| Pages sur ce sujet: < [1 2] | Getting frustrated: how to get more experience and more work? Auteur du fil: Anna Lautzenheiser (X)
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Tom in London
Royaume-Uni
Local time: 23:52
Membre (2008)
italien vers anglais
Oleg Karnaushenko wrote:
I would not recommend lowering your rates. I
I very strongly agree with Oleg. Establish the rate you think you need to charge, and then stick to it. Many clients will patronise you by saying "oh, that's much too high, you don't understand the market".
Forget them and "tiens dur". You'll lose some jobs but the ones you get will pay you what you're asking for and you will therefore be able to do your best work.
(Isn't it great to have people all over the world helping you?)
[Edited at 2012-04-18 16:12 GMT]
| | | | Anna Lautzenheiser (X) 
États-Unis
Local time: 18:52
français vers anglais
AUTEUR DU FIL
WOW!!! Thank you all so much for your encouragement and support!! I cannot express how fully I appreciate your advice!! All of your suggestions are great and I will definitely be implementing them all!!
@Jenn: Since the CATI Conference is in my hometown of Winston-Salem, I will definitely try to attend!!! I will look for you there!
| | | | | If that is the only way... | Apr 18, 2012 |
Jorim De Clercq wrote:
Lower your rates. I've just started my career as a translator and the clients I have had until now have chosen me because I had lower rates than the competition. When you have found some clients, you can raise your rates.
I strongly recommend not to use the rate as the main way to compete. Any person doing so and neglecting other competitive factors (training, marketing, specialisation, availability, technical capability) will soon find that available resources get lower and lower in an increasingly competitive market. Chances are that by following this approach you will be outdated, poor, and discouraged sooner than you think, and you will wonder why this is happening to you...
| | | | Anna Lautzenheiser (X)
États-Unis
Local time: 18:52
français vers anglais
AUTEUR DU FIL
Speaking of rates...
As most of you would agree, it is important to be competitive but still make money. What is the going rate for translation? I have seen rates as low as .06 USD and as high as .12 USD. per source word. I have typically tried to stay in the .08 to .09 range when bidding/applying for projects on this site. Does that seem about right?
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| Correct the French version of your profile | Apr 18, 2012 |
It contains too many mistakes. That doesn't mean you can't provide good translations into English but the profile gives a really bad first impression to French speakers.
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 23:52
| Do not lower your rates! | Apr 18, 2012 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote: Jorim De Clercq wrote:
Lower your rates. I've just started my career as a translator and the clients I have had until now have chosen me because I had lower rates than the competition. When you have found some clients, you can raise your rates. I strongly recommend not to use the rate as the main way to compete. Any person doing so and neglecting other competitive factors (training, marketing, specialisation, availability, technical capability) will soon find that available resources get lower and lower in an increasingly competitive market. Chances are that by following this approach you will be outdated, poor, and discouraged sooner than you think, and you will wonder why this is happening to you...
Anna,
You need every cent per word you can get. As Tomás says, you need to invest as much as you can in yourself (quite apart from paying the rent, finding food, etc.). This includes the investment of time in developing your areas of specialisation (reading avidly in your subject fields in both your languages), investment in equipment, reference resources (online and offline), CAT tools, a decent desk and chair, etc.
Your investment in yourself should also include membership of a professional translators' organisation. I should imagine ATA - the American Translators' Association - would be the most natural one for you to join. This is not cheap, but many will say it pays dividends. Once you are a member, then it is an added advantage to get your accreditation. Again, I understand the examinations are considered tough, but worth it.
Corinne Mackay has a book which may be useful to you:
http://www.amazon.com/Succeed-Freelance-Translator-Second-Edition/dp/0578077566/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334775930&sr=1-1
She also has a blog called Thoughts on Translation
http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2012/04/06/some-thoughts-on-rates-and-quotes/
While I do not agree with her every word (nor am I being paid to promote her!), she does have some good practical ideas, and has a very positive outlook.
You will need a positive outlook. My perception is that the French>English language pair is very competitive indeed, both within Europe and in the United States. Again, lowering your rates will send entirely the wrong message. If anything, increase your current rates substantially when quoting on jobs originating from France, or Germany, for that matter.
Another good blogger in your language pair is Catherine Jan http://www.catherinetranslates.com/
She is young and dynamic (and is also on Facebook as Catherine Translates).
Well, you've got your reading list sorted for at least a week!
Good luck. Don't give up.
[Edited at 2012-04-18 19:35 GMT]
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 23:52
| Last sentence in English resumé | Apr 18, 2012 |
Camille Beaupin wrote:
It contains too many mistakes. That doesn't mean you can't provide good translations into English but the profile gives a really bad first impression to French speakers.
The last sentence in your English resumé should read "translations", not "translation". (Sorry, I have moved away from the page - that was what stuck in my mind.) Have another look at it.
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