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Poll: Do you ask for an official PO for test translations?
Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
PERSONAL DEL SITIO
Jun 4, 2016

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you ask for an official PO for test translations?".

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Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japón
Local time: 09:13
Miembro 2011
japonés al inglés
Convoluted question Jun 4, 2016

This is a roundabout way of asking

"Do you charge for test translations?"

since a PO would not be issued if you are doing the test translation for free, which is - unfortunately - the norm.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 01:13
Miembro 2007
inglés al portugués
+ ...
No Jun 4, 2016

Keep it sweet and simple...

After 40 years working as a translator (30 years full-time) I‘m rarely asked to do a test. I’ve been fortunate enough to get most of the clients I do work with through word-of-mouth, but if I’m really interested in a job I would rather do a translation test (paid or unpaid) than sending diplomas, references and the like and having to fill endless forms. Anyway, that’s how I got some of my highest-paid assignments.

[Edited at 2016-06-04 10:58 GMT]
 
inkweaver
inkweaver  Identity Verified
Alemania
Local time: 02:13
francés al alemán
+ ...
I don't do test translations Jun 4, 2016

Would you ask your lawyer/dentist/plumber for a test job? No? Then why on earth would you expect translators to do them?
 
neilmac
neilmac
España
Local time: 02:13
español al inglés
+ ...
Other Jun 4, 2016

Rarely do them nowadays. Don't like POs and never insist on them anyway. I have this odd habit of trusting the people I work with.
 
Doan Quang
Doan Quang  Identity Verified
Vietnam
Local time: 07:13
inglés al vietnamita
Rarely do unpaid tests nowadays Jun 4, 2016

Rarely do unpaid tests nowadays and POs are sometimes not required for paid tests.
 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:13
francés al inglés
+ ...
In Memoriam
Only if ... Jun 4, 2016

I rarely do test translations but I'd ask for a PO only if the test was to be paid - which is seldom the case - and if client was new to me.
Like Teresa, I have acquired some good clients after doing a short test translation for them.
 
Ana Cravidao
Ana Cravidao
Local time: 01:13
inglés al portugués
+ ...
No Jun 4, 2016

The vast majority of test translations are not paid. In fact, I haven't taken one which was financially compensated.
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brasil
Local time: 21:13
Miembro 2014
inglés al portugués
+ ...
PO = Purchase Order (or used to be until lask week) Jun 5, 2016

The last poll I answered was about rounding up invoice values. Now, requesting for POs for test translations.
I know I'm old, but I think some standards have changed while I was asleep. Doesn't "purchase" stand for buying and paying for something anymore?

[Edited at 2016-06-05 04:43 GMT]
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Local time: 17:13
Miembro 2003
español al inglés
+ ...
Other - I rarely do test translations Jun 5, 2016

On the one occasion when I was paid, I processed the job as I would any other assignment.
 


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Poll: Do you ask for an official PO for test translations?






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