| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: Which should be added to the Profile Updater? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| Agree with Jan | Dec 6, 2006 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
Hi all,
OK, I hear that there are too many fields to fill in, that you're already too busy, that Proz is poking into irrelevant things.
From an outsourcer's point of view, it's simple:
the more data I have about potential subcontractors, the better I'm able to make my decision of whom to hire.
If you're already too busy with your current assignments, fine, then you probably don't need to advertise your skills on Proz.
You might think it's irrellevant to check boxes about 100 different CAT tools, about whether you perform DTP or not. But from an outsourcer's point of view, it makes me able to size up your computer skills and get a general idea of who you are.
Sometimes I have the need for a translator that doubles as a layouter, or for a very specific software tool. If you didn't bother to fill in that box, it doesn't matter how marvellous translator you are - I won't find you when I do my search...
If you're content with your current workload and don't want new clients to find you, don't bother promoting yourself, and leave the Profile Updater to those colleagues who need more business.
Respectfully,
Jan
I agree with Jan's view.
As I see it, the whole profile updater thing is OPTIONAL.
We choose if we want to include information or not.
Even though I'd like to win a trip to Budapest, I do not have time either to update our portfolio. And I thank for it! It is good to have so much work! So why would I complain?
If I do not want to show my rates in my profile and I can not participate in the draw... what's the problem?
These are the rules of the game, so I won't enter this time.
Take care,
ANDRES
| | | | Steven Capsuto 
United States
Local time: 13:06
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Not optional? | Dec 6, 2006 |
Lettytb wrote:
As I see it, the whole profile updater thing is OPTIONAL.
When the blasted thing was implemented, we were bombarded with messages telling us it was required and that everyone must run it by a certain date. I assume new members are similarly pestered. So it does not appear to be optional.
ProZ has enough positive aspects that I didn't drop my membership, but if they narrow the profile requirements too much I certainly will. As someone running a business, I need to be the person who decides what information to release publicly and what to save for direct communication with clients.
Obviously, we're all operating in different markets and have different business philosophies, and they can't all be squeezed into one cookie-cutter approach.
[Edited at 2006-12-06 14:22]
| | | | | Profile completion can be excluding, even if you are a paying member | Dec 6, 2006 |
Hi,
Both in this marketing campaign and in the recent one where the profile updater was introduced, it was made clear to me that profile completion has become a "marketing" (?) feature whose advantages are not necessarily on the translators'/linguists' side.
That is, even if you decide to pay a membership to take advantage, for example, of the job possibilities Proz offers, you will be excluded of some Proz job offers if you do not complete the profile not according to ... See more Hi,
Both in this marketing campaign and in the recent one where the profile updater was introduced, it was made clear to me that profile completion has become a "marketing" (?) feature whose advantages are not necessarily on the translators'/linguists' side.
That is, even if you decide to pay a membership to take advantage, for example, of the job possibilities Proz offers, you will be excluded of some Proz job offers if you do not complete the profile not according to your own preferences, but rather according to outsourcer's preferences (as Jan Sundström's above comment suggests).
For example, as far as I know, the "premium" job offers are being filtered according to the degree of completion of the profile.
So far, I am not at all convinced about how profile completion is being focused and how this affects our job offer possibilities. I guess we need to wait for the promised improvements/debate in the job section before knowing what we can really expect in this area.
On the one hand, I support the idea of more complete profiles, for the sake of keeping this site as "professional-looking" as possible and to avoid empty-looking profiles that merely add web traffic to the site.
But, on the other hand, I don't like the idea that not agreeing to provide some information about myself can actually become a disadvantage. There are many reasons why I or any professional would prefer not to publish certain profile options (customer names that might be used by others marketing themselves, confidentiality agreements, etc.).
I personally would prefer that profile options were really optional or at least that a minimum of them were *enough* to have the same chances as those who choose to fill out all of the options, especially when you are paying a membership.
I recently read, in another forum thread about Kudoz, someone's argument that this system cannot be expected to be "perfect" because those who use it should have the "wisdom" to know how to use it well. So, following that same line of thought, I would say leave it up to the outsourcer's experience and expertise (wisdom?) to be able to choose a service provider based on certain basic profile information.
Regards,
Ivette
P.S.: While I was writing this message, Steven Capsuto wrote a message above that I fully support and that it summarizes very well what I am referring to. ▲ Collapse
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Steven Capsuto wrote: Lettytb wrote:
As I see it, the whole profile updater thing is OPTIONAL.
