| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: What is generally the decisive factor in your deciding to accept a project? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What is generally the decisive factor in your deciding to accept a project?".
View the poll results »
| | | | | Topic and pricing | Apr 2, 2010 |
There are not many topics I just can't handle, for example I would decline highly specialized computer programming, movies, medicine and several more. As regards price, I'm still not in the position to work for less than $7 per page (250 words).
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combination of:
pricing availability volume subject.....
| | | | Stefan Schilling 
Germany
Local time: 23:09
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
The main reason why I have to turn projects down is very tight deadlines. The point is missing here, therefore I selected "Other".
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Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:09
German to English
+ ...
Gianluca Marras wrote:
combination of:
pricing availability volume subject.....
Most potential projects come in from existing customers, so pricing is already agreed. So it's a combination of whether I have the time to do it and whether I am comfortable with the text.
| | | | Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:09
French to English
+ ...
Usually deadline, but the topic plays a big part too. As others have said the price will usually be agreed already.
| | | | | Deadline + subject | Apr 2, 2010 |
The same here...
| | | | Xanthippe
France
Local time: 23:09
Member (2008)
Italian to French
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | deadline + subject | Apr 2, 2010 |
Teresa Borges wrote:
The same here...
same here!
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:09
Russian to English
+ ...
In memoriam
This is an important omission from the choices in this poll. Like everyone else who has responded here, I find that deadline is more often the deciding factor than any other.
[Edited at 2010-04-02 12:51 GMT]
| | | | | Interest and convenience, among other | Apr 2, 2010 |
I've worked successfully for 10 years as a freelancer, and to tell the truth I'm quite burned out by now.
For the past two years, I've run a very successful business online/from home with new technologies in antiaging/wellness. I'm helping other people run their independent business, and it's a much more interesting way to use languages, while socializing and traveling to various countries, and helping others, which I love.
I'm having a lot of fun and making incomes higher than my a... See more I've worked successfully for 10 years as a freelancer, and to tell the truth I'm quite burned out by now.
For the past two years, I've run a very successful business online/from home with new technologies in antiaging/wellness. I'm helping other people run their independent business, and it's a much more interesting way to use languages, while socializing and traveling to various countries, and helping others, which I love.
I'm having a lot of fun and making incomes higher than my already high translation incomes, which have the characteristic that they keep coming in even though I leave on vacations.
And moreover, this industry is growing in times of recession, so I find myself laughing merrily on a daily basis and wondering why so many people still want to stay in the crisis when they can so easily get out of it - whenever somebody wants to join us, I teach them how and help them make a nice income from the very first month.
(I felt I needed to provide this background before giving my actual answer to the poll):
Currently, I take on translation projects only when they are easy, fun, interesting, fairly short, with ample deadline and well-paid. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | all of the above is missing too... | Apr 2, 2010 |
For me, it has to be a combination of availability, pricing, subject, volume and deadline. I don't generally take short projects (except from a certain client who sends lots of them every month), and I don't take underpaid projects. And I don't loose sleep over tight deadlines.
By the way, the person who doesn't work for less than $7 per page... should put up his rates! that's less than 3 dollar cents per word! it's ridiculous!
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the required deadline is usually the deciding factor for me, assuming the subject matter is within my area of expertise
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Dawn Montague
United States
Local time: 17:09
German to English
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| I put down pricing, but it is much more complex than that | Apr 2, 2010 |
Pricing is only the final step. First it must be a topic in which I specialize and which I am qualified to handle. Even price is more complex because I have different prices for different types of documents. I generally divide them into "relatively easy", "of average difficulty" and "difficult" and then have different per word rates in mind for each. I try to base my prices on a certain expected hourly income. And then the deadline must allow me sufficient time to review my translation before de... See more Pricing is only the final step. First it must be a topic in which I specialize and which I am qualified to handle. Even price is more complex because I have different prices for different types of documents. I generally divide them into "relatively easy", "of average difficulty" and "difficult" and then have different per word rates in mind for each. I try to base my prices on a certain expected hourly income. And then the deadline must allow me sufficient time to review my translation before delivering it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 17:09
Member (2009)
French to English
I cannot believe that no one has mentioned the relationship with the client yet. Yes, some clients *pay* better than others, but that is only part of the story. I also appreciate good communication, friendly project managers, and swift payment. Add it all together and I will take a job for one client while I may be unavailable for the other at the same (or even higher) rate.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 23:09
English to French
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Jenn Mercer wrote:
I cannot believe that no one has mentioned the relationship with the client yet. Yes, some clients *pay* better than others, but that is only part of the story. I also appreciate good communication, friendly project managers, and swift payment. Add it all together and I will take a job for one client while I may be unavailable for the other at the same (or even higher) rate.
That is why I voted "other": my trusted customers know what I am good at and the subjects I like best, they know my prices and the time I need to deliver a certain volume. The only thing they must hear from me is whether I am available (and willing) or not.
A "good relationship" with PMs and other staff is essential IMHO. The rest - volume, swift payment, friendliness - comes along automatically.
Happy translating!
[Modifié le 2010-04-02 13:15 GMT]
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