Poll: What is the longest period you were out of work, as a freelancer? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What is the longest period you were out of work, as a freelancer?".
This poll was originally submitted by Veroniki Velli. View the poll results »
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Twice in the 2006-2016 period. Usually, it's just one or two days...
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Never more than 1 or 2 days.
Just as I deliver all the jobs and start planning what to do next - usually ironing or cleaning of some kind - another job usually turns up.
I don't even remember when I was last "out of work". Even when I went back to Scotland this year, I took my laptop because I had a long job that kept me going for 3 months.
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during the last 3 years.
Before then, a couple of days.
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Mario Chavez (X) 
Local time: 12:19
English to Spanish
+ ...
As an independent (or autonomous) translator? You mean apart from this week?
| | | | | never - fortunately | Oct 1, 2016 |
Only once but for a couple of hours.
I was about to deliver the last translation (quite strange cause I usually get translations well ahead of the deadline) on my computer and I realized I had nothing to do. First reaction: panic! So in the email to my client I wrote that I was free in case he needed - his reply left me in my panic moment "Sorry it is a bad time for our company so no jobs for you"... I started to plan my week (panic, marketing, panic, administration, panic, a bit of sport... See more Only once but for a couple of hours.
I was about to deliver the last translation (quite strange cause I usually get translations well ahead of the deadline) on my computer and I realized I had nothing to do. First reaction: panic! So in the email to my client I wrote that I was free in case he needed - his reply left me in my panic moment "Sorry it is a bad time for our company so no jobs for you"... I started to plan my week (panic, marketing, panic, administration, panic, a bit of sport and panic) and after 2 hours the same client sent me an email with three translations.
That was about 5 years ago. Lesson learned: never rely only on ONE big client... since then I have always been busy, or at least happily free with deadlines scheduled...
[Edited at 2016-10-01 11:40 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Enrico Zoffoli
Italy
Local time: 18:19
Member (2013)
German to Italian
+ ...
Actually the problem is quite the opposite: trying to turn down as few jobs as possible.
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 01:19
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
You mean so little work that we should be on the dole?
We all know that work can be slack for days to be followed by a couple of weeks of 14-hours days non stop. And, vice versa! 
The question would make more sense if it meant 'did not make your daily quota' or 'did not break even for the month,' especially if translation is your sole source of income.
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 12:19
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Not out of work, but… | Oct 1, 2016 |
Julian Holmes wrote: You mean so little work that we should be on the dole? We all know that work can be slack for days to be followed by a couple of weeks of 14-hours days non stop. And, vice versa! The question would make more sense if it meant 'did not make your daily quota' or 'did not break even for the month,' especially if translation is your sole source of income.
…between jobs (a more appropriate phrase).
It's not the question that per se is necessarily a bad one, but the way it is expressed. I dare compare the Proz quick polls to “1 plus 1 is really 2” kind of questions in a college math website.
Writing skills are sliding, ladies and gents.
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 18:19
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Being diagnosed with oparian cancer, after my major operations I literally ran away from the chemotherapy from the hospital. I left to St. James Way (El Camino de Santiago) and spent the most beautiful 42 days of my life on the way from Saint-Jean-Pied-du-Port, France through Santiago de Compostela to Finisterra, Spain. The walk had significant impact on my life and determined some changes.
I whispered to the Apostle that if I survive I come back. And made a wish to return all the way on f... See more
| | | | Ana Vozone
Local time: 17:19
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Several weeks | Oct 1, 2016 |
I had a "tragic" week in 2004 when I lost my two major clients (first, the European Commission, after around 15 years working with them uninterruptedly as a direct client, when the electronic tenders were established - i.e., although my application was considered, my price was quite high in comparison with other bidders, and overnight I stopped receiving around 150 pages a month, and had to apply to each new job and still was not awarded work, only very rarely; second, a major advertising agency... See more I had a "tragic" week in 2004 when I lost my two major clients (first, the European Commission, after around 15 years working with them uninterruptedly as a direct client, when the electronic tenders were established - i.e., although my application was considered, my price was quite high in comparison with other bidders, and overnight I stopped receiving around 150 pages a month, and had to apply to each new job and still was not awarded work, only very rarely; second, a major advertising agency I had worked with for 25 years: they went into difficulties and cancelled my monthly contract). All this happened in the same week in 2004, and to crown it all, my cat run away as well. The cat came back 3 weeks later, the 2 clients not really... So, I was suddenly faced with no work and had to dive into the market, only to find prices that were half of what I used to earn. Very slowly, I created a new client base with my prices, but it took a while. I am very happy now, and I can say work is much more fun now. Before the "tragic" week, life was very comfortable and stable. It is much more exciting now... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 13:19
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I'm not considering the period I was not a full-time translator for this question.
Since I did become a full-time translator (2013), a few days is the answer, since I didn't take any time off yet.
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Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 12:19
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
At the start of this year. Slowest year ever (< 10,000 so far)
[Edited at 2016-10-01 18:39 GMT]
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
I do sacrifice translation for interpreting or vice verse, or both for something else, while still freelancing (has little to do with translation though), does it count?
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