Providing CV to agencies to find them projects Thread poster: Pradeep Neupane
|
|---|
Dear all,
I often receive emails from my regular client agencies requesting my updated CV with project details covering different domain. In previous days I have provided my CV to some agencies. I know they are asking for CV to market or bid projects in my language pair. Now, these days I afraid to share my CV with them to market their business.
Please guide me is it normal trend in this business or I should stop completely sharing my CV with agencies if it is for biddi... See more Dear all,
I often receive emails from my regular client agencies requesting my updated CV with project details covering different domain. In previous days I have provided my CV to some agencies. I know they are asking for CV to market or bid projects in my language pair. Now, these days I afraid to share my CV with them to market their business.
Please guide me is it normal trend in this business or I should stop completely sharing my CV with agencies if it is for bidding projects for them?
Please share your ideas and experience.
Regards,
Pradeep ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lincoln Hui 
Hong Kong
Local time: 17:50
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
| If it's a regular client | Aug 12, 2013 |
They already have your old CV, so if they want to do something nefarious with your CV they already can. It's mostly about what you think of the agency, whether you believe that they can be trusted. You can't avoid sending your CV when working with a new client/agency, for example, and that's by far riskier.
| | | | | CV with new domain projects | Aug 12, 2013 |
Hi Lincoln,
My concern is regarding what to do when my old clients ask for my updated CV with specific domain projects detail. Actually, here they are using my CV to bid projects not to qualify me for projects they already own.
Regards,
Pradeep.
| | | | Vasu Valluri
India
Local time: 15:20
Russian to English
+ ...
| CV to Agencies | Aug 12, 2013 |
This question is very actual in these days of identity theft. Earlier, identity thefts were rare and not as dangerous as now-a-days. We have to think twice because, a freelancers primary marketing tool - the CV, may as well be used to hack in to your social networks, emails, and if we are not careful even bank accounts.
But without sharing a CV we cannot land a job and that is definite. Even the online job exchange sites gather all this information to offer you suitable jobs. As the... See more This question is very actual in these days of identity theft. Earlier, identity thefts were rare and not as dangerous as now-a-days. We have to think twice because, a freelancers primary marketing tool - the CV, may as well be used to hack in to your social networks, emails, and if we are not careful even bank accounts.
But without sharing a CV we cannot land a job and that is definite. Even the online job exchange sites gather all this information to offer you suitable jobs. As there is no other way, we are left with only to look for whatever available methods to safeguard our identities. Following are a few opinions I made thru my experience please make your own deductions:
1. Work with only known / well reputed agencies. This we can verify by physical verification of local companies, in case of far-off agencies, which is usually the case, in either Translation directories list or proz.com or through peer networks. Do not go by the sweet and pleasing voices of project managers, look for historical trends.
2. Certifications may mean a lot or nothing at all.
3. Beautiful offices likewise may mean a lot or nothing at all
4. Even a well-meaning, good agent, with whom you had a fruitful and long relationship may fail because of a wrong deal. Give him time and he will come back. But if this - delays in payments becomes a habit then you may have to give a second thought. Chronic ailing is dangerous.
5. As far as possible never reveal your bank details along with the CV.
6. Try to maintain a separate (current) account for transactions and if possible not in the same name as your CV, this is possible if you register as a proprietership in many countries. Do not keep big amounts for long in this account.
Thanking you,
vasu Valluri ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
I wouldn't normally mind giving my agencies my CV for use in procuring job orders, but here's the problem: I don't want my own services offered by an agency to compete with my own services offered by me.
If I had a standard CV for the industry, I'd probably just want my name off it, so that I don't compete against myself. On the other hand, just as probably quite a few other specialists, I have a set of education and experience that's instantly recognisable to anyone who's seen it. ... See more I wouldn't normally mind giving my agencies my CV for use in procuring job orders, but here's the problem: I don't want my own services offered by an agency to compete with my own services offered by me.
If I had a standard CV for the industry, I'd probably just want my name off it, so that I don't compete against myself. On the other hand, just as probably quite a few other specialists, I have a set of education and experience that's instantly recognisable to anyone who's seen it. Just getting the name off it won't work, I'd need to use an abbreviated biogram instead or something like that. ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Unfortunately our market is subject to non-professional behavior of both parties (Translators or Agencies).
- Make your CV a PDF totally locked with watermark and electronic signature.
- Do not trust totally on feedbacks you see. Protect yourself.
Two big problems in the moment:
* Agencies are using your name/profile to marketing themselves.
* Translators are creating false Positive Feedback and they are contacting the e... See more Unfortunately our market is subject to non-professional behavior of both parties (Translators or Agencies).
- Make your CV a PDF totally locked with watermark and electronic signature.
- Do not trust totally on feedbacks you see. Protect yourself.
Two big problems in the moment:
* Agencies are using your name/profile to marketing themselves.
* Translators are creating false Positive Feedback and they are contacting the end-clients without authorization by using another names/partners (note: the same partner who gave positive feedback for them). Bad part: the agency cannot give a Negative feedback for this translator in PROZ!
Fraud by Agencies (English)
http://alatraduz.blogspot.com/2013/07/google-your-name.html
Fraud by Translators (Sorry, I just have in Portuguese)
http://alatraduz.blogspot.com/2013/07/nova-fraude-descoberta.html ▲ Collapse
| | | | | If an agency wins a project thanks to your CV | Aug 12, 2013 |
Łukasz Gos-Furmankiewicz wrote:
I wouldn't normally mind giving my agencies my CV for use in procuring job orders, but here's the problem: I don't want my own services offered by an agency to compete with my own services offered by me.
If I had a standard CV for the industry, I'd probably just want my name off it, so that I don't compete against myself. On the other hand, just as probably quite a few other specialists, I have a set of education and experience that's instantly recognisable to anyone who's seen it. Just getting the name off it won't work, I'd need to use an abbreviated biogram instead or something like that.
The fact that an agency wins a project thanks to your CV does not mean they will give you the job.
If the agency has somebody cheaper than you who offers a level of quality they consider acceptable (many have no quality standards at all and the only factor they consider is price), the agency will give the job to the cheaper freelancer.
And make no mistake, agencies will hide your name, since they do not want end clients to find out who is the person behind the CV, for obvious reasons: they do not want to lose the end client to you.
What do you think non disclosure agreements (also known as confidentiality agreements) are for?
As simple as that.
[Edited at 2013-08-12 14:58 GMT]
| | | |
Miguel Carmona wrote:
The fact that an agency wins a project thanks to your CV does not mean they will give you the job.
Of course.
If the agency has somebody cheaper than you who offers a level of quality they consider acceptable (many have no quality standards at all and the only factor they consider is price), the agency will give the job to the cheaper freelancer.
Yup.
And make no mistake, agencies will hide your name, since they do not want end clients to find out who is the person behind the CV, for obvious reasons: they do not want to lose the end client to you.
That's not actually so simple, especially in formalised procurements. They may still end up giving the job to a cheaper translator after winning it on the basis of your CV (although doing so could actually expose them to penalties or even constitute fraud), but they may actually need your name.
What do you think non disclosure agreements (also known as confidentiality agreements) are for?
They are for the benefit of the agency. If it benefits the agency more to keep things secret, things will be kept secret. But if using your name should for some reason offer more advantage to the agency, then your name will be used. (Even though you may still be contractually barred from uttering a word about the thing, let alone barred by an appropriate non-competition clause from accepting any jobs coming directly from those clients who know your name.)
[Edited at 2013-08-12 15:06 GMT]
| | |
|
|
|
| All these tricks | Aug 12, 2013 |
with CVs sent by agencies to direct clients with names removed, etc. are employed by agencies which I would definitely stay away from.
On the other hand, they can ask you for your CV and at the same time do not mention the purpose of getting it.
And, I don`t think that direct clients will be happy to have a CV of someone whose name is removed. That won`t add to "popularity" of this agency among direct clients.
Usually these agencies will also ask you for ... See more with CVs sent by agencies to direct clients with names removed, etc. are employed by agencies which I would definitely stay away from.
On the other hand, they can ask you for your CV and at the same time do not mention the purpose of getting it.
And, I don`t think that direct clients will be happy to have a CV of someone whose name is removed. That won`t add to "popularity" of this agency among direct clients.
Usually these agencies will also ask you for your best/reasonable/competitive rate; deadlines will be tough as well. Too far from a perfect client, as to me.
[Edited at 2013-08-12 16:26 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | my conclusion | Aug 13, 2013 |
Thank you everyone for new ideas and thoughts.
Normally, I get these request from only Indian agencies and I doubt they bid projects being translators sometime removing the original name or bid projects claiming the CV provider as In-house translator.
Conclusion: Not to give out CV to agencies to whom I have worked for many projects.
[Edited at 2013-08-13 08:08 GMT]
| | | | | Uptadted CV could mean also more projects to you | Aug 14, 2013 |
I would think it is normal for an agency to bid for projects in which their translators are strong. If you are highly specialized in a certain subject, the agency can offer that to their clients and in turn give you that job.
On the other hand, the agency where you sent your CV 10 years ago may not know about the new languages you learned or the courses and training you took through the years. I think it is a good idea to update your resume once a year, and of course, send an update... See more I would think it is normal for an agency to bid for projects in which their translators are strong. If you are highly specialized in a certain subject, the agency can offer that to their clients and in turn give you that job.
On the other hand, the agency where you sent your CV 10 years ago may not know about the new languages you learned or the courses and training you took through the years. I think it is a good idea to update your resume once a year, and of course, send an updated copy to the agencies you work with. ▲ Collapse
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Providing CV to agencies to find them projects | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
| | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
