Poll: Are you willing to present a sample of your actual work to a potential client if asked? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are you willing to present a sample of your actual work to a potential client if asked?".
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| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 21:46
Spanish to English
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Most of the time I tend to try to dissuade new clients nowadays anyway.
I would need a really good reason before agreeing to provide samples of my previous work for other clients. And not just due to confidentiality issues. The way I see it, when someone approaches me, they already know enough about me not to have to make odd requests like this, which I perceive as a lack of trust.
| | | | | Other, yes, it depends... | Oct 28, 2016 |
If and when a client is interested on a sample of my work I direct him/her to my website (www.bpt.com.pt) where I have a few articles I translated under my name for a Portuguese newspaper and a Portuguese magazine…
| | | | Chié_JP
Japan
Local time: 04:46
Member (2013)
English to Japanese
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| If it is on published website | Oct 28, 2016 |
I can only provide such documents only when they are published to the world and visible to everyone on website, with my credit on it.
Usually I prepare documents with hiding client or product name with XX.
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Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 21:46
Member (2009)
English to German
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If a potential client needs a sample of my work - definitely not something I did for another client - in order to decide whether to work with me or not, then I offer to do a short paid test translation.
In my major fields, the work I did for my customers doesn't really bear any relevance in regards to the work I will/might be doing for potential clients...for various reasons.
[Edited at 2016-10-28 15:39 GMT]
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I periodically search the Internet with word sequences of my translations when I think they're bound to end up on public websites (press releases, brochures, marketing campaigns, web pages, etc.), so I may provide interested parties with public links to my translations in various areas. As I don't disclose any names and the content is publicly available, I assume I am not breaking any deal I may have signed with agencies.
Since my name is never anywhere on them, the prospect has to trust m... See more I periodically search the Internet with word sequences of my translations when I think they're bound to end up on public websites (press releases, brochures, marketing campaigns, web pages, etc.), so I may provide interested parties with public links to my translations in various areas. As I don't disclose any names and the content is publicly available, I assume I am not breaking any deal I may have signed with agencies.
Since my name is never anywhere on them, the prospect has to trust me, but trust is an essential part of our business.
Prospects are also welcome to visit various equipment suppliers if they're into "HMIs" (cars, instruments, computers, machines...).
Philippe ▲ Collapse
| | | | EvaVer (X)
Local time: 21:46
Czech to French
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I delete names of people, companies, products etc.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 21:46
Member (2006)
German to English
| Normally not | Oct 28, 2016 |
but if it has been published anyway then why not?
But seeing as most of the stuff I do are machine-specific manuals with copyright protection, then I do not pass them on.
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Lara Scheffer
Portugal
Local time: 20:46
Member (2016)
English to Portuguese
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I can't disclose most of my work due to NDAs so I usually just make myself available to provide a short test free of charge.
But if they insist, I have a couple of articles I translated for a website, which are already published and mention my name on it, that I can provide as a sample.
| | | | | No, because it's confidential | Oct 28, 2016 |
Never, even not if it is on published websites because the end client might not want me to tell others that I did the job, especially when the client sent the job to a agency and the agency to me.
| | | | Britt Laux
Local time: 21:46
German to Norwegian
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Alexandra Villeminey wrote:
Never, even not if it is on published websites because the end client might not want me to tell others that I did the job, especially when the client sent the job to a agency and the agency to me.
Exactly. I don't think I have any clients who would like me to do something like that.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 16:46
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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Many clients have asked for that kind of sample before. At first, I thought I shouldn't provide it, as we usually have non-disclosure agreements with our clients. However, it's not commercially undue or unethical to make that type of request. So, I selected a few samples, replaced any identifying data with "XXX", and sometimes I submit it to clients as samples. But only after verifying I'm dealing with a very serious and renowned client, and once I realize this could actually render new jobs. Th... See more Many clients have asked for that kind of sample before. At first, I thought I shouldn't provide it, as we usually have non-disclosure agreements with our clients. However, it's not commercially undue or unethical to make that type of request. So, I selected a few samples, replaced any identifying data with "XXX", and sometimes I submit it to clients as samples. But only after verifying I'm dealing with a very serious and renowned client, and once I realize this could actually render new jobs. The majority of the e-mails I receive with potential jobs are BS, and we have to be able to identify those. ▲ Collapse
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I have several examples on my website. It's a lot easier than taking a test.
| | | | Cecilia Civetta
Italy
Local time: 21:46
Member (2003)
Italian to Spanish
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In my experience, strange requests from potential clients (i.e. send me a sample, name some of the agencies you work for ) lead to nothing.
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