Poll: During which period do you get the most work? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Ruben Berrozpe (X) 
English to Spanish
| Extra option? | Sep 27, 2005 |
I think an option should be added in case the responder's workload were more or less constant across the year. I suppose this is the case for many of us.
Rb
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my answer is: all year round
where is it?!
the best, jk
| | | | Dusica Cook
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 11:15
English to Bosnian
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| when others are away! | Sep 27, 2005 |
in the recent years i changed the pattern of my holidays. i never go anywhere during the peek summer and winter months. i realised that many clients contact me when they are in trouble with other translators and those are the periods when i have most work! for a while i was disturbed by this knowledge and then i learned to use it to my advantage. it shows now, that - with the weather changes - my decision to go for a summer holiday in june was not a bad one - it seams that we got the most of the... See more in the recent years i changed the pattern of my holidays. i never go anywhere during the peek summer and winter months. i realised that many clients contact me when they are in trouble with other translators and those are the periods when i have most work! for a while i was disturbed by this knowledge and then i learned to use it to my advantage. it shows now, that - with the weather changes - my decision to go for a summer holiday in june was not a bad one - it seams that we got the most of the hot days!
anyhow, many clients use their friends and people they have benefit from and when there is a need to translate something difficult they contact me because i rarely reject the work. so, i have become someone who fixes problems and who responds after everyone said NO... that is tiring but very rewarding! ▲ Collapse
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Hester Eymers
Netherlands
Local time: 11:15
Member (2005)
English to Dutch
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| Busy period: October to May | Sep 27, 2005 |
My busiest period is from around October until May or June. In the summer months I have less work, which gives me the chance to enjoy the summertime.
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I am busy all year round too!
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 11:15
Spanish to English
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| From an accounting point of view | Sep 27, 2005 |
(which for me is easier), the 3rd quarter. Followed closely by the 4th and the 2nd. An ideal holiday period would be the 1st.
Even if activity is fairly distributed (i.e., I have no idle gaps for excessively long periods) I have been observing these fluctuations for several years.
I don't know if this is a broad tendency, is country-specific or has to do with benchmarking and tax seasons. In Spain it's broadly assumed taxes have a part to play, and the tendency to drop ... See more (which for me is easier), the 3rd quarter. Followed closely by the 4th and the 2nd. An ideal holiday period would be the 1st.
Even if activity is fairly distributed (i.e., I have no idle gaps for excessively long periods) I have been observing these fluctuations for several years.
I don't know if this is a broad tendency, is country-specific or has to do with benchmarking and tax seasons. In Spain it's broadly assumed taxes have a part to play, and the tendency to drop around January is reflected in all consumer patterns. Any ideas on this score? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Csaba Ban
Hungary
Local time: 11:15
Member (2002)
English to Hungarian
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| constant workload | Sep 27, 2005 |
I also think that adding another option "year round" would have been a good idea.
For me, January seems to be less demaning than other months.
Strangely enough, apparently most of my clients give me high workloads at about the same time. This means I have to reject some work during these periods - I normally do not start working with any new clients during this time. On the other hand, it is very difficult, or actually quite impossible to reject work from a regular client, so I end u... See more I also think that adding another option "year round" would have been a good idea.
For me, January seems to be less demaning than other months.
Strangely enough, apparently most of my clients give me high workloads at about the same time. This means I have to reject some work during these periods - I normally do not start working with any new clients during this time. On the other hand, it is very difficult, or actually quite impossible to reject work from a regular client, so I end up working extremely long hours during peak periods (such as now).
Csaba ▲ Collapse
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slabejka
Local time: 11:15
Slovak to English
| Almost year-round | Sep 27, 2005 |
I have found that most of my work comes year-round as well. I never take a summer holiday, but I take a month off in December-January. I always worry that I will lose clients that way but it seems that NEVER is a good time to take off.:) Getting back in the swing of things usually takes about 2-3 weeks before clients know that I am back at work (even though I notify them ahead of time).
| | | | lenkl
Local time: 11:15
French to English
| Unpredictable | Sep 27, 2005 |
Over the years, I’ve found out that it fluctuates a little, but not in a predictable way, although I know that I better not plan to be away in April, May and June. Part of the reason is that I do some annual reports that come out around that time, but also, in France, clients seem to want to get things out of the way before “les vacances”. Then it’s “la rentrée” and they need to catch up on what they didn’t do in the summer. I’ve done a somewhat unexpected 100,000-odd words this... See more Over the years, I’ve found out that it fluctuates a little, but not in a predictable way, although I know that I better not plan to be away in April, May and June. Part of the reason is that I do some annual reports that come out around that time, but also, in France, clients seem to want to get things out of the way before “les vacances”. Then it’s “la rentrée” and they need to catch up on what they didn’t do in the summer. I’ve done a somewhat unexpected 100,000-odd words this month already, which is more than my average (and in fact more than I want to do).
But this is definitely not a seasonal business and I join with those whose answer would be “all year”. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Julio Torres
Mexico
Local time: 03:15
English to Spanish
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| Thanks colleagues | Sep 27, 2005 |
I proposed this poll because I have 5 years as a translator but only one year working by Internet. I have an idea about work flow, but may be I'm worng because I only had my own experience. Now I have another opinions.
I know the work flow is very different for translators with different specialities, and yes, there are people who are working almost all the year.
But the idea is to prepare a possible schedule: to plan the dates for training, marketing, accounting, off... See more I proposed this poll because I have 5 years as a translator but only one year working by Internet. I have an idea about work flow, but may be I'm worng because I only had my own experience. Now I have another opinions.
I know the work flow is very different for translators with different specialities, and yes, there are people who are working almost all the year.
But the idea is to prepare a possible schedule: to plan the dates for training, marketing, accounting, office work, vacations, etc. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Cecilia Civetta
Italy
Local time: 11:15
Member (2003)
Italian to Spanish
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Hi Julio,
I suppose work flow depends not only on your specialty but also and especially on the country you live in (and whether it is in the southern or northern hemisphere) so I guess in this case you would do better with more specific data about your own country.
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| Interesting poll | Sep 28, 2005 |
Thanks Julio for proposing this poll. As for me personally, I have a constant high workflow most of the year, so maybe it would be a good idea just to allow participants to do multiple choice, e.g.
May-June & July-Aug
In any case I think it's an interesting topic and I was a bit surprised that most of the translators get most work during summer. I agree, there's lots to do in summer, but the last months of the year have always been the most busiest ones.
... See more Thanks Julio for proposing this poll. As for me personally, I have a constant high workflow most of the year, so maybe it would be a good idea just to allow participants to do multiple choice, e.g.
May-June & July-Aug
In any case I think it's an interesting topic and I was a bit surprised that most of the translators get most work during summer. I agree, there's lots to do in summer, but the last months of the year have always been the most busiest ones.
Until 2001/2002 January-February were very calm months (at least on the German market) but things have changed so there's only maybe one calm week short after New Year's Eve.
Best regards
Erik
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Erik Hansson
Technical translator DE-SV
Hansson Übersetzungen GmbH
Am Birkenwäldchen 38
D-01900 Bretnig-Hauswalde, Germany
Phone +49 - 3 59 52 - 321 07
Fax +49 - 3 59 52 - 322 02
E-Mail [email protected]
Internet www.hansson.de
Internet www.t-translators.net
Internet www.technical-translators.net
ProZ profile http://www.proz.com/pro/21654
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I tend to agree with lenkl: It seems to be fluctuating in a non-predictable pattern.
Of course we, too, are trying to keep the workload constant, but it just won't: Some weeks we could work around the clock to stem the load and others we go home early every day.
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