Сould use an opinion about this... Thread poster: Richard Mendes Ribeiro
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Some time ago I posted here about the ongoings of my career and everyone was very helpful; this post is mostly a follow up to that as well as me wanting to let some steam off my chest.
Its been some time now, and things have changed a bit.
I am currently working with a translation company in Peru, sadly their rates are not the best, but at least now I got experience working with a company as well as the reference.
sadly I haven't contacted many more compani... See more Some time ago I posted here about the ongoings of my career and everyone was very helpful; this post is mostly a follow up to that as well as me wanting to let some steam off my chest.
Its been some time now, and things have changed a bit.
I am currently working with a translation company in Peru, sadly their rates are not the best, but at least now I got experience working with a company as well as the reference.
sadly I haven't contacted many more companies, let me explain why...
Shortly after my last post, I got hired for an ongoing transcription project that will make me around 200 per week at least until the end of the year.
sadly, I can't download the videos in question, so, I have to do it old style, the video open in the browser and good old word. if you have worked with transcription before you can probably imagine how much time consuming that makes the job...
I am also working on another long-term project translating a large SQL database.
what brings us to my actual problem, sort of...
My anxiety has been acting up again; I'm feeling guilty about not actively looking for new jobs, even though I am busy.
The thing is, I can't help but feel that I am putting all my eggs in one basket, but, even if I did, and sometimes I do, by the way, get more jobs, I would barely have any time to do then...
I plan to dedicate at least a little time every day to do something to "help" my career, be it to polish my profiles or to send an email to a company, or just something...
what do you guys think?
and on that note, is it ok to send another email to a company that I have already contacted after a few months?
And, on a more positive note, I don't know if I mentioned this but I have always wanted to work on game localization, and a few weeks ago I finally got a job in the field.
I posted on Reddit offering to work for free to gain some experience, and the client accepted, the thing is, after I delivered the files, they decided to pay me, and full price too! I take this as a sign that I did something right.
Now I wonder how to get more jobs like that, should I go back to Reddit? it worked once after all...
Also, what is a good place to build an online portfolio as a translator? a place to put text samples, screenshots, and new content, excluding creating a blog or site just for that, any suggestions?
Anyways, thank you in advance if someone reads this and I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Proz is the best place | Jul 26, 2018 |
Richard Mendes Ribeiro wrote:
......what is a good place to build an online portfolio as a translator? a place to put text samples, screenshots, and new content, excluding creating a blog or site just for that, any suggestions?
...
The best place to do this is your Proz profile, where you should your profile 100% complete and constantly update it with new examples of your work etc. in the "Portfolio" section. Also make sure you are using good keywords, because those keywords are what Google searches for when a prospective client is looking for a translator with your specialism, in your language pair.
SPECIALISM: that's probably the most important thing of all. Be an expert translator in a narrowly defined field. That's the best way to attract customers.
PS I've read some of your samples , which are all translations into English. But your English is not word-perfect and is probably not your mother tongue. Opinions differ on this matter but I would recommend that you only translate into your own native language.
[Edited at 2018-07-26 09:58 GMT]
| | | | Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 07:19
French to English
| here are my opinions! | Jul 26, 2018 |
Richard Mendes Ribeiro wrote:
Shortly after my last post, I got hired for an ongoing transcription project that will make me around 200 per week at least until the end of the year.
200 what? and is that enough to cover all your costs and expenses and have some left over for a social life?
Richard Mendes Ribeiro wrote:
sadly, I can't download the videos in question, so, I have to do it old style, the video open in the browser and good old word. if you have worked with transcription before you can probably imagine how much time consuming that makes the job...
Have you asked the company for help downloading? Is your hardware up-to-date enough to accommodate software if you do manage to download the videos?
Richard Mendes Ribeiro wrote:
My anxiety has been acting up again; I'm feeling guilty about not actively looking for new jobs, even though I am busy.
The thing is, I can't help but feel that I am putting all my eggs in one basket, but, even if I did, and sometimes I do, by the way, get more jobs, I would barely have any time to do then...
Putting all your eggs in only one or two baskets is anxiety-inducing indeed.
The point is that if you are not making enough money with the jobs you have, they are not well-paid enough. So you need to look for better paid jobs.
You can try bidding on jobs here, putting your ideal rate. If companies take you up, that's because they're prepared to pay you that price. You'll see that if you're given a well-paid project, you will find time for it, even if it means turning down work from lesser-paying clients. And if companies don't respond to your bids, well you don't have to turn down work from your current clients.
Richard Mendes Ribeiro wrote:
I plan to dedicate at least a little time every day to do something to "help" my career, be it to polish my profiles or to send an email to a company, or just something...
what do you guys think?
That just doesn't work for me. I always prioritise the work I actually have, so if I have a lot on my plate, I won't bother bidding or trying any other marketing stuff. I'll do that only when I have a lull.
My aim this year was to diversify my customer base because like you, I didn't have enough clients even though I had enough work. I joined Proz and bid on a few jobs, the membership paid for itself after a few weeks. I also did stuff like sending out jolly "Happy New Year" emails reminding potential clients of my existence and worked very hard on boosting my number of contacts on LinkedIn.
As a result, I have had a whole lot more work, and I am no longer working nearly as much for the clients who don't pay so well.
One tried to halve my hourly rate for a proofreading job lately, and I stood my ground, knowing that I didn't need the work. They ended up giving me the job at the rate I've always applied with them.
Richard Mendes Ribeiro wrote:
and on that note, is it ok to send another email to a company that I have already contacted after a few months?
I wouldn't, unless you have something new to say. I think it's OK to remind people of your existence at certain times of the year. Here in France it's very much OK to send someone a Happy New Year message in January for example. You can also send out an email informing clients and potential clients of your current availability if you're going away (and a message to remind them that you're back at your desk once you are back).
I had started looking into doing my own website and I was fully intending to use that as an excuse to reach out to potential clients, except now I don't have any time to deal with that, and if I did have time I think I'd want to just chill, given the heatwave we're in right now!
Richard Mendes Ribeiro wrote:
Now I wonder how to get more jobs like that, should I go back to Reddit? it worked once after all...
It did work, and very well from what you recounted. However I really wouldn't count on getting more paid work like that, you're far more likely to find yourself simply working for free. I have no idea whether you are allowed to advertise your services there, you should perhaps take a look at Reddit's policies?
Tom suggested Proz and I agree that it's the one of the best places to find translation work. You might also be able to find work on LinkedIn. I contacted everyone on my list of contacts to let them know I had started freelancing. As I used to work in-house, I was in contact with a lot of former colleagues now working in other agencies. And a friend who set up her own business contacted me to work on her website too. And translators I know might recommend my services if they have to turn a client down, or if the client asks them for my language pair despite it not being theirs.
HTH
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