Test given by a translation agency
Thread poster: DUPONT86
DUPONT86
DUPONT86  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:38
English to French
+ ...
Feb 24, 2017

Hello
I was given a VERY long test by a translation agency. It took me some time to do it.
How do you manage this kind of situation? Do you do them? If so, do you bill them?
This is time consuming and the client, pretending the confidentiality, does not want to communicate the results.
Tks for your advise and support in advance. Kind regards.


 
Elif Baykara Narbay
Elif Baykara Narbay  Identity Verified
Türkiye
Local time: 16:38
German to Turkish
+ ...
Hello Feb 24, 2017

Test translations have been the subject of many topics. You may find individual titles in the fora.

It is a controversial subject. Personally, I do not like being tested But this is business and I can name a lot of applicable reasons why a potential client would like you to "pass" a test.

Anyway, if a client wants me to complete a test translation, I don't have a reason to tell no. However, I am spendin
... See more
Test translations have been the subject of many topics. You may find individual titles in the fora.

It is a controversial subject. Personally, I do not like being tested But this is business and I can name a lot of applicable reasons why a potential client would like you to "pass" a test.

Anyway, if a client wants me to complete a test translation, I don't have a reason to tell no. However, I am spending a certain time and effort for this test and it cannot be free of charge. While discussing the terms, I indicate that I would still need the test translation to be paid and until now, this didn't cause any problems. I took the test and got paid, or they changed their mind about the test.

Since it is not "free", I don't mind the length of the test.



[Edited at 2017-02-24 22:34 GMT]
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Lianne van de Ven
Lianne van de Ven  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 09:38
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
I don't do free tests Feb 24, 2017

Agencies should be able to let you do a paid translation based on your credentials, have it reviewed by a trusted editor, and then decide if they want to further work with you. The "test" argument these days is that they want to offer a ("global well-known") prospective client several translation versions. I am not buying it anymore. I have never had an electrician or plumber come to my home and do some free test installs so I can make up my mind.
If you ever want to do a test, it should
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Agencies should be able to let you do a paid translation based on your credentials, have it reviewed by a trusted editor, and then decide if they want to further work with you. The "test" argument these days is that they want to offer a ("global well-known") prospective client several translation versions. I am not buying it anymore. I have never had an electrician or plumber come to my home and do some free test installs so I can make up my mind.
If you ever want to do a test, it should not be more than 250 to 300 words, and it should be full of language pitfalls. If not, you might get cheated by someone who wants your work for free.
My 2 cents.
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Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 13:38
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Don't let yourself be used Feb 24, 2017

That's the only rule, really. I can understand perfectly that those with Master's degrees etc won't do a word for free. And I can understand that new translators might do rather a lot for free. Personally, as a marketing translator, I'm happy to do 250 words to show how I'd handle their text. But I'd rather be paid . Of course, an agency should always be clear about what it is (a test given to many; an end client's sample text...)... See more
That's the only rule, really. I can understand perfectly that those with Master's degrees etc won't do a word for free. And I can understand that new translators might do rather a lot for free. Personally, as a marketing translator, I'm happy to do 250 words to show how I'd handle their text. But I'd rather be paid . Of course, an agency should always be clear about what it is (a test given to many; an end client's sample text...). And saying the results are too confidential to show the test taker is simply absurd.Collapse


 
DUPONT86
DUPONT86  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:38
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Test given by a translation agency Feb 24, 2017

Sheila Wilson wrote:

That's the only rule, really. I can understand perfectly that those with Master's degrees etc won't do a word for free. And I can understand that new translators might do rather a lot for free. Personally, as a marketing translator, I'm happy to do 250 words to show how I'd handle their text. But I'd rather be paid . Of course, an agency should always be clear about what it is (a test given to many; an end client's sample text...). And saying the results are too confidential to show the test taker is simply absurd.


Tks for the answers. This is the last time. Plus who knows how they use your translation test once it is finished. I think some limits need to be clearly put in place.


 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 14:38
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Agree about test beforehand Feb 25, 2017

DUPONT86 wrote:
I was given a VERY long test by a translation agency. It took me some time to do it. ... This [was] time consuming and the client, pretending the confidentiality, does not want to communicate the results.


The client is under no obligation to communicate with you at all after you send them a translated test. Some translators have some expectations when it comes to tests, and if that's you, then you should make it clear to the client (and get him to agree to them) before you start the test translation.

For example, some translators expect that all tests received by the client will be evaluated. Or that all tests will be evaluated equally. Or that the test is the final hurdle before getting the job (as opposed to one of the first ones). Or that the fact that the agency sends a test means that the agency agrees to everything the translator has said up to that point (e.g. rate or payment period).


 
DUPONT86
DUPONT86  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:38
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Test given by a translation agency Feb 25, 2017

Samuel Murray wrote:

DUPONT86 wrote:
I was given a VERY long test by a translation agency. It took me some time to do it. ... This [was] time consuming and the client, pretending the confidentiality, does not want to communicate the results.


The client is under no obligation to communicate with you at all after you send them a translated test. Some translators have some expectations when it comes to tests, and if that's you, then you should make it clear to the client (and get him to agree to them) before you start the test translation.

For example, some translators expect that all tests received by the client will be evaluated. Or that all tests will be evaluated equally. Or that the test is the final hurdle before getting the job (as opposed to one of the first ones). Or that the fact that the agency sends a test means that the agency agrees to everything the translator has said up to that point (e.g. rate or payment period).



Tks for your response. As someone said, there are some limits and rules. But I will handle it in another way for the next one.


 
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 14:38
French to English
Trust your instinct Feb 25, 2017

This is a lesson that many learn to their cost. Once is usually enough. After that, one generally learns to accept to do only a short (free) test, something of between 250-500 words is common. Trust your instinct from now on.

As for the feedback, I've had stuff come back with corrections which were false friends and standard mistakes that a native speaker simply could not make. This happened with agencies in my early days and still happens from time to time with direct clients. Nat
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This is a lesson that many learn to their cost. Once is usually enough. After that, one generally learns to accept to do only a short (free) test, something of between 250-500 words is common. Trust your instinct from now on.

As for the feedback, I've had stuff come back with corrections which were false friends and standard mistakes that a native speaker simply could not make. This happened with agencies in my early days and still happens from time to time with direct clients. Native speakers also make mistakes when correcting texts of which they have no specialist knowledge and/or experience. That is not surprising and when explanations and supporting evidence is provided, then it can be worked through and a solution found. In fact, it can be good fun, as you're into the nitty-gritty of language and that is generally what we like about the job we have chosen to do. Sometimes folk make quite relevant remarks and we learn from that. Humility has a place in our business, as in any other.


[Edited at 2017-02-25 14:02 GMT]
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Ilan Rubin (X)
Ilan Rubin (X)  Identity Verified
Russian Federation
Local time: 16:38
Russian to English
The first rule of freelancing is... Feb 25, 2017

... everybody's experience is totally unique. What works for one translator doesn't work for another.

And what works for you today may not work tomorrow as circumstances change.

I have four rock solid regular clients. They keep me employed very much full time. For three I did paid tests, for one I did a free test. Now I don't do tests because I have tons of work. But if the work were to dry up I might take tests again.

So do what works for you.


 


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Test given by a translation agency







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