| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do/would you reply to e-mails from new site users seeking your career advice? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do/would you reply to e-mails from new site users seeking your career advice?".
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
| | | | Serkan Doğan 
Türkiye
Local time: 15:28
Turkish to English
+ ...
Yes, I have helped several proz-users seeking my advices for some agencies or jobs via e-mails and direct phone calls. However, after taking the complete and perfect free assistance from me to the extent of my experience and knowledge, and in spite of my due inquiry, they did not even return me for thanking and/or about the conclusion of such attempts at that time. Actually, it was not a nice experience for me and such a case consequently hindered me on the way of helping others on translation b... See more Yes, I have helped several proz-users seeking my advices for some agencies or jobs via e-mails and direct phone calls. However, after taking the complete and perfect free assistance from me to the extent of my experience and knowledge, and in spite of my due inquiry, they did not even return me for thanking and/or about the conclusion of such attempts at that time. Actually, it was not a nice experience for me and such a case consequently hindered me on the way of helping others on translation business.. I hope this obstacle would not be valid for all members...
[Edited at 2006-04-07 20:21] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sandra C.
France
Local time: 14:28
English to French
+ ...
| it depends... | Apr 7