ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | me, 2 weeks to a month

Little Woods — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 12:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Little Woods
Post title: me, 2 weeks to a month

I have 2 weeks to a month period but I think mostly because I stick to my rate (which is on a generally higher side of the rate scale and it is higher than rate posted in my profile. I stop updating it and kind of deleting most infos) and not so readily accepting new clients. I only work with my regular clients. New clients these days tend to be demanding and asking for best of everything. My best may be not their best. I think with these current translation platforms, it is more and more like Ub*r or Gr*b but I dont accept to be same as their drivers.

In those off days, I am still busy with other things. It never ends with things I want to do to feed up my creative mind. If it is too long, I start to things maybe I should change my focus now and onto other businesses then new tasks roll in.

[Edited at 2017-12-07 18:48 GMT]

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | The solution

Andy Watkinson — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 03:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Andy Watkinson
Post title: The solution

Most translators I know are relieved to actually have a quiet spell provided it's a short one (defining "short" depends on them).

But if you find that work seems to have dried up and are getting a bit jittery, simply write to all your clients announcing that you're going to take the next two weeks off.

I can guarantee you'll get an offer the next (if not the same) day.

Never fails.

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | A couple of days

Mario Freitas — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 21:00:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Mario Freitas
Post title: A couple of days

I have at least one client that sends me small files (apps, marketing) practically every day. And several other clients that send small jobs sporadically. So, I hardly ever stay more than a couple of days without work. But in certain weeks I only get these small jobs, it's true, so considering the volume per week, sometimes I get a really lousy week.

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | I ..

Axelle H. — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:42:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Axelle H.
Post title: I ..

[quote]Mario Chavez wrote:

[quote]Axelle H. wrote:

.. and then I decide to do some shopping or visit my friend and I must rush back home as I have an emergency request from a costumer.. [/quote]

:D [/quote]

do need holidays ;)

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | Doing many costumes?

Mario Chavez (X) — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 20:00:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Mario Chavez (X)
Post title: Doing many costumes?

[quote]Axelle H. wrote:

.. and then I decide to do some shopping or visit my friend and I must rush back home as I have an emergency request from a costumer.. [/quote]

:D

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | I can't remember

Elizabeth Tamblin (X) — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 19:01:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Elizabeth Tamblin (X)
Post title: I can't remember

I haven't had much work in the past month. That doesn't bother me too much, but I will be annoyed if I suddenly get deluged with work in the week before Christmas. It implies that their preferred translators are on holiday, so they are now desperate enough to contact me.

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | One month

Seula Yun — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 16:41:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Seula Yun
Post title: One month

When I was first getting in the this industry, I was be able to work only a few projects.
But never lasted more than a month I think.

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | 1 or 2 days ...

Axelle H. — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 16:02:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Axelle H.
Post title: 1 or 2 days ...

.. and then I decide to do some shopping or visit my friend and I must rush back home as I have an emergency request from a costumer..

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | Thank you so much for your kind reply, I respect your advice.

Mohammad Saud — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 15:53:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Mohammad Saud
Post title: Thank you so much for your kind reply, I respect your advice.

[quote]Jared Tabor wrote:

Hi msmh,

[quote]msmh wrote:

I have registered before one week or more than that but till now I didn't receive any job however I have qouted for number of jobs as well as sent emails to the job posters but no replies from anyone.
I think it is my failure not proz.com to not be able to get a job because good people suggest me for registering on it.
So, kindly guide me to my mistakes and failures for not finding any job and tell me your experience and ideas for getting success. I will be highly obliged and thankful to the people who will help and assist me in this regard.

[Edited at 2017-12-06 14:05 GMT] [/quote]

Your profile needs some work! This is what potential clients will see when they find you in the directory or elsewhere, and based on what they see they will decide whether to contact you or not. Marjolein gives some good advice. Consider using your full name, for starters, as well. As Marjolein indicates, your tagline could be stronger, and it is very important-- it's the one bit of text that appears in the directory that you can control.

Be sure to sign up for one of the upcoming "Plus subscriber small group profile review" webinars at [url removed] . They are designed to help you build a strong, professional-looking profile, which is key to meeting new clients, both on and off ProZ.com. And be sure to go through the Plus subscriber checklist, to make sure you're making use of everything you need in your subscription: [url removed] [/quote]

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | Thank you so much for your kind reply, I respect your advice.

Mohammad Saud — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 15:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Mohammad Saud
Post title: Thank you so much for your kind reply, I respect your advice.

[quote]Marjolein Snippe wrote:

Hello msmh,

Perhaps you should open a separate topic about this, or have a look at various existing topics.
The bottom line is: persevere. It is not at all unusual to apply for 10-20 jobs and receiving no reply at all. Most agencies receive a great many applications and do not have the time to reply to all. It can take a few months to get enough work and (returning) clients to make a living.

