| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Test translation for an agency is three pages. I don't know how I should respond to this agency. Thread poster: Trinh Do
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| Could be reasonable ...; used to aid selection process | May 18, 2009 |
jyuan_us wrote: AC Translation wrote:
Maybe you can offer to do the first page only?
If they approve you to do the first page only, just do the first page. But I doubt they would approve it. If I face such a situation, I would do the whole test or just give it up. To me, there wouldn't be any room for negotiation in between. They usually send out a test to many potential candidates and the PM woudn't bother to negotiate with you back and forth. It is not quite feasible to ask for a pay for the test sample, or for a guarantee that you will get the job if your test sample is a success. I evaluate Chinese test samples for an agency on a regular basis and sometimes 10 translators were found successful on the same test. If everybody asks for a payment or for a guarantee, how will the agency accomodate such requests? [Edited at 2009-05-17 16:17 GMT] [Edited at 2009-05-17 16:33 GMT]
Yes, I think I can see where you are coming from jyuan. It would sort out those that can read these texts fluently and accurately in both languages. You would get overseas-trained medical students etc. But it possibly would be for ongoing work, for a major client, like a medical journal perhaps, or a particular health authority? I hope it pays well ... Is this the sort of scenario you are referring to?
Trinh Do, any more context, about this job?
[Edited at 2009-05-18 21:54 GMT]
| | | | Anne-Marie Grant (X) 
Local time: 16:29
French to English
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| There are a few possibilities here. | May 18, 2009 |
1. There has been a breakdown in communication and the person who has sent you the translation thinks you are the nominated translator for this job.
2. They are exploiting you and trying to get a job done for free.
3. They have no idea how much work you would have to put in to a translation like this - does not bode well for future relations.
4. They are such a successful and popular agency that they can do what they like and it's up to you whether or not i... See more 1. There has been a breakdown in communication and the person who has sent you the translation thinks you are the nominated translator for this job.
2. They are exploiting you and trying to get a job done for free.
3. They have no idea how much work you would have to put in to a translation like this - does not bode well for future relations.
4. They are such a successful and popular agency that they can do what they like and it's up to you whether or not it's worth your while trying to be one of their chosen translators.
I would definitely discuss the issue with them before doing a translation like this. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Trinh Do
Australia
Member (2007)
English to Vietnamese
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TOPIC STARTER | I think I will do page 1 and then discuss with them | May 19, 2009 |
Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. They are an agency specialising only in medical translations and all pages are related to the medical field. So, they are very selective in this process. I will provide them with a test translation and discuss whether it is necessary to proceed with the other two. If so, I would request a paid test if the first one is accepted.
| | | | conejo
United States
Local time: 10:29
Japanese to English
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I hate unpaid translation tests, but anything unpaid that is longer than 1 page in a normal font size is not reasonable.
I would tell them that unless they are going to pay you, you will only translate the first page. If they don't accept that, I would not work for them.
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Jande
Australia
Local time: 01:29
Danish to English
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I have been asked by a translation agency to provide 3 pages for test translation. I did it and then they said that's just general translation now we now need you to provide another 3 pages so you can do medical translations.
I did not have the time to do the additional 3 pages, so I had to decline, even though I have taken a graduate course on anatomy so that I can do medical translations. I told them that I could do medical translations.
I have not been offerred one... See more I have been asked by a translation agency to provide 3 pages for test translation. I did it and then they said that's just general translation now we now need you to provide another 3 pages so you can do medical translations.
I did not have the time to do the additional 3 pages, so I had to decline, even though I have taken a graduate course on anatomy so that I can do medical translations. I told them that I could do medical translations.
I have not been offerred one job from the company. There has been previous forum discussion about tests and the advice offerred was:
There are agencies that have tests and there are agencies that have jobs.
If the company is asking for tests, it could mean they are trying to fill up their data base with translators so that they can get jobs, because they don't actually have any jobs.
However, there are some cases where I have done tests smaller in size that were beneficial. It all depends on the guarantee of work after the test. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Trinh Do
Australia
Member (2007)
English to Vietnamese
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TOPIC STARTER | Unpaid test translation | Sep 3, 2009 |
Thank you everyone for the feedback. Some very decent agencies paid a very small sum for a small test translation. I think this one is very selective, but even so, one to at most 11/2 pages is sufficient. They should have paid a low fee - e.g. 0.04 euro per source word - for a small test. References would help too.
I quite agree with Jande. Thank you!
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