When the blasted thing was implemented, we were bombarded with messages telling us it was required and that everyone must run it by a certain date. I assume new members are similarly pestered. So it does not appear to be optional. ProZ has enough positive aspects that I didn't drop my membership, but if they narrow the profile requirements too much I certainly will. As someone running a business, I need to be the person who decides what information to release publicly and what to save for direct communication with clients. Obviously, we're all operating in different markets and have different business philosophies, and they can't all be squeezed into one cookie-cutter approach. [Edited at 2006-12-06 14:22]
I insist all the information we include in our profiles is optional.
The "message bombing" was a heavy marketing strategy, I believe. But we are all pros enough as to tell when something is a must and when it is an option.
In my opinion, as business persons we can not get upset because the terms of a draw do not fit into our business politics. Then, it seems to me that most of this opposition has to do more with other ProZ features/changes than the profile updater.
But this is only my view.
Respectfully,
ANDRES
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| I insist, too: "optional" is a relative term here | Dec 6, 2006 |
Lettytb wrote:
I insist all the information we include in our profiles is optional.
I don't know if you had a chance to read my above message, but "optional" is here a relative term in regards to how profile "options" are being used for certain Proz offers (including the trip offers and the premium job offers I mentioned in my first message).
About the "message bombing" being a "heavy marketing strategy", I don't have a problem with that, as long as other pending innovations/improvements for the site get the same energy and effort from Proz's management. For example, I recently read in another forum thread that there used to be more powwow banners and they seem to have disappeared or discontinued.
Regards,
Ivette
| | | | Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:06
Spanish to English
| Who is getting upset? | Dec 6, 2006 |
Lettytb wrote:
In my opinion, as business persons we can not get upset because the terms of a draw do not fit into our business politics. Then, it seems to me that most of this opposition has to do more with other ProZ features/changes than the profile updater.
But this is only my view.
Respectfully,
ANDRES
I haven't actually noticed anyone getting upset about this. The ad and the profile updater are not consistent. As a translator who tries to pay attention to small details I find this annoying.
| | | | | I'm sorry if I expressed myself wrong. | Dec 6, 2006 |
Nikki Graham wrote: Lettytb wrote:
In my opinion, as business persons we can not get upset because the terms of a draw do not fit into our business politics. Then, it seems to me that most of this opposition has to do more with other ProZ features/changes than the profile updater.
But this is only my view.
Respectfully,
ANDRES I haven't actually noticed anyone getting upset about this. The ad and the profile updater are not consistent. As a translator who tries to pay attention to small details I find this annoying.
Hi Nikki,
I'm sorry, I might have expressed myself wrong. I am a Spanish native, and sometimes I choose my words wrong.
First, I was not thinking about anybody in particular.
In fact, I know all posters of this thread and I respect you very much!
I was thinking about the general mood I perceive.
Second, let me erase the word 'upset'. Maybe 'affected' would be a better term.
Just try to see my point "As business persons we can not be affected because the terms of a draw do not fit into our business politics".
Take care,
Andrés
| | | | Irene N
United States
Local time: 12:06
English to Russian
+ ...
| This is good to know... | Dec 6, 2006 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
doesn't matter how marvellous translator you are
Well, this is my attitude and the attitude of an outsourcer I would like to work with:
Does not matter how marvellous a profile or a resume are. A simple comparison of quite a number of profiles and Kudoz question/answers proves this 10 times over. I consider my short profile with all the right hints to be perfectly worthy of an inquiry for the right subject, and practice shows that so do the others. The rest is between 2 serious parties doing serious business. Show me yours, and I'll show you mine. No "catchers in the rye" with "potential jobs", no unknown and/or unchecked fortune hunters are entitled to anything more than I wish to disclose until me, dearest, consider them worthy of doing business with.
Side note - times when I was an "all-inclusive" translator are over. I am no longer wasting my time, energy and eye sight on cooking any side dishes any more, except for basic formatting in Office applications to preserve the original format. Most of the time I do not even charge for this as I find it easier and more pleasant to work in well-organized and neatly formatted files. I type over. No need to worry about my poor marketing skills, I have my reasons for running my business a certain way. For one, even a potential loss of 1-2 otherwise superb outsourcers does not outweigh the risks I attribute to wearing my heart upon my sleeve in the cyberspace.
[Edited at 2006-12-06 15:27]
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| The choices are in your hands | Dec 6, 2006 |
Nikki Graham wrote:
I haven't actually noticed anyone getting upset about this. The ad and the profile updater are not consistent. As a translator who tries to pay attention to small details I find this annoying.