Some things that may help are
- limit your language pairs; translate only to your native language. I don't know what your native language is, but your post does not sound like you are a native English speaker. That does not mean your English is bad, but it may not be good enough to translate INTO English.
- include a CV in your profile, and specify what translation experience you have
- ask a native speaker to take a look at your user message and tag line; the user message does not seem to be written in correct English, which does not inspire confidence in you as a translator. The tag line is not very effective to attract customers (ideally, THEY should feel honored you want to translate for them).
- send your CV to different translation agencies working in your language pairs. In the accompanying email, specify what your specific experience is in the different fields
- think of an area in which you really add something. Do you have previous work experience in any particular area? Did you do a major in any area? The subjects listed on your profile seem rather general.

Try to be AND come across as a confident professional. Good luck! [/quote]

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | Build a strong profile that accurately reflects you and markets your services to your clients

Jared Tabor — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 14:51:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Jared Tabor
Post title: Build a strong profile that accurately reflects you and markets your services to your clients

Hi msmh,

[quote]msmh wrote:

I have registered before one week or more than that but till now I didn't receive any job however I have qouted for number of jobs as well as sent emails to the job posters but no replies from anyone.
I think it is my failure not proz.com to not be able to get a job because good people suggest me for registering on it.
So, kindly guide me to my mistakes and failures for not finding any job and tell me your experience and ideas for getting success. I will be highly obliged and thankful to the people who will help and assist me in this regard.

[Edited at 2017-12-06 14:05 GMT] [/quote]

Your profile needs some work! This is what potential clients will see when they find you in the directory or elsewhere, and based on what they see they will decide whether to contact you or not. Marjolein gives some good advice. Consider using your full name, for starters, as well. As Marjolein indicates, your tagline could be stronger, and it is very important-- it's the one bit of text that appears in the directory that you can control.

Be sure to sign up for one of the upcoming "Plus subscriber small group profile review" webinars at [url removed] . They are designed to help you build a strong, professional-looking profile, which is key to meeting new clients, both on and off ProZ.com. And be sure to go through the Plus subscriber checklist, to make sure you're making use of everything you need in your subscription: [url removed]

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | perseverance

Marjolein Snippe — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 14:35:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Marjolein Snippe
Post title: perseverance

Hello msmh,

Perhaps you should open a separate topic about this, or have a look at various existing topics.
The bottom line is: persevere. It is not at all unusual to apply for 10-20 jobs and receiving no reply at all. Most agencies receive a great many applications and do not have the time to reply to all. It can take a few months to get enough work and (returning) clients to make a living.

Some things that may help are
- limit your language pairs; translate only to your native language. I don't know what your native language is, but your post does not sound like you are a native English speaker. That does not mean your English is bad, but it may not be good enough to translate INTO English.
- include a CV in your profile, and specify what translation experience you have
- ask a native speaker to take a look at your user message and tag line; the user message does not seem to be written in correct English, which does not inspire confidence in you as a translator. The tag line is not very effective to attract customers (ideally, THEY should feel honored you want to translate for them).
- send your CV to different translation agencies working in your language pairs. In the accompanying email, specify what your specific experience is in the different fields
- think of an area in which you really add something. Do you have previous work experience in any particular area? Did you do a major in any area? The subjects listed on your profile seem rather general.

Try to be AND come across as a confident professional. Good luck!

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | Registered as a pluse member but there is no job for me

Mohammad Saud — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 14:03:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Mohammad Saud
Post title: Registered as a pluse member but there is no job for me

I have registered before one week or more than that but till now I didn't receive any job however I have qouted for number of jobs as well as sent emails to the job posters but no replies from anyone.
I think it is my failure not proz.com to not be able to get a job because good people suggested me for registering on it.
So, kindly guide me to my mistakes and failures for not finding any job and tell me your experience and ideas for getting success. I will be highly obliged and thankful to the people who will help and assist me in this regard.

[Edited at 2017-12-06 14:05 GMT]

[Edited at 2017-12-06 16:01 GMT]

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | 2 weeks - a month

Ada Mirasol Navarro — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 10:24:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Ada Mirasol Navarro
Post title: 2 weeks - a month

I'm starting out as a freelance after several years as an in-house and whenever a week goes by and I haven't received a single offer I start getting nervous.

I use that time to look for clients, check past projects, etc. but it can't be quite difficult not to panic.

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | 2 weeks - a month

Eckhard Boehle — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 09:55:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Eckhard Boehle
Post title: 2 weeks - a month

I had doldrums every now and then in the course of more than 30 years with nothing going on for some days, which even caused me to write emails to my best outsourcers to ask them for work. In most cases, assignments followed quite promptly ...
But since about 3 years I am getting so many offers that I am forced to reject many (quite interesting) jobs due to lack of time. That is, of course, a lot better as I can select the jobs that suit me best. :-D

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | 1-2 weeks

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 09:49:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Post title: 1-2 weeks

10 days exactly was the longest period I was without work and it happened only once. The first 3 days were quite welcome, then I started feeling kind of nervous and as time went by kind of worried, at that time a new cycle began…

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work? | Other

Michael Harris — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 09:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: Michael Harris
Post title: Other

Fortunately, only a half a day.

Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?

ProZ.com Staff — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 08:10:02 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What has been the longest period when you had little or no work?".

This poll was originally submitted by Little Woods. View the poll results »