| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you generally accept to do free translations tests? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:24
German to English
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I'm happy to do short (> 200 words) free translation tests, providing we have already agreed on pricing and terms and there is no deadline set for the translation, so I can do it in my own time.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:24
Spanish to English
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Been stung before. Usually too busy.
| | | | Ventnai
Spain
Local time: 20:24
German to English
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A company I work for pays for tests, which I think is fair, unlike one woman who wanted me to do over five hundred words of complicated legal text for free with a deadline ...
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David Wright
Austria
Local time: 20:24
German to English
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I have enough to do otherwise, I would put "job subject to free test translation" very low on my work priorities.
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sometimes it is part of the selection process, but no more than 200 words.
Anyway I do not like free tests which have a deadline "to see if I can work under pressure".
Yes I can work under pressure, when I get paid.
On my computer I have a wide range of free tests that I have never sent, simply because I was busy with some paid work
| | | | Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:24
Member (2009)
English to French
| No but I used to | Mar 23, 2011 |
I tend to avoid them - I've got qualifications i.e. translation qualifications and years of experience - if I can't be taken on my word then how can I trust the client to pay? After all I did not get my translation degree by doing nothing. I know what I can and cannot do - so unless I'm not busy - I tend to avoid them. Sometimes I do them for fun but I tend not to trust a client who does not trust me, and in my experience, they are the less desirable clients.
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I will do up to 300 words but as Gianluca rightly points out, paid work takes precedence. I understand why clients want a sample. I would too.
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Normally I don't do free test translations
1) because I think that my university degree and several references are more convincing than the translation of a minuscule text,
2) because I've never met any other service provider (doctors, lawyers, hairdresser, mechanists, ...) who would accept to do a free test of his work, and
3) because with a potential new client I'm also taking a risk, as I don't know if he will pay me punctually (or if he will pay me at a... See more Normally I don't do free test translations
1) because I think that my university degree and several references are more convincing than the translation of a minuscule text,
2) because I've never met any other service provider (doctors, lawyers, hairdresser, mechanists, ...) who would accept to do a free test of his work, and
3) because with a potential new client I'm also taking a risk, as I don't know if he will pay me punctually (or if he will pay me at all). And I've never heard about a "test payment" of a client. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 20:24
Member (2009)
English to German
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After having done a free test translation of nearly 500 words - I was in my beginner's stage then! - and never heard from that lady again except when others here on ProZ asked questions on the same subject my alleged test translation was treating, I try to avoid them.
Depending on the circumstances and, yes, the outsourcer's reputation, I might agree to a test translation of less or equalling 200 words.
Like Patricia pointed out: I have qualifications, documented incl. ... See more After having done a free test translation of nearly 500 words - I was in my beginner's stage then! - and never heard from that lady again except when others here on ProZ asked questions on the same subject my alleged test translation was treating, I try to avoid them.
Depending on the circumstances and, yes, the outsourcer's reputation, I might agree to a test translation of less or equalling 200 words.
Like Patricia pointed out: I have qualifications, documented incl. Letters of Recommendation, so a potential client should be satisfied with this or perhaps offer to pay a flat rate for any test translation that he or she might need to be convinced of my qualification.
That's my 2 cents. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Happy too do them | Mar 23, 2011 |
I am very happy to do a short test.
In some ways Proz.com job postings that include a short text to translate are better, I think. I can see the subject and complexity of the text and the project manager has a basis for making a selection other than price (and possibly CV if this is requested). A short test can give a good indication of whether a translator will do a good job.
I will also do tests to be added to someone's database if they are not too long.
... See more I am very happy to do a short test.
In some ways Proz.com job postings that include a short text to translate are better, I think. I can see the subject and complexity of the text and the project manager has a basis for making a selection other than price (and possibly CV if this is requested). A short test can give a good indication of whether a translator will do a good job.
I will also do tests to be added to someone's database if they are not too long.
I did have the annoying experience recently of being asked to do a free test of what looked like part of a longer document. There was a short deadline, which struck me as very odd as this was supposedly to be added to the database - what's the rush if an agency is genuinely looking for good translators? It is good that Proz.com alerts warn members of the site to be alert to this.
I also work for agencies that pay for sample translations when they are bidding for new clients. ▲ Collapse
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I usually accept short tests, when I am not too busy with paid jobs and I can do them in my own time. However, I have to say that I am becoming increasingly skeptical about them, because so far I only got one client after passing a test (And he did paid me for the test). All the others that said I had passed their test just disappeared.
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I don't mind doing a short test of under 300 words, unless I am too busy. Occasionally they will pay a nominal fee, 20 dollars. I also do editing tests. If i'm too busy but want to take the test, I ask if I can do it at a more convenient time. Usually they're ok with it, they all understand that paid work is a priority!
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 20:24
Spanish to English
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| Sure, why not? | Mar 23, 2011 |
If I'm interested in the job or company why not? Lots of businesses give free samples; I've even visited doctors who don't charge for a first time consultation.
I think in a fairly unregulated industry like ours (and yes, sorry all you purists, this IS an industry) there's good reason to accept doing short tests.
I agree the limit should be about 200-300 words and no deadline imposed. A comment like, "We need this test back urgently", would be a red flag for me.
| | | | Adnan Özdemir
Türkiye
Local time: 21:24
Member (2007)
German to Turkish
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| No, but -rarely | Mar 23, 2011 |
Principally, I do not accept free test translations. But, if the cuscomer offers ''big buffalo'' then I accept it -rarely tambien-. Not more than 200 words!
Saludos desde Anatolia
Anadolu'dan selamlar
[Edited at 2011-03-23 11:41 GMT]
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