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Poll: How do you manage your work downloads (even after years of experience)? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you manage your work downloads (even after years of experience)?".
This poll was originally submitted by Susanna Martoni. View the poll results »
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I try to relax and not to panic because deep down I know that work will eventually come through. I have been translating for a long time and although over the years work has always been a roller coaster I’ve been noticing since Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine that the ride is even bumpier: a good month is followed by a bad one. What should we do? Just be patient is my motto…
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| Panicking rationally | Mar 19 |
After year 2023 within the usual boundaries, last month was surprisingly slow, with -60% compared to my average invoicing.
I thought well, that's it, AI/LLM/MT have won, customers have all turned to it, I'm out for good this time, how much money do clients still owe me, what options to bounce back, shall I end up as a cog feeding the machines, how many years left until children finish university, how long before retirement at full rate, what expenses can we cut, should I start reviewing j... See more After year 2023 within the usual boundaries, last month was surprisingly slow, with -60% compared to my average invoicing.
I thought well, that's it, AI/LLM/MT have won, customers have all turned to it, I'm out for good this time, how much money do clients still owe me, what options to bounce back, shall I end up as a cog feeding the machines, how many years left until children finish university, how long before retirement at full rate, what expenses can we cut, should I start reviewing job boards, I need to get back into shape for physical work, etc.
Then March came, and for some reason my work load is back to normal. I'll resume pondering about the end of my world at the next opportunity.
Philippe ▲ Collapse
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Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 18:00
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
Since I started I've always had a terrible feeling in slow periods (you would think that you could finally enjoy some time off, but I just can't if my vacation isn't planned). I can't count the times I've thought I was done and the end was near. Then work starts pouring in again and litterally a second later I've forgotten all about my deep sorrows and I'm up for another couple of weeks of hard work.
Endless repeat until this day.
[Bijgewerkt op 2024-03-19 10:55 GMT]
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Susanna Martoni 
Italy
Local time: 18:00
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
+ ...
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after 30 years, I manage lacks of work pretty bad.
Sometimes, by keeping a worrying and unhealthy (yes, I know) attitude 
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I panic and send out a few CVs, then the work comes in from my regulars. Repeat cycle...
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Ana Vozone
Local time: 17:00
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Does this mean "downloading" materials to be translated? Or does it mean "slowdown"?
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| Maybe 'downturns' is what is meant | Mar 19 |
Ana Vozone wrote:
Does this mean "downloading" materials to be translated? Or does it mean "slowdown"?
I also don't understand the use of downloads here.
Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more
downturn
/ˈdaʊntəːn/
noun
a decline in economic, business, or other activity.
"a downturn in the housing market"
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Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 18:00
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
Looking at all reactions so far and noticing that the asker of the question reacted in the same sense, I think it's safe to say that the question is clear for...
...everybody who knows how to download between the lines. * badum-tssss *
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Susanna Martoni
Italy
Local time: 18:00
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
+ ...
When I proposed this forum title, I am pretty sure I did not write "download".
Anyway, the intended meaning was - and is - "downturn", "slowdown".
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| Good opportunities to work on other things | Mar 19 |
I always get a little bit nervous, but with the years I've learned that more work will eventually come (perhaps "work uploads" in line with the new terminology here).
Also, I have a small side project that I'm working on, so I sort of enjoy when there is not too much translation work coming in, since it gives me more time to work on my own project. Work slowdowns are good opportunities to work on other things.
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Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 18:00
Member (2020)
English to German
+ ...
| Marketing and other things | Mar 20 |
I start marketing my services whenever a lull remains longer than 2-3 days. I do also take the opportunity to do chores around the house and take extended walks. I have also found myself applying for jobs outside of what I have come to see as a dying industry that is becoming more toxic and hostile day by day thanks to clients' (both agencies and end-clients) blind trust in AI.
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Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 18:00
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
Alex Lichanow wrote:
I have also found myself applying for jobs outside of what I have come to see as a dying industry that is becoming more toxic and hostile day by day thanks to clients' (both agencies and end-clients) blind trust in AI.
It's remarkable how experiences among translators can be so different. Not a single one of my clients has a blind trust in AI, unless offering MTPE assignments is supposed to be a token of blind trust in AI (which it is of course absolutely not).
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Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 18:00
Member (2020)
English to German
+ ...
Lieven Malaise wrote: Alex Lichanow wrote:
I have also found myself applying for jobs outside of what I have come to see as a dying industry that is becoming more toxic and hostile day by day thanks to clients' (both agencies and end-clients) blind trust in AI. It's remarkable how experiences among translators can be so different. Not a single one of my clients has a blind trust in AI, unless offering MTPE assignments is supposed to be a token of blind trust in AI (which it is of course absolutely not).
It was literally 10 minutes ago that I finished translating an end-client's quiz on GenAI chatbots, with one of the questions being what they should NOT be used for - and "language translation" was one of the wrong answers. There is absolutely zero respect left for the knowledge and talent of human translators.
Oh, by the way, the "correct" answer is "Choose the next CEO". Because apparently it's extremely important who holds meaningless, buzzword-riddled keynotes at industry events.
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Downtime is normal thing, useful to preserve one's health
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