I see no inconsistency here.
The profile updater states that the "required" fields must be complete in order to appear in the premium directory or quote on premium jobs.
On the other hand our current membership/profiles promotion announces a special draw and requires that all fields be completed.
You may keep your profile mostly empty. As Andres rightly points out, use of the profile updater is optional, just a tool for your convenience.
If you choose not to complete the required fields you will not qualify for premium jobs, and you could also be excluded from some normal directory jobs if the outsourcer filters using a field you did not complete.
Getting all the fields complete, a fully voluntary decision, will give you the chance to participate in a draw and probably to win a trip to Budapest or a notebook or a CAT tool (provided you paid membership during the promotion period).
I hope this clarifies the issue.
Regards,
Enrique
| | | | | What is the "general mood" here? | Dec 6, 2006 |
Lettytb wrote:
First, I was not thinking about anybody in particular.
In fact, I know all posters of this thread and I respect you very much!
I was thinking about the general mood I perceive.
Sorry, could you explain your above statement? I am not sure I understand what you mean by "general mood" and by "I know all posters of this thread".
Thanks,
Ivette
P.S.: just edited to correct a typo (in "what")...
[Edited at 2006-12-06 16:23]
| | | | Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:06
Spanish to English
| No, it does not clarify | Dec 6, 2006 |
Enrique wrote:
I see no inconsistency here.
The profile updater states that the "required" fields must be complete in order to appear in the premium directory or quote on premium jobs.
On the other hand our current membership/profiles promotion announces a special draw and requires that all fields be completed.
I hope this clarifies the issue.
Regards,
Enrique
Your (or should I say Proz) wording is unfortunate in these instances. I repeat. The ad says:
If you join or renew your membership before December 15, and complete your profile using the new profile updater ("required" and "encouraged" sections), you will be eligible to win one of three prizes.
This is what it states in my profile updater:
Your profile is complete, and you will now be allowed to to quote on premium job opportunities.
But I have NOT completed the encouraged section.
I couldn't give two hoots about the prizes (I'm not planning to buy the membership anyway). I would just like Proz to make up its mind whether a profile is complete with both the required and encouraged sections or not and change the wording in either the ad or the profile updater accordingly.
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Nikki Graham wrote:
Your profile is complete, and you will now be allowed to to quote on premium job opportunities.
But I have NOT completed the encouraged section.
I see your point, I will have the text modified in the profile updater.
Thanks,
Enrique
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Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:06
Spanish to English
| Thank you Enrique | Dec 6, 2006 |
Enrique wrote:
I see your point, I will have the text modified in the profile updater.
Thanks,
Enrique
Do I gather that the official line is, therefore, that a profile is NOT complete without the encouraged section?
I would be grateful for clarification.
| | | | Irene N
United States
Local time: 12:06
English to Russian
+ ...
Enrique wrote:
The profile updater states that the "required" fields must be complete in order to appear in the premium directory or quote on premium jobs.
Enrique
So, the site and the outsourcers are on the same side, and the translators are on the other? Does not matter if you can translate at all, what you have contributed already etc. - just learn how to fill in the required fields. You can even ask somebody to do it for you. A strange promotion indeed.
This is not about a free meal of Budapest, this turns out to be a strategic issue. What exactly are paying contributing members being punished for?
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I believe Proz wants its members to fill all fields in order to present a complete profile which will be more appealing or useful to the outsourcers when searching for a translator/interpreter. This is part of Proz's new push towards attracting more quality outsourcers for its members (see also recruitment of Mike Kidd) and the WWA is part of this. I don't see anything wrong with this, although I'm convinced that this is an astute plot to start charging outsourcers at some point (my personal opi... See more I believe Proz wants its members to fill all fields in order to present a complete profile which will be more appealing or useful to the outsourcers when searching for a translator/interpreter. This is part of Proz's new push towards attracting more quality outsourcers for its members (see also recruitment of Mike Kidd) and the WWA is part of this. I don't see anything wrong with this, although I'm convinced that this is an astute plot to start charging outsourcers at some point (my personal opinion). What I don't like is being punished for not wanting to complete the 'encouraged' section of the updater. We know how controversial the WWA was (and still is) and also the reasons behind the refusal to fill this section by many translators. But Proz is ignoring this, punishing these people by not allowing them to participate to the draw, which seems quite childish to me. I can understand not allowing members with the compulsory part non filled in, but not allowing members with just one encouraged part missing is a bit of a joke.
Giovanni ▲ Collapse
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