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Poll: How do you get feedback on your work?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Sep 9, 2005

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you get feedback on your work?".

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A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 10:21
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
No news is good news... Sep 9, 2005

Or is it?

Just occasionally the client does send thanks or say they liked the way I did the job. It happened a couple of days ago - and it made my week!

Another kind of feedback is when a client asks the agency for the next job to be done by the same translator. There is mor... See more
Or is it?

Just occasionally the client does send thanks or say they liked the way I did the job. It happened a couple of days ago - and it made my week!

Another kind of feedback is when a client asks the agency for the next job to be done by the same translator. There is more to consistent style and follow-ups than just using a TM!

It happens of course, that feedback is negative - and here I really try to get into a dialogue with the client. I remember once I had got my terminology mixed up, but the source was the client's own company website! She was able to get that corrected, as well as being reassured that I did my best to get my information from reliable sources. I did several more jobs for that client.

Other times there has simply been some misunderstanding, or I have been too busy and made some stupid mistake. I call or mail and apologise and tell them the facts without feeble excuses. It clears the air, and I have learnt to say no to jobs I cannot do well. There is always another translator who can.

It is better when I can explain why what I wrote was not what the client expected. One client was upset about the word 'immaculate' used about his product. He thought only the Virgin Mary could be immaculate... but in the end he agreed it fitted well with sparkling, precision-cut glass.

It is our business to know more about language than our clients - or else they could do the jobs themselves instead of paying us! Several times I have been able to reassure a client that I do know what I'm doing.

There is rarely time for a lot of feedback, but it is worth turning it into a dialogue when it does come.

Have a nice weekend! ▲ Collapse
 
Mats Wiman
Mats Wiman  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 10:21
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
In memoriam
One of the worst facets of this industry Sep 9, 2005

No news is good news? Very doubtful. It could be anything from that to the nagging thought that the person/agency/client in question does not really care.
In our tenth year we do not care so much as we once did but some sort of non-public feedback system would be good.

I think I just said it: Non-public, i.e. privately to the translator. Just a thought.

Mats Wiman
 
Julio Torres
Julio Torres
Mexico
Local time: 02:21
English to Spanish
+ ...
I ever ask Sep 9, 2005

Two sentences I often add in my e-mails when I send a translation:

Please tell me if it's OK for you.

and

I will thank any comment from you.
 
Özden Arıkan
Özden Arıkan  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
Actively seeking testimonials Sep 10, 2005

is a good idea, I think, both for having feedback and for marketing purposes. There were some guidelines on it in this thread.

[Edited at 2005-09-10 00:23]
 
Elena Pavan
Elena Pavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 10:21
Member (2005)
French to Italian
+ ...
Just the fact that the client comes back Sep 10, 2005

I never ask, but the fact that I keep the same clients for many and many year and that they always come back is already a positive thing! It might be an option to be added to the poll.
 
Parrot
Parrot  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 10:21
Spanish to English
+ ...
Actively try Sep 10, 2005

on challenging translations. In particular, publications. And more specifically, considering that an attempt at translation can actually improve an original in bilingual editions.

Otherwise, clients don't actually seem to care. But the agencies do take notice and inform me whenever there's feedback.
 
Sam Berner
Sam Berner  Identity Verified
Australia
Local time: 18:21
Member (2003)
English to Arabic
+ ...
No news? Get them a lot! Sep 25, 2005

I usually write these guys off. Don't have many of them, though, because in the initial stages of negotiating the assignment I make sure to establish rapport. It costs nothing to be nice to others, even if they don't give you the job. They will remember and maybe come back in the future (heaps did). So be charmin'

I have so many emails with positive feedback that I am tempted to start putting the stuff as testimonials... See more
I usually write these guys off. Don't have many of them, though, because in the initial stages of negotiating the assignment I make sure to establish rapport. It costs nothing to be nice to others, even if they don't give you the job. They will remember and maybe come back in the future (heaps did). So be charmin'

I have so many emails with positive feedback that I am tempted to start putting the stuff as testimonials on my website Only I don't believe in scrolling

Seriously, though, you CAN elicit positive feedback. Ask for it by being nice. It's a psychological principle: if you are nice to X, you put X under the emotional obligation of being nice to you. It's unconscious, unless the person is a total ***** and then you don't want them anyway, right? ▲ Collapse
 


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