Poll: How important is networking for you?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Mar 8, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How important is networking for you?".

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Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:50
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Not too important Mar 8, 2019

Over the years, networking has brought me some clients, but I didn't engage in it for that purpose. My main interest in associating with other translators during (and before) my freelance career has been to support professionalism and help maintain decent rates. I have said many times that if good translators aren't paid enough to live on, the profession will devolve into a sideline.

I had the advantage of working with teams of in-house translators over the first half of my career
... See more
Over the years, networking has brought me some clients, but I didn't engage in it for that purpose. My main interest in associating with other translators during (and before) my freelance career has been to support professionalism and help maintain decent rates. I have said many times that if good translators aren't paid enough to live on, the profession will devolve into a sideline.

I had the advantage of working with teams of in-house translators over the first half of my career, and those contacts helped me get my freelance business started. A number of those colleagues became life-long friends as well.

[Edited at 2019-03-08 08:36 GMT]
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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Janaina Alves
Clarissa Feder
Ricki Farn
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:50
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Not too important Mar 8, 2019

Over the years I’ve built strong relationships with some ‘virtual’ colleagues and I love being in touch with them though, like Muriel, the idea behind isn’t exactly networking in the sense of an open exchange of leads and introductions, but rather an interpersonal communication on different work related issues.

Muriel Vasconcellos
 
Justin Peterson
Justin Peterson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 13:50
Member (2007)
Spanish to English
I should eat my vegetables too Mar 8, 2019

It's like eating my vegetables. I know I SHOULD, but I don't. Networking is key in the business, and I don't dedicate any time to it. Shame on me. Really. :/

Julio Madrid
Ricki Farn
 
Eckhard Boehle
Eckhard Boehle  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 13:50
English to German
+ ...
Not anymore Mar 8, 2019

Networking used to be quite important to me when I did not have enough connections and not enough well paid translation jobs, but times of stagnation in orders. Since a couple of years that has changed considerably, as now I get more job orders than I can handle and the assignments (patent translations) are of a kind where sharing them with colleagues does not make any sense.

 
Kay-Viktor Stegemann
Kay-Viktor Stegemann
Germany
Local time: 13:50
English to German
In memoriam
Not important at all Mar 8, 2019

That's (one part of) why I love this job, I do not neet to go anywhere and not to talk anyone into anything, I can simply sit at home and work away. All the networking is done by the agencies. They are my salespersons. A few solid relations to agencies is nearly all I need.

Liena Vijupe
Michael Harris
Philippe Etienne
Christopher Schröder
Wilsonn Perez Reyes
Elizabeth Tamblin
TB CommuniCAT
 
Gibril Koroma
Gibril Koroma  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 08:50
French to English
+ ...
Very important Mar 8, 2019

Networking is very important. Success in life has a lot to do with people.

Ivana Kahle
 
Elizabeth Tamblin
Elizabeth Tamblin  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:50
French to English
It doesn't work for me Mar 8, 2019

Tried it, but finally had to realise I'm not a networking type of person. It has so many negative connotations for me, through Twitter, Facebook and all those other hideous sites.

Angus Stewart
Wilsonn Perez Reyes
 
Ivana Kahle
Ivana Kahle  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 13:50
Member (2007)
German to Croatian
+ ...
Very important Mar 8, 2019

In-person networking is useful and fun! Just came back from the Congress of Women Entrepreneurs in Zagreb, Croatia:
https://kongres.poduzetnica.hr/
Happy International Women's Day!

Ivana.


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 09:50
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Very Important, actually vital Mar 8, 2019

It's the only marketing means I use at all. All my clients come from networking. I don't have a website, a blog, any type of advertising, CV in job sites or even a business card. Networking is 100% for me.

 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 13:50
French to English
very Mar 9, 2019

Those saying it's not important are mostly saying it's no longer important, mostly because they are already well-established. If you don't know anyone who needs translations, you need to get to know them.

I've been a translator for over 20 years but only recently started freelancing after a long stint at an agency.
Systematically connecting on LinkedIn with all colleagues leaving the agency for a new project, meant that once I did start, I simply had to reach out to half a d
... See more
Those saying it's not important are mostly saying it's no longer important, mostly because they are already well-established. If you don't know anyone who needs translations, you need to get to know them.

I've been a translator for over 20 years but only recently started freelancing after a long stint at an agency.
Systematically connecting on LinkedIn with all colleagues leaving the agency for a new project, meant that once I did start, I simply had to reach out to half a dozen former colleagues, many now working at other agencies, to get my first clients. Some are now translators, and have reached out for help with projects they can't finish alone for whatever reason. All in all, my very low-key networking seems to have paid off. So anyone looking for new clients, needs to start there.
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Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 09:50
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Social media is NOT networking!! Mar 11, 2019

Some people below are messing things up and mentioning social media sites as networking. Please! This is the worst possible type of networking in the planet.
For those who don't really know what networking means, make a little search and definitely cut all social media from your lists for professional purposes!

[Edited at 2019-03-11 02:26 GMT]


 


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Poll: How important is networking for you?






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