| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | What am I doing wrong ? Thread poster: frederique sannier-lowry
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Heinrich Pesch 
Finland
Local time: 03:14
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
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| Try to figure out who might need you most | Nov 18, 2008 |
Is it French businesses that need to get something translated from English, or rather English/American/Australian/other foreign country organisations that need to translate something from English into French?
I believe the demand for native French translaters is higher outside France, since most French managers etc. at least read English fluently. In every country there are firms that up and then need something translated from English into various languages like French, German, whatever. <... See more Is it French businesses that need to get something translated from English, or rather English/American/Australian/other foreign country organisations that need to translate something from English into French?
I believe the demand for native French translaters is higher outside France, since most French managers etc. at least read English fluently. In every country there are firms that up and then need something translated from English into various languages like French, German, whatever.
Cheers
Heinrich ▲ Collapse
| | | | | If it's any consolation to you… | Nov 18, 2008 |
I spent the first six months of the year without a single good project. All I got in my mailbox were small projects of 70 and 100 dollars. Very bad for me.
Ahhh! But as soon as I started doing things of my own interest, the large jobs came automatically!
Start doing things you love, and you’ll see. Clients won’t let you a minute free.
Don’t worry, be happy.
| | | | Stuart Dowell
Poland
Local time: 02:14
Member (2007)
Polish to English
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| Brochure sounds interesting | Nov 18, 2008 |
Kevin Lossner wrote:
after long consideration and some rather nice examples I saw at a seminar some months ago, I've come to the conclusion that a brochure/profile format would be more effective.)
That sounds interesting. What do you mean exactly by a brochure/profile format?
Stuart
| | | | mattsmith
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:14
German to English
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| It's very hard starting out.... | Nov 18, 2008 |
... as a freelancer because you're competing with people who have many years of translation experience. Have you considered doing a basic in-house role or even an internship for say 6 months? This would also give you an opportunity to get to know some clients.
[Edited at 2008-11-18 13:17 GMT]
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| Use your ProZ calendar | Nov 19, 2008 |
Hi Fred,
Using your calendar to show potential clients you're available might make a difference.
BTW, 0 EUR/hour? You deserve more!
Good luck!
Christa
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 20:14
English to Spanish
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Carvallo wrote:
I spent the first six months of the year without a single good project. All I got in my mailbox were small projects of 70 and 100 dollars. Very bad for me.
You described my first year as a freelancer to a "T".
The beginning can be extremely disheartening, so don't let it get to you
Andrea
[Edited at 2008-11-19 22:47 GMT]
| | | | | Alternative to the CV | Nov 20, 2008 |
Stuart Dowell wrote:
That sounds interesting. What do you mean exactly by a brochure/profile format?
The presenter at the BDÜ seminar I attended in Berlin was quite insistent on the inappropriateness of a CV for client acquisition. I disagree, however, depending on the type of client you are trying to acquire. She's definitely right for end clients, and I think the points are worth considering for many agencies.
If you take a look at flyers for a training seminar or ones which advertise a service business of some kind, you will often find a nice picture of the instructor/provider, a summary profile of experience (John Lingua studied engineering at CalTech in California before spending 20 years in the aerospace industry and another 10 years as a derivatives analyst on Wall Street... not a detailed list of every damned job, time periods, etc.) and a list of services offered. Sometimes there are quotes from satisfied past customers or special promotions ("free quotations", "no surcharge for certification", etc.).
Typical formats are a single A4 (or 8.5" x 11") sheet of paper on one side or make a fold it once or twice and use both sides. The first format (single sheet, one side) is best for PDF distribution as a download or e-mail attachment.
The examples shown that evening varied in the quality of layout and information, but on the whole they showed exactly what was of interest to potential customers, nothing more. Some agencies might want copies of all my various certifications for state exams, etc., but all a direct customer will care about (if at all) is a statement that I am a "staatlich geprüfter Übersetzer". Clients may find it useful to know that I have a degree in chemistry and experience as a researcher and consultant in various industries, but does even an agency need a list and details of every job and major client served? I think not. In this way too, someone like me who has a "job application" CV with way too much information, which runs over multiple pages, can pare it all down to a single page and still have room for listing the services offered (translation, editing, OCR, DTP, whatever). The other nice thing about this approach is that where experience is lacking, one can substitute a certain amount of enthusiastic (hopefully truthful) verbiage about relevant talents, skills and interests.
| | | | | Get out of the house | Nov 21, 2008 |
To add on top of all this wonderful advice, you should not just concentrate on contacts through the internet.
The classic marketing approach still works. Get out of the house, look around you in your community to see who works in international fields, and what their language needs are. Where you live, I believe there is a lot of ferry traffic between France and England, there must be a need for your skills even by smaller business catering to this industry.
Also, participate in con... See more To add on top of all this wonderful advice, you should not just concentrate on contacts through the internet.
The classic marketing approach still works. Get out of the house, look around you in your community to see who works in international fields, and what their language needs are. Where you live, I believe there is a lot of ferry traffic between France and England, there must be a need for your skills even by smaller business catering to this industry.
Also, participate in conferences (trade show or translator), you will meet new people and you never know who will become that magic contact who knows someone who was looking for someone like you. Some other more established translators may also participate in these conferences, and this may become an opportunity for you to become their outsourcing contact. We all like working with people we know.
The other day I even gave my card to the local pharmacy because I noticed that groups of tourists liked to pass through the area on their way from one site to another. You never know when a situation might occur where they would need some help.
