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Poll: Would you give a colleague who let you down professionally a second chance? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you give a colleague who let you down professionally a second chance?".
View the poll results »
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Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 14:14
Member (2006)
German to English
depends on how serious it was. Everyone can make mistakes.
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John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 14:14
Spanish to English
+ ...
I did and it cost me a good client
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| Agree wholeheartedly | Dec 30, 2010 |
Michael Harris wrote:
depends on how serious it was. Everyone can make mistakes.
I was thinking the same thing. Depends on the graveness of the mistake, one typo in a thousand page document, and a one page machine translated (without post-editing) document with more than 80% of the sentences not making sense at all. The original question is too vague to give a definite answer.
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| Meaning of "let down" | Dec 30, 2010 |
Well, to me one typo doesn't mean that I was "let down professionally". To make mistakes and to behave unprofessionally are two different things: everyone makes the odd mistake every now and then, but a reliable translator doesn't let you down professionally. I wouldn't risk again
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inkweaver
Germany
Local time: 14:14
French to German
+ ...
Depends on how serious it was and for what reason the person let me down.
If it was simply due to unreliability, no way, if the colleague had a valid reason (and were known as a trustworthy person) he or she would most likely get a second chance.
However, if someone messes up a pretty straightforward translation the first time round, there won't be a second chance, I'm afraid.
[Edited at 2010-12-30 15:14 GMT]
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| I may be wrong, but | Dec 30, 2010 |
like Valeria, I understand "let down" not as typos, but as behave unprofessionally. And for me, it has a very strong connotation of intent. I would never say that a colleague who could not finish some work because he was sick "let me down". I'd say he had unforeseen difficulties or hindrance. "Let me down" would but if someone was just unreliable and unprofessional.
So I answered a definite: no.
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Martina Pokupec (X)
Croatia
Local time: 14:14
English to Croatian
+ ...
Michael Harris wrote:
depends on how serious it was. Everyone can make mistakes.
I agree with Michael, but Sophie and Valeria have a point too. If someone acts in an unprofessional way, when they should be proving themselves to be considered for a future cooperation... I would be very reluctant to give them a second chance.
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| Yes, I understand, | Dec 30, 2010 |
Valeria Sciarrillo wrote: Well, to me one typo doesn't mean that I was "let down professionally". To make mistakes and to behave unprofessionally are two different things: everyone makes the odd mistake every now and then, but a reliable translator doesn't let you down professionally. I wouldn't risk again
but I think we should look at the matter more objectively. Seems like you and Sophie seem to be tolerant people, but not everyone is so. There are perfectionists out there who would make a big case out of one simple typo.
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 14:14
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
We're all only human and are, therefore, bound to make mistakes or to let someone down.
I'm basically inclined to almost always give people a second chance, but it really depends on how grave the letdown was.
So here's to a hopefully letdown free 2011.
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Adnan Özdemir
Türkiye
Local time: 15:14
Member (2007)
German to Turkish
+ ...
| To err in human... | Dec 30, 2010 |
to err is human to forgive divine (Turkish : hata yapmak insanlıktır affetmek güzeldir)
If he/she my friend is; I can give 2. 3. 4. 5 chances.
Depends on error/mistakes...
IMHO
Please see this article ''Rumi'': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi
Saludos desde Anatolia
Anadolu'dan selamlar
[Edited at 2010-12-30 11:12 GMT]
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Carla Lopes
Portugal
Local time: 13:14
Member (2008)
Spanish to Portuguese
+ ...
| it depends... | Dec 30, 2010 |
I agree with Michael.
It happened to me several times, and for the serious situations, I stopped counting on the person. For small things, I've just lectured the people but I continue to work with them.
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Amandine Added
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:14
Member (2010)
English to French
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| Used to be yes but not any more... | Dec 30, 2010 |
I used to be queen of forgiveness, but it cost me a job and a few friends.
But I would not say I would never give another chance, I just pay careful attention from whom I'm calling a favour.
Making a mistake is not serious, we all make some at some point (big and small ones). I consider I was let down when the colleague knew what was going to happen or had a pretty good idea and did not take any steps to prevent it.
So I'd say it does not happen that much and my degree of ... See more I used to be queen of forgiveness, but it cost me a job and a few friends.
But I would not say I would never give another chance, I just pay careful attention from whom I'm calling a favour.
Making a mistake is not serious, we all make some at some point (big and small ones). I consider I was let down when the colleague knew what was going to happen or had a pretty good idea and did not take any steps to prevent it.
So I'd say it does not happen that much and my degree of forgiveness will depend of the consequences' gravity. ▲ Collapse
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Mariam Osmann
Egypt
Local time: 15:14
Member (2007)
English to Arabic
+ ...
If the first time it caused a trouble with my client... I should make sure the second time It won't....
By
1. faking a deadline,
2. give the colleague a smaller volume and
3. give myself a chance to proofread as if I am going to start all over.
In brief, I will like to give him/her a second chance in a non urgent case and if he/ she accepts to apply correction as advised.
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Jessica Noyes
United States
Local time: 08:14
Member
Spanish to English
+ ...
If I have partnered successfully with someone for two or three years and she lets me down once, this is very different from being let down the very first time someone has collaborated with me.
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