Poll: How much of your work have you outsourced over time?
Autor vlákna: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
PRACOVNÍK SERVERU
Sep 21, 2023

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How much of your work have you outsourced over time?".

This poll was originally submitted by Iulia Parvu. View the poll results »



 
TanjaO
TanjaO  Identity Verified
Slovinsko
Local time: 06:23
francouzština -> slovinština
+ ...
I outsourced none. Sep 21, 2023

I only accept projects I can translate myself.

I have, however, on some occasions introduced fellow translators to clients when they needed a translation in a language pair or field I don't work in, or a service I don't offer, such as simultaneous interpreting or sworn translation.

[Edited at 2023-09-21 08:35 GMT]


Iulia Parvu
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Liena V.
Barbara Carrara
Simon Turner
Vera Schoen
Becca Resnik
 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise  Identity Verified
Belgie
Local time: 06:23
Člen (2020)
francouzština -> nizozemština
+ ...
None of it Sep 21, 2023

Firstly I'm not allowed to (working mostly for agencies) and secondly I hate human translation editing (although I'm offering the service).

expressisverbis
Iulia Parvu
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Becca Resnik
Mina Fayek
 
Alex Lichanow
Alex Lichanow
Německo
Local time: 06:23
angličtina -> němčina
+ ...
None of it Sep 21, 2023

As a freelancer working on my own, I do not have the contacts/connections, the resources or the time to do any meaningful outsourcing.
On two occasions, I was able to have another translator (a friend of mine) proofread my work, since I was specifically asked to do so by the client, but that's pretty much it.


Iulia Parvu
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Mina Fayek
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugalsko
Local time: 05:23
Člen (2007)
angličtina -> portugalština
+ ...
Other Sep 21, 2023

I don’t outsource work from English, French, Spanish and Italian into European Portuguese (my working languages) but I have outsourced work when my regular customers have requests for languages or areas I don’t cover. When the request comes from a potential new client and I’m not available or I don’t cover that particular language combination I prefer recommending specific translators. I have been working for years with a very small group of qualified translators with whom I am proud to ... See more
I don’t outsource work from English, French, Spanish and Italian into European Portuguese (my working languages) but I have outsourced work when my regular customers have requests for languages or areas I don’t cover. When the request comes from a potential new client and I’m not available or I don’t cover that particular language combination I prefer recommending specific translators. I have been working for years with a very small group of qualified translators with whom I am proud to have established an excellent relationship. Over the years we have mainly teamed up to handle very large translations.

P.S. I have no idea what the percentage is as regards the number of projects per year, but I'm willing to guess it's pretty low, even if the word count is probably quite high in certain years…

[Edited at 2023-09-21 09:35 GMT]
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Iulia Parvu
expressisverbis
 
neilmac
neilmac
Španělsko
Local time: 06:23
španělština -> angličtina
+ ...
Other Sep 21, 2023

On rare occasions, I have passed work on to colleagues, but I don't recall the details and I wouldn't call it "outsourcing" per se.

Iulia Parvu
Helena Chavarria
Philip Lees
Christine Andersen
 
None Sep 21, 2023

A colleague of mine, whom I and others considered to be the best in his field, made what I believe was the error of outsourcing. He paid market rates but charged far more, so he was able to edit and still earn a good margin. As time went on, he lowered the rates he paid and spent less time on editing and proofreading in order to maintain his income. As a result, his reputation waned and fewer clients turned to him. It took some years for this to happen but in the end it proved to be his downfall... See more
A colleague of mine, whom I and others considered to be the best in his field, made what I believe was the error of outsourcing. He paid market rates but charged far more, so he was able to edit and still earn a good margin. As time went on, he lowered the rates he paid and spent less time on editing and proofreading in order to maintain his income. As a result, his reputation waned and fewer clients turned to him. It took some years for this to happen but in the end it proved to be his downfall. I resolved never to fall into the same trap.

I have passed on the names of colleagues from and into Italian on countless occasions but that's as far as I'll go. If I want to damage my reputation, I prefer to do it myself, without letting others do it for me :- )
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Baran Keki
Barbara Carrara
Lieven Malaise
Iulia Parvu
P.L.F. Persi (X)
Philip Lees
Christine Andersen
 
Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Muriel Vasconcellos (X)  Identity Verified
Spojené státy americké
Local time: 21:23
španělština -> angličtina
+ ...
Once Sep 22, 2023

I outsourced one to a "friend" who needed some work. I told you her not to tell anyone, but she blabbed to everyone. The client found out about it and that was the end.

[Edited at 2023-09-22 12:19 GMT]


 


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Poll: How much of your work have you outsourced over time?






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