Poll: Is being competitive an advantage in your line of work?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Sep 14, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Is being competitive an advantage in your line of work?".

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Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:14
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
No, Sep 14, 2019

I don't see how.

Zibow Retailleau
Anna Herbst
Julieta Schroeder
P.L.F. Persio
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:14
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I don't know Sep 14, 2019

At first I misunderstood the question. If we're talking about working for competitive rates, then NO. My rates are not "competitive" and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have all the work I want to take on.

My colleagues are my friends. If they want to take on more work than I'm willing to accept, more power to them. If I have too much on my plate and an offer comes in, I often refer the client to a colleague.

[Edited at 2019-09-14 09:11 GMT]


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Anna Herbst
Victoria Batarchuk
Priscila Wilke
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:14
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Yes, definitely Sep 14, 2019

ProZ.com Staff wrote:
"Is being competitive an advantage in your line of work?"


Absolutely. Having a competitive streak results in better quality work and greater enjoyment. One must take pride in one's work.

Or... wait... are you using the word "competitive" to mean "charge low rates"?


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
diala al-ali
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 16:14
Spanish to English
+ ...
Occasionally. Sep 14, 2019

I suppose it depends on how you define "competitive". If it's a euphemism for "cheap", then sometimes it may be an advantage. However, in general I prefer cooperation or collaboration with colleagues rather than competing against them.

diala al-ali
P.L.F. Persio
Priscila Wilke
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:14
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I don't know Sep 14, 2019

As others have said before me, it depends on what is meant by competitive. Personally I’m not competitive at all. I prefer working together with people rather than compete. Well, maybe I was a little bit back in my younger days: I hated losing to my brothers. I’m competitive with myself. I set my own goals, I’m extremely persistent, even stubborn, I don’t give up easily but all that has very little to do with others.

If we’re talking about competitive rates then the answ
... See more
As others have said before me, it depends on what is meant by competitive. Personally I’m not competitive at all. I prefer working together with people rather than compete. Well, maybe I was a little bit back in my younger days: I hated losing to my brothers. I’m competitive with myself. I set my own goals, I’m extremely persistent, even stubborn, I don’t give up easily but all that has very little to do with others.

If we’re talking about competitive rates then the answer will be no. Some say I’m expensive, but I had a solid client list when I moved to Portugal in 2016 and I see no reason to charge less than I did in Belgium just because I live now in another country…
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diala al-ali
Iwona Budzynska MCIL
Philip Lees
P.L.F. Persio
 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Define: As good as or better than others Sep 14, 2019

Certainly, one must be unique and competent or very soon such a specialist would become outdated and replaced with someone better (more active/promising).

And while now I mostly work as an interpreter, I do consider myself competitive--quite successful for they still pay me $0.25-$0.50/word no problem.


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:14
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Is being competitive an advantage in ANY line of work? Sep 14, 2019

Of course it is.
And if you think "competitive" relates to lower rates only, you should look up the meaning of "competitive". Offering lower rates is a means to TRY to be competitive through prices when you can't be competitive through competence.
If you are not competitive, keeping your stantard rates untouched, you'll be in a pretty bad position in the market.

[Edited at 2019-09-14 17:22 GMT]


Jorge Payan
 
JaneTranslates
JaneTranslates  Identity Verified
Puerto Rico
Local time: 11:14
Spanish to English
+ ...
Depends on definition. Sep 14, 2019

Mario Freitas wrote:

Of course it is.
And if you think "competitive" relates to lower rates only, you should look up the meaning of "competitive". Offering lower rates is a means to TRY to be competitive through prices when you can't be competitive through competence.


[Edited at 2019-09-14 17:22 GMT]


I answered "yes," after holding a wavering cursor over "I don't know" and "sometimes." Mario has mentioned the keywords I was thinking of: "TRY" and "competence."

I'm not competitive by nature. I don't "TRY" to compete with others; on the contrary, I teach translation, with a view to seeing my students become my colleagues and thus "the competition," and I cheer them on!

However, I am competitive in the sense that I am a competent translator, and my clients tell me I'm better than others they have worked with. (I don't ask them to compare me to others, but it happens.)

If the poll question means, "Do you charge lower rates in order to get more jobs" or "Do you market yourself as 'better than the rest'," then my answer is NO.

If it means, "Do you strive for excellence in your work, and do you believe that helps you get jobs," then YES.

--Jane


Kay Denney
P.L.F. Persio
Mario Freitas
 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 10:14
German to English
+ ...
Doing one's best means "being competitive" Sep 15, 2019

I've never thought of competition per se. I simply do quality work to the best of my ability, do not take on work that I'm not competent to handle at a professional level etc. One cannot know, however, whether in the poll only "price" (lower) might have been meant.

Kevin Fulton
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:14
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
That's it Jane Sep 16, 2019

JaneTranslates wrote:

Mario Freitas wrote:

Of course it is.
/quote]

I answered "yes," after holding a wavering cursor over "I don't know" and "sometimes." Mario has mentioned the keywords I was thinking of: "TRY" and "competence."
f the poll question means, "Do you charge lower rates in order to get more jobs" or "Do you market yourself as 'better than the rest'," then my answer is NO.

If it means, "Do you strive for excellence in your work, and do you believe that helps you get jobs," then YES.

--Jane


You intepreted what I wanted to say with perfercion, Jane. Thank you.

[Edited at 2019-09-16 06:40 GMT]


 


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Poll: Is being competitive an advantage in your line of work?






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