But the petition, and discussions with petitioners, made it clear that many translators have been regarding client figures as absolute. In light of this, the decision was made to modify the job posting system so that there would be no room for this sort of misinterpretation.

Won't job posters just continue including rates information in the body of their postings?

It is expected that once the new policies are announced, the majority of posters will respect them. However, the policy will be enforced as necessary.

My rates are higher than average, and I like to know before quoting whether there is any chance a given client will pay them. How will this change affect me?

The planned changes should help you. Indicate your preference to consider client budget before quoting in your profile. (Or rather, this page, for now). When an outsourcer posts a job that matches your profile, he or she will be given an opportunity to enter a budget range for your reference. (You must be a paying member for this to happen.)

Why do only paying members get to influence whether or not the client is given an opportunity to enter a budget range?

The job posting system is a commercial area of the site. In principle, member preferences are respected first.

I like ProZ.com as it is. I am worried that there may be unintended consequences as a result of these changes.

Indeed, these issues are complex and the results are not entirely predictable. It is likely that some aspects of the plan will need to be modified. Usage patterns will be monitored closely and feedback will be actively solicited.

Is it possible that one or more of the changes could be reversed?

Yes. Any change that turns out not to have a net positive effect would be changed or even reversed.

I understand that some petitioners had proposed a complete ban on any mention of rates / budget by outsourcers. Why do the planned actions stop short of that?

Many experienced translators prefer to get a sense of the client's budget before they invest the time necessary to quote. The changes to be implemented respect the preferences of these members, while leaving no room for misunderstanding the fact that the translator is in the best position to determine what he or she needs to charge to deliver the requisite quality on a given job.

Why would any translator want to know a client's budget in advance?

So that they don't waste time quoting when there is little or no chance that the client will pay their rates.

By allowing communication on rates to continue in some cases, aren't you undermining the whole thing?

We don't think so. The planned changes will at least achieve the goal of stopping ProZ.com from being used to popularize low rates. (And who knows, maybe the conditional exchange of data, without "popularization", provide a benefit. As one member put it, "Being open about rates in the community, IMO, facilitates clarity and might help eliminating underpaid jobs in the long run.")

I'm unconvinced -- I feel strongly that outsourcers should be completely barred from any mention of rates.

The proposal to ban rates discussion entirely was given careful consideration. The decision was made not to implement a full ban at this time.

Won't clients who pay poorly and translators who work for low pay still be able to meet? Why not just set a minimum rate so that they can't?

The idea of instituting a minimum rate is not new, but it was not part of the petition and was not among the proposals put forward by the independent working group established among petitioners. Therefore it was not considered anew at this time.

I don't expect these changes to improve the situation much for translators.

It is true that a technical solution like this can only go so far. A real solution to the problems faced by translators today will require cooperation and progress on more fundamental issues, including quality and productivity. Still, many are optimistic that these changes will help at least to some degree.

What about profile messages? Sometimes insulting offers are sent out via profiles.

The job posting system was the main subject of the petition, and that is where the focus is for now.

FAQs to be added to the site

The following FAQs will be added to the site when the changes are implemented.

FAQs for outsourcers

Where do I enter rates info?

First enter details related to the job, providing as much detail as possible. If among those who meet the criteria there are ProZ.com members who prefer to take your budget range into consideration when deciding whether or not to quote, you will be given an opportunity to provide a budget range.

I posted a job and no opportunity was provided for me to enter a budget range. Why?

This means that none of the professionals who meet your job criteria has a habit of considering client budgets before quoting. Any quotes you receive will have been based on the information you supplied in the job posting.

Why was the option to enter rates information from the start removed?

To reflect the fact that the individual translator is in the best position to determine what he or she needs to charge on a given job. For more information, see: About > Job posting changes

What if no one quotes within my budget range?

ProZ.com is home to the world's largest network of professional translators. If none is willing to work within your budget, you may want to consider either increasing your budget or seeking alternatives. For more information, see: Translation: Determining what service you need and what it will cost.

When I am given an opportunity to indicate a budget range, how should I go about estimating?

If you have no experience in pricing translation, you might want to pass on entering a budget range. If you do decide to enter a range, consider consulting the guide: Translation: Determining what service you need and what it will cost. That document links to data on the rates charged by translators registered with ProZ.com.

Should I enter a budget range that is a bit lower than what I can actually afford to pay?

That is up to you, but entering your real maximum helps ensure that the job is visible (and appealing to) a larger group of professionals.

FAQs for translators

Why don't I see payment information in job postings anymore?

Certain changes were recently made to the job posting system to reflect the fact that the translator is in the best position to determine what rate he or she needs to charge on a given job. For more information, see: About > Job posting changes.

I am an experienced translator, but I am new to freelancing. How do I go about determining what I need to charge on a given job?

For guidance on this topic, see the article Determining your rates and fees as a translator.

I've indicated a preference to see client budgeting information before deciding whether to quote, and as a result I sometimes see that information. Do I have to quote within the client's budget range?

No. The budget range provided by the client is strictly for use in determining whether or not you will take the time to quote. When quoting, you should never offer to do a job for less than the amount you need to deliver work at the quality level that is required, irrespective of the budget range specified.

If I am free to quote whatever price I want, why would I even look at the client's budget range?

You don't have to. Some people prefer to know the client's budget range so that they don't spend time quoting when there is little or no chance that the client will pay the rates they charge.

Is it safe to consider the budget ranges entered by clients as indicative of the going rates in the market?

No. Clients budget ranges often fall below the going rates.

How can I find out what the real going rates are?

The article Determining your rates and fees as a translator has links to rates data compiled at ProZ.com, by industry associations, etc. A methodology for working out what *you* need to charge to meet your own income needs and objectives is also provided in the guide.

What if after I quote the client comes back and offers me less than the rates I have determined I need to charge?

Turn it down. Only you can know what you need to charge to deliver work at the quality required on an ongoing basis. Ultimately, it is your responsibility -- to colleagues and clients -- not to charge less than that amount.

Are the translators who give the lowest quotes always the ones selected?

No. Experienced clients know that it is not possible to deliver quality consistently when rates are below a certain level. Therefore, the translators who are successful in connecting with new clients via ProZ.com tend to be those who quote within the normal range for professionals.

I understand all of this in principle, but I am not sure I can do this on my own.

You're not alone! Reach out to other ProZ.com members via the site or at a local powwow. You are sure to find loads of support.