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Poll: In your CV, do you state which translation agencies/companies you work for? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "In your CV, do you state which translation agencies/companies you work for?".
This poll was originally submitted by Francesca Battaglia. View the poll results »
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 08:31
Spanish to English
+ ...
Because I don't wish to encourage or promote them, since I see them as an unnecessary evil and an inconvenience in general - with the odd exception. Without wishing to seem ungrateful, I'd much rather have clients approach me directly, which I believe would work out better for both parties.
[Edited at 2012-09-23 08:46 GMT]
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Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:31
Member (2009)
English to French
just get recommendations if need be
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Angus Stewart 
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:31
Member (2011)
French to English
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I would regard it as inappropriate to do so.
Firstly, there is the issue of client confidentiality. Whilst realizing that it would be possible to approach clients to obtain their consent for this purpose or for references, I prefer not to bother them unless absolutely necessary.
Secondly, it constitutes "name dropping" which I regard as a distasteful activity and I prefer to attract work from new clients on my own merits rather than through such methods. I have quite en... See more I would regard it as inappropriate to do so.
Firstly, there is the issue of client confidentiality. Whilst realizing that it would be possible to approach clients to obtain their consent for this purpose or for references, I prefer not to bother them unless absolutely necessary.
Secondly, it constitutes "name dropping" which I regard as a distasteful activity and I prefer to attract work from new clients on my own merits rather than through such methods. I have quite enough material on my CV as it is, without needing to "beef it up" in this fashion.
Besides, I'm not convinced that it would be all that effective as a marketing method, since a number of the agency clients with whom I have established a good working relationship are smaller/less well known agencies. ▲ Collapse
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John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 08:31
Spanish to English
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No I have a heading in my CV entitled "Various translation agencies" under which I list a few projects but not the name of any specific agency.
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Theo Bernards (X)
France
Local time: 08:31
English to Dutch
+ ...
| I have no CV | Sep 23, 2012 |
I have a 1 page presentation that I present to interested parties (basically a rehash of my website) and in that I make no reference to my clients, nor do I give samples of previously completed assignments. A CV is for employment purposes and I am not looking for a job, I look for assignments.
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Alison Sabedoria (X)
United Kingdom
French to English
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| Wouldn't dream of it | Sep 23, 2012 |
I do very little work for agencies and I'm not about to disclose the names of the few "good eggs" with whom I've been fortunate enough to do business. Of course, confidentiality is important, too.
Many excellent agencies don't even appear on the Proz radar: no profile, no Blue Board entries. They have no need to attract hoards of translators and there is no need to warn others off - I'm happy to keep it that way.
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Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 08:31
Member (2006)
German to English
If I worked for the company full time as PM, then no problem, but as freelancer, no way
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Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 00:31
English to Spanish
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In memoriam
I do most of my work for direct clients and only a small amount for agencies. I do not mention any of them in my CV, which is only one page covering 41 years.
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 02:31
English to Spanish
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| There is a big difference... | Sep 23, 2012 |
...between translation agencies and companies one may have worked for as an employee (an in-house translator, project manager, etc.).
I mention none of the former and the most important of the latter. Doing otherwise would be highly inappropriate and amateurish.
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 02:31
English to Spanish
+ ...
| The hoards... | Sep 23, 2012 |
Wordeffect wrote:
I do very little work for agencies and I'm not about to disclose the names of the few "good eggs" with whom I've been fortunate enough to do business. Of course, confidentiality is important, too.
Many excellent agencies don't even appear on the Proz radar: no profile, no Blue Board entries. They have no need to attract hoards of translators and there is no need to warn others off - I'm happy to keep it that way.
I love this piece of advice. Allow me to be the curmudgeonly proofreader here: it's hordes, not hoards. ~
You make an excellent point, Wordeffect: most reputable agencies don't bother with Proz. Serious translators shy away from translation companies that are always hunting for new resumes or that claim thousands of freelancers in their databases.
Conversely, many subpar agencies roam the streets of Prozland. I encountered one looking for an English-to-Quechua translator. I emailed them trying to be helpful by pointing out that Quechua is an Andean language and that they might have to find two translators, English to Spanish, and Spanish to Quechua. The poor, clueless project manager...
A sad picture.
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Andrea Munhoz
Brazil
Local time: 03:31
Portuguese to English
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Since I'm not disclosing confidential information, it suits me as a professional who works for the largest and most influent companies around.
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Graeme Walle (X)
Finland
Local time: 09:31
Finnish to English
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Mario Chavez wrote:
...between translation agencies and companies one may have worked for as an employee (an in-house translator, project manager, etc.).
I mention none of the former and the most important of the latter. Doing otherwise would be highly inappropriate and amateurish.
Why it is 'highly inappropriate and amateurish".
Further, why is simply listing the companies one has worked with a breach of confidentiality - as pointed out by some?
I have yet to see a successful firm that did not 'name drop' at least somewhere in their literature.
[Edited at 2012-09-23 22:02 GMT]
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Agencies are a small part of my business. I see no reason to mention them.
I do mention direct clients, mostly international organizations.
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Mario Chavez wrote: Allow me to be the curmudgeonly proofreader here: it's hordes, not hoards. ~
You are right about hordes. But since when can an adverb ('curmudgeonly') modify a noun?
Actually, I don't think this poll should be about correcting our colleagues, but I couldn't resist.
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