While we are primarily a B2B translation company, there is another side to our professional base: translators. Translators are the heart and soul behind the services we offer, and when they are happy - we are happy. We have a pretty good rating on ProZ.com by the translators who have worked with us, and while that’s always been a source of some professional pride, I’ve often wondered how ratings from translators stack up against ratings from clients.
When Translators Learn from Translators
As freelancers, most of us have to find our own way into our professions, and of course, how to make a decent income with freelance translating. There are no set rules or strategies about being a freelance translator, or interpreter or editor. Of course there are recommendations and generalized methods that work well for many – but there is no single course or pattern of actions that we can say ”this is exactly how to become a freelancer.” It is primarily a live-and-learn process. And, due to the nature of process, there are often hard lessons to learn along the way.
In freelancing, some of us deal primarily with direct clients, while others of us obtain translation jobs solely through a professional translation agency like Tomedes, or perhaps a general database; still others may use a combination of sources. There are pros and cons for each method. Depending upon your personal preference, you’d probably have your own answer for a beginner who asked you, “How do I find clients or translation jobs?” Some of us would say, “Set up a website and create your own clients, that way you have control over both provider services and payment.” Others would say, “Join as many translation agencies as you can. The work is much more consistent and steady; you don’t have to worry about going through dry spells of no work.” The point is, most responses to questions about what the best freelance translation help with work is, would entail some kind of “source,” whether an outsourcer, the internet, an agency, or whatever.
Yet many of us never think to answer, “other translators.” Its one of the most logical – and probably successful – methods that a new translator in need of freelance translation help and work sources could use - but infrequently, if not rarely - ever suggested. Perhaps because we feel that by revealing our sources of work we are creating more competition in a profession that can already be challenging enough. Or perhaps we are afraid of being used, exploited, or otherwise taken advantage of, if we reveal how and from where our steady workflow comes from. These fears are often perpetuated by commercial translation project marketplaces & databases. These sites often imply - or even insist - that the more money a translator member forks over to the job marketplace for better, faster access to jobs, the less translator competition to worry about - as though translators are knocking each other down on their race to all the best jobs. It’s kind of ridiculous. There are endless translation jobs out there, and industry statistics consistently show how the translation market is under-served - not overun with competition. So if there are notions about other translators being the competition that could put you out of work – well, stop having those notions.
Personally speaking, my professional freelance colleagues have led me to some of the best job sources and/or clients. Not only did they direct me, but they helped anyone who asked them with sincerity. And they were quite happy to do it. Furthermore, many highly successful translators (like Twin Translations, the two twin sisters who run a translation blog and translate Spanish, German and French) insist that networking and exchanging with other freelance translators is actually the absolute best way to find translation work.
Still not convinced that colleagues can be of any freelance translation help?
Look at this way: Freelance translators, when they start out on their own, are thrown into the dark, where they have to feel their way to some source of light, while also trying to familiarize themselves with all of the obstacles along the way. A helping voice from out of the dark from another colleague who has walked that same path - is a welcome thing. There are enough corporations and large businesses that make freelance translation work a headache on their best days. All the other freelancers – in general - have no desire to make things harder for someone does the exact same thing they do. Consider your own perspective. If a struggling beginning freelance translator comes to you with a genuine request for some professional advice and guidance about where or how to find some work that will help them pay their rent this month, are you going to tell her, “Sorry, can’t help you, you’re the competition.” My best guess is no, of course you wouldn’t (and if you would say that, we are so not Facebook friends). You would do what you could to lead her to a few websites, agencies or databases that helped you in your beginning days.
Uniting Against the Bad Guys of the Translation Industry
If we all did this – networked and assisted each other, that is - on a much more regular, consistent, and proactive basis, the industry of freelance translation might not be such a terrifying solo performance, nor quite the fragmented market of individualist opportunity. Why hasn’t anyone created one, or many freelance translators unions? Why isn’t there some kind of coalition for the welfare of multilingual self-employed professionals? Or, at the very least - some kind of annual publication that lots of translators contribute to to assist other translators?
Oh. Wait a minute. There are organizations like that, and there is a publication.
Before we get to that, ask yourself this: What’s the one thing that you dread or hate most about working as a freelance translator? Long tedious translations about dump truck carborators? Those do suck, but that comes with the job, so no. Picky, mean clients? Again, just part of the gig.
The #1 answer is: when you get suckered by a direct client or bad apple agency who doesn’t pay.
Unlike “normal” jobs, for which state and federal governments have strict laws in place to protect employees and their wages, regardless of whether employers think the wages are deserved or not, a freelance translator in Nebraska cannot take penal action – at least in any reasonably expedited fashion – against a client in Nepal who hasn’t paid their invoice for a month. Really, there isn’t much we can do . .. or is there?
Translationdirectory.com releases an annual publication of blacklisted clients and agencies, updated every year. In order to be blacklisted, a translator only needs to provide the name (or the name that was given) of the client or agency, and usually, details surrounding the reason for blacklisting. The reasons are are almost always for non-payment, extremely late payment, or some other fraudulent activity, but companies or clients can also be blacklisted for generally shady business. In addition to the directory of blacklisted clients and agencies, there are also several well-known forums used by translators and other online freelancers, that provide lists, names and fraudulent aliases. Some of these forums include www.freelancersupport.com/forums/index.php , www.translatorscafe.com, and Proz.com. There is also a partial free version of the publication here: http://www.translationdirectory.com/forum/messages/?685, The annual publication is 40 bucks, but in my not-so-humble opinion, it is well worth it for the time and potential non-payment translators and freelancers can spare themselves.
I won’t share the professional translation agencies listed in the newest blacklist publication that were well recognized (and by the way, I’m proud to say Tomedes was not in a single complaint in any forum). But, it was pretty shocking to see some of the companies that were listed and complained about as non-paying companies – some of which are normally thought of as fairly respectable or high profile (primarily due to their own marketing stunts). Some of the largest, highest ranking companies are allegedly some of the worst culprits for late or non-payment, according to the translators who blacklisted them. This is another reason why this kind of information can be good to have.
For any translation company that does not think about how treatment of, or payment to their translators or workers can affect their reputation, in either the B2B or B2C markets – well, think again. This is one of the best examples of how translation professionals protect their livelihood. And don’t think for a minute that when translation clients or agencies are blacklisted – especially the smaller ones – that it doesn’t affect their business.
So, here is at least one way that translators are bonding together for the greater good of all freelance translators at large. The next time you exhaust all reasonable attempts to obtain payment, or are otherwise bullied by a direct client or agency who seems to think there will be no repercussions – remind them of the annual translator’s blacklist (but make sure they really deserve it).
