| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: Have you ever been told that yours is not a "real job"? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Ahmed Dahman 
Egypt
Local time: 11:01
English to Arabic
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| I will never forget that time... | Oct 7, 2011 |
Ok, that was unforgettable. One day I got a phone call from a person that I don't know in response to a newspaper advertisement that I placed earlier offering my translation services. He asked me what I do and where my office is. My answer was very short, simple and to the point, "I'm a freelance translator, Sir" and that was enough to trigger a non-stoppable wave of crazy "huahahahaha" laughing. I felt very bad and couldn't even ask him why he is laughing.
I'm a freelance translator for a... See more Ok, that was unforgettable. One day I got a phone call from a person that I don't know in response to a newspaper advertisement that I placed earlier offering my translation services. He asked me what I do and where my office is. My answer was very short, simple and to the point, "I'm a freelance translator, Sir" and that was enough to trigger a non-stoppable wave of crazy "huahahahaha" laughing. I felt very bad and couldn't even ask him why he is laughing.
I'm a freelance translator for about six years now and people around me still asking me if I really get paid for the work I do. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Miriam Neidhardt (X)
Germany
Local time: 11:01
English to German
| Housewife with a hobby | Oct 7, 2011 |
One client once said to me on the phone: So you're a housewife taking care of your children and doing translations in your spare time?
I wonder if he would have asked that a man too.
Miriam
| | | | Blanka Salkova
Czech Republic
Local time: 11:01
Member (2007)
English to Czech
+ ...
Yes, but in connection with teaching. With translation I was told that "anybody could translate video games, right?" .. which is not really the case (meaning non translators).
[Edited at 2011-10-07 13:36 GMT]
| | | | Rodion Shein
Russian Federation
Local time: 12:01
English to Russian
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On the contrary, people often tell me that they feel envy, when they find out that I'm a freelancer — they would be happy to leave their office jobs, but cannot for many reasons.
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Ligia Dias Costa
Portugal
Local time: 10:01
English to Portuguese
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SITE LOCALIZER | Yes and they are right. | Oct 7, 2011 |
I do not have a job. I run a business..
Have a gret weekend!
| | | | | Still freelancing? | Oct 7, 2011 |
When a former (in-house) colleague spotted my profile on LinkedIn he contacted me and said 'Oh, it seems you're having difficulty finding a job as you're STILL freelancing.'
People usually only start taking an interest when I tell them my husband has been a stay-at-home dad looking after the kids for several years now so I can work full-time. (I guess that means it must be a 'real' job after all!) Having said that, there are also those who keep asking me whether my husband has found... See more When a former (in-house) colleague spotted my profile on LinkedIn he contacted me and said 'Oh, it seems you're having difficulty finding a job as you're STILL freelancing.'
People usually only start taking an interest when I tell them my husband has been a stay-at-home dad looking after the kids for several years now so I can work full-time. (I guess that means it must be a 'real' job after all!) Having said that, there are also those who keep asking me whether my husband has found a job yet each time I meet them - they just cannot seem to grasp that he's not looking for one. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 11:01
Member (2009)
English to German
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Simon Bruni wrote: Claire Cox wrote:
Yes, my ex-father-in-law used to talk about my "typing" Pah! That's a new one. The usual one for me is "but you can just use Google now can't you?"
Thank you for the smile, Simon. You must admit that Google's translations (attempts) are quite entertaining.
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It happens, but a few years ago my nephew, who was 6 years old at the time, told me I do a "kind" job, because I help people who speak different languages to understand each other, and that should make them happy. It was nice to hear such a description of my job from a little boy.
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Katharine Ridgard
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:01
Member (2011)
French to English
+ ...
| I voted no... | Oct 7, 2011 |
But actually, my Italian father-in-law took a long time to get his head around the fact that I wasn't free to do housework all day, and also asked why I didn't just use Google translate! Like a previous poster I think it's the fact that I'm the main breadwinner in the household that made him realise it's a proper job. Now he wants my sister-in-law to do it too... because of course, anyone can be a translator!
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 11:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
... and pity the fool...
(In Mr. T-glish, a rhetoric comment equivalent to the English "I'd best not find out who it was.")
[Edited at 2011-10-07 14:14 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 11:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
| He who laughs last | Oct 7, 2011 |
Ahmed Dahman wrote:
He asked me what I do and where my office is. My answer was very short, simple and to the point, "I'm a freelance translator, Sir" and that was enough to trigger a non-stoppable wave of crazy "huahahahaha" laughing.
Well, the laugh's on him - he can keep on paying overheads on his business premises/offices etc if he likes - while you put the cash you save to better use!
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 05:01
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| not so much in relation to the work itself | Oct 7, 2011 |
Most of my friends and relatives realize that it's a job, that I get paid, and that it involves a great deal of work.
The "not a real job" references come in relation to the hours, as in, I don't work a job requiring me to be in an office cubicle from 9-5. A "real" job apparently has scheduled hours. Since I can skive off at various times during the day (then completing the work in the evening), my job isn't as "real" as someone who gets stuck in traffic.
That said, my ... See more Most of my friends and relatives realize that it's a job, that I get paid, and that it involves a great deal of work.
The "not a real job" references come in relation to the hours, as in, I don't work a job requiring me to be in an office cubicle from 9-5. A "real" job apparently has scheduled hours. Since I can skive off at various times during the day (then completing the work in the evening), my job isn't as "real" as someone who gets stuck in traffic.
That said, my friends use this definition tongue firmly planted in cheek. And most of them have confessed to an inability to work from home, even on their real jobs, so I actually get a lot of respect for making my very-real, but unscheduled job work.
Also, most of my friends and family can't speak a second language to save their respective lives; however, they read a lot and speak very well (and have seen what machine translation does to things), so I don't get a lot of the "just use google". ▲ Collapse
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| Yes - by a fellow translator! | Oct 7, 2011 |
While at a lecture for a course I'm doing (for the IoL DipTrans) I was talking to a fellow student who asked me what I did. I answered that I was a freelance translator. Quick as a flash, she said that oh, she was thinking about doing some freelancing but was really looking to get a "proper job", snooty little *****!
Turns out she has an excellent degree from one of the top two (where she had evidently learned no manners) and seemed to see freelance translation as below her. Where ... See more While at a lecture for a course I'm doing (for the IoL DipTrans) I was talking to a fellow student who asked me what I did. I answered that I was a freelance translator. Quick as a flash, she said that oh, she was thinking about doing some freelancing but was really looking to get a "proper job", snooty little *****!
Turns out she has an excellent degree from one of the top two (where she had evidently learned no manners) and seemed to see freelance translation as below her. Where she got the idea that freelance translation was not a valid career path for someone with translation qualifications I couldn't say... As they'd say in my home town, it really did my head in. Many translators I know have great qualifications - I had no idea I was supposed to be doing some other kind of job for reasons of prestige (or I don't know what reasons).
Anyway, I like working in my pyjamas and not leaving my dog alone all day.
Oh yes, and I love my work. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Maha Arara
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:01
English to Arabic
+ ...
Nobody has ever said this to me and they realize that I am extremely busy at times, including holidays... However, I have this feeling that they don't see what I do as a real job- I could be wrong though. For many years, some years ago, I used to be a radio newsreader (I worked around 10 hours a week)- in addition to freelancing as translator. At that time too, I felt they didn't think I had real jobs. So it seems that most people- including freelancers themselves- consciously or subconsciously ... See more Nobody has ever said this to me and they realize that I am extremely busy at times, including holidays... However, I have this feeling that they don't see what I do as a real job- I could be wrong though. For many years, some years ago, I used to be a radio newsreader (I worked around 10 hours a week)- in addition to freelancing as translator. At that time too, I felt they didn't think I had real jobs. So it seems that most people- including freelancers themselves- consciously or subconsciously believe that only a 9 to 5, in-house job is a real job. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | It happens every now and then | Oct 7, 2011 |
I first had to convince my parents that this is a real job and that it generates income. I won't exaggerate if I say that last month I earned 10 times more than my mom does, with her 20+ years working experience in accounting.
But I've been asked several times by some family friends to babysit their 2 years old daughter, because they have important things to do at work. Telling them I have a deadline or an important project doesn't really help, which makes me think they don't take ... See more I first had to convince my parents that this is a real job and that it generates income. I won't exaggerate if I say that last month I earned 10 times more than my mom does, with her 20+ years working experience in accounting.
But I've been asked several times by some family friends to babysit their 2 years old daughter, because they have important things to do at work. Telling them I have a deadline or an important project doesn't really help, which makes me think they don't take my profession seriously. ▲ Collapse
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