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Please give me some advices to improve my proz profil
Thread poster: Robin Dufaye
Robin Dufaye
Robin Dufaye  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 22:20
Spanish to French
+ ...
Dec 14, 2013

Hello,

I am just graduated in Spanish translation, I have already few contacts with some agencies, but their rates are low. I am really enjoying this work but I would like to have more clients.
So, if you have time, could you give a look to my proz profile, and give me some advice?

Thank you.
Best regards,
Robin.
 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 21:20
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
You probably just need to keep up the marketing Dec 14, 2013

I really can't find anything very wrong with your profile, Robin - it's complete and it's an awful lot better than average. Of course, there's always something that's less than perfect.

I would say that your About Me is your weak area: it really doesn't say anything much apart from restating what's already been said elsewhere. This is your chance to show your writing skills and market your services, so make the most of it.

Then there's consistency to consider, to make ... See more
I really can't find anything very wrong with your profile, Robin - it's complete and it's an awful lot better than average. Of course, there's always something that's less than perfect.

I would say that your About Me is your weak area: it really doesn't say anything much apart from restating what's already been said elsewhere. This is your chance to show your writing skills and market your services, so make the most of it.

Then there's consistency to consider, to make sure you're giving a clear and unambiguous message to potential clients. Your specialisations are a little different in each of the three areas (expertise, about me, CV) so that needs attention. And do try to pick up some KudoZ points in your top specialisations (if you aren't already trying) to emphasise your abilities.

And finally, specialisation is so important and I'm just wondering if you aren't giving the impression of trying to be good at too many things too early in your career. I don't know you, and maybe you CAN do them all perfectly - I'm just saying what some clients may worry about. Your CV is very clear: Spanish/English to French translations. But your profile talks of the reverse pair, as well as Spanish monolingual. Why wouldn't a client go to a native Spanish speaker? Then you offer a lot of different services, including interpreting which isn't in your CV at all. As I say, I'm just looking at it from the worst possible angle.

You probably simply need to keep looking for better clients. If you really need the work then I suppose you have to accept some jobs at a rather lower rate than you'd like but at least try to work with clients who have a bit of respect for you as a person, rather than thinking of you as some sort of word factory. The most important thing at this time is your self-respect; lose that and you'll never find the well-paying jobs. And keep marketing, so that you can drop the low payers one by one as you replace them with better ones. Maybe attend a workshop on how to market yourself. ▲ Collapse
 
ATIL KAYHAN
ATIL KAYHAN  Identity Verified
Türkiye
Local time: 23:20
Member (2007)
Turkish to English
+ ...
Keywords Dec 14, 2013

I would try to add even more terms to keywords at the end of the profile. CV is a good resource to look at.
 
Robin Dufaye
Robin Dufaye  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 22:20
Spanish to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Dec 15, 2013

Thank you very much for your answers, I spent some time changing many things. I have tried to be clearer. I consider the importance of getting Kudoz points and I also admit I have to be more humble!

Maybe I should change my profile picture, because I think it does not fit with a professional context and it makes me appear young (as I am...). What you said Sheila about respect is also very important. I am also looking for stability, at the moment I am not totally sure translation can... See more
Thank you very much for your answers, I spent some time changing many things. I have tried to be clearer. I consider the importance of getting Kudoz points and I also admit I have to be more humble!

Maybe I should change my profile picture, because I think it does not fit with a professional context and it makes me appear young (as I am...). What you said Sheila about respect is also very important. I am also looking for stability, at the moment I am not totally sure translation can be my permanent work, but I will try.

Thank you a lot for your comments


[Edited at 2013-12-15 22:33 GMT] ▲ Collapse
 


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Please give me some advices to improve my proz profil







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