Good luck! ▲ Collapse
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Hi Fred,
I'm really sorry but from Sept I'm in the same bad position as you.
I had a wonderful 2007 with a lot of interesting projects, I turned down a couple of jobs just before my holidays and then nothing.
It seems I got invisible!
This situation is getting really sad as here I have to pay for the mortgage, last year's taxes, everyday expenses... and I cannot tell them "hang on for a bit it hard for everyone...!"
Finally I have fixed a deadline... i... See more Hi Fred,
I'm really sorry but from Sept I'm in the same bad position as you.
I had a wonderful 2007 with a lot of interesting projects, I turned down a couple of jobs just before my holidays and then nothing.
It seems I got invisible!
This situation is getting really sad as here I have to pay for the mortgage, last year's taxes, everyday expenses... and I cannot tell them "hang on for a bit it hard for everyone...!"
Finally I have fixed a deadline... if nothing comes within mid-dec I am forced to give up my business
I keep my fingers crossed.
Good luck
Stefano I.
frederique sannier-lowry wrote: Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I'm having a bad hair day and I'm getting slightly worried. Since mid September now I've sent dozens of resumes, answering kudos, quoting for numerous jobs (making sure they were within my abilities), getting lots of information from forum posts, even did a pro bono translation and generally worked at making myself visible and all I've had is one test (that came out positive, that's the cheerful bit!). In 2 months, nothing else. I spend a lot of time on Proz but not only. I know my pair is rather crowded, I can only translate from one language, my specialties are not the most sought after and maybe my cv needs polishing. But still ... Was I a bit presumptuous in thinking I could achieve a lot more in 2 months? I got my first assignments years back almost without wanting it - I was not really in the business at that time. But now that I want to be a freelancer full time, nobody wants to give me a job! Rant over Just want to know of similar experience. Fred ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Hang on in there | Nov 25, 2008 |
Stefano.
Sorry to hear you're in such a difficult position. You're well established, you have great references and a good few years experience, I'm sure a great contract will come along soon. I'm fortunate enough that I'm not the main bread earner of the family, or we'd be all living on dandelions by now.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Fred
| | | | | All the right moves (almost) | Nov 25, 2008 |
Stefano Incerti wrote:
... I'm in the same bad position as you.
I had a wonderful 2007 with a lot of interesting projects, I turned down a couple of jobs just before my holidays and then nothing. It seems I got invisible!
Wow. I hope things turn around for you soon - what I can see of your public presence, you are making all or most of the right moves. I love your web sit at http://www.stefanoincerti.it/ -- it's a superb example of a freelancer getting it right and far more original than most such sites, mine included. And your profile looks good too, except for the rates, which are too low for someone of your experience and specialties I think.
Rather than throw in the towel, try considering what risks may have put you in your current position and how you can address them. Did you get too complacent with a narrow client base? Many clients come and go with the seasons, and some I won't hear from for months or longer before they show up with a small job or even a lot of work. So I keep the gaps filled with lots of them.
In any case, thank you for making my day with an excellent profile and an inspiring web site. If you translate half as well as you did those two things, you'll get past the current slump and thrive with good planning.
| | | | | Danke Kevin! | Nov 25, 2008 |
Hi Kevin!
I also read your email. Of course you can mention my website. By the way I checked the double .it and fixed it. Thank you for the hint!
Well, last month I did a big mailing to almost 4.000 addresses collected on translators portal like Proz. So I have already considered also not to work with a small number of agencies. As a result of this mailing I got 17 translation tests: some of them were done and other are in stand-by. I failed only one test out of 10.
Most of the... See more Hi Kevin!
I also read your email. Of course you can mention my website. By the way I checked the double .it and fixed it. Thank you for the hint!
Well, last month I did a big mailing to almost 4.000 addresses collected on translators portal like Proz. So I have already considered also not to work with a small number of agencies. As a result of this mailing I got 17 translation tests: some of them were done and other are in stand-by. I failed only one test out of 10.
Most of the time I spend on the PC is used to update my existing profile or to fill forms for new would-be new customer (agencies) but it seems that this is not enough!
Anyhow, thank you Kevin for your words you have helped my not to feel myself as isolated as I was before.
Regars
Stefano
Kevin Lossner wrote: Stefano Incerti wrote:
... I'm in the same bad position as you.
I had a wonderful 2007 with a lot of interesting projects, I turned down a couple of jobs just before my holidays and then nothing. It seems I got invisible!
Wow. I hope things turn around for you soon - what I can see of your public presence, you are making all or most of the right moves. I love your web sit at http://www.stefanoincerti.it/ -- it's a superb example of a freelancer getting it right and far more original than most such sites, mine included. And your profile looks good too, except for the rates, which are too low for someone of your experience and specialties I think. Rather than throw in the towel, try considering what risks may have put you in your current position and how you can address them. Did you get too complacent with a narrow client base? Many clients come and go with the seasons, and some I won't hear from for months or longer before they show up with a small job or even a lot of work. So I keep the gaps filled with lots of them. In any case, thank you for making my day with an excellent profile and an inspiring web site. If you translate half as well as you did those two things, you'll get past the current slump and thrive with good planning. ▲ Collapse
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Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 20:14
Spanish to English
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| English>Italian translation | Nov 25, 2008 |
Stefano,
I am sending you a contact by private mail (cannot post it here because it is against the rules). This company is located in my hometown and they specialize in Italian>English and English>Italian translation. Please send her your resume (unless she was one of the 4,000).
Ciao,
Jeff Whittaker
[Edited at 2008-11-25 19:40 GMT]
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