Ask job poster - suggested new feature Thread poster: José Henrique Lamensdorf
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I am suggesting a feature which could improve Proz job systems for the somewhat less careful, attentive, savvy, or you-name-it job posters, as well as for candidates. It should work similarly to Kudoz's "Ask asker".
The idea would be to enable candidates to ask questions on the job whose answers might be interesting for all candidates, before bidding. A few examples:
1. You say it's a "technical" translation. In what field? (typical answers: IT, medicine, civil enginee... See more I am suggesting a feature which could improve Proz job systems for the somewhat less careful, attentive, savvy, or you-name-it job posters, as well as for candidates. It should work similarly to Kudoz's "Ask asker".
The idea would be to enable candidates to ask questions on the job whose answers might be interesting for all candidates, before bidding. A few examples:
1. You say it's a "technical" translation. In what field? (typical answers: IT, medicine, civil engineering etc.)
2. What kind of original is provided? (typical: DOC, PDF, fax, URL-html).
3. You say deadline is 8:00. Question: AM or PM, and where? (typical: 8 PM @ GMT+2)
4. Is the video translation for dubbing or subtitling?
5. Is WordFast acceptable in lieu of Trados?
6. Do you need Brazilian or European Portuguese?
Some benefits:
- To the job poster: less "incompatible" applications to sift through, or that require additional probing.
- To moderators: less inquiries of the "kindly give this job poster some guidance" type.
- To bidders: less time wasted in bidding for jobs they'd know they couldn't handle if only they had enough information.
- To Proz: less traffic of useless bids; a better quality service.
Suggested sequence of events:
1. Translator sees a job that might fit his/her skills, depending on some missing details (see sample questions above).
2. Translator clicks on "Ask poster" button, and enters a short question (limit chars).
3. Job poster gets an e-mail with the question, with options/links to:
(a) Decline to answer - clicking on it will automatically delete the question. No notification will be sent to the asker. This is to prevent the job poster from spam, as well as mud-slinging from disgruntled translators (BB is the place for that).
(b) Answer - clicking on it will lead to a page where they can choose between answering it and editing the job ad. In the first case, Q and A will be automatically added at the bottom of the job ad.
(c) Do nothing - The question will self-destruct in "X" (24? 48?) hours.
4b. (i.e. after 3b only) Asker gets an e-mail with a link to the (same) job ad, advising that something has been done about that question.
Maybe this whole feature should be restricted to paying members, to prevent it from turning into a spam generation venue. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Tagged suggestion | Dec 25, 2007 |
Thanks, great suggestion!
I tagged it for inclussion in our to-dos list.
Kind regards,
Enrique
| | | | Ivana Kahle 
Germany
Local time: 02:37
Member (2007)
German to Croatian
+ ...
| Excellent idea! | Dec 26, 2007 |
It would also be useful if the poster's answers were visible to all the bidders. Or the poster could make a FAQ list with answers.
| | | | | Of course, Ivana | Dec 26, 2007 |
Ivana Kahle wrote:
It would also be useful if the poster's answers were visible to all the bidders. Or the poster could make a FAQ list with answers.
That was my idea: )In the first case, Q and A will be automatically added at the bottom of the job ad. Maybe I wasn't clear enough.
As soon as the job poster answers a question, e,g, like the six examples given, both question and answer become a part of the job ad. (The question should NOT appear on the ad before then.) If the job poster gets many similar questions - one more reason to answer - answering one of them and declining all equivalent others will suffice.
However with questions like:
- When are you going to pay those $ XXX you owe me?
- Wanna buy Viagra, Cialis, whatever?
- I translate from Upper to Lower Slobovian. Best rates!
... the job poster will prefer to disregard them. S/he'll either decline (immediate effect) or leave them pending for X hours until self-destruction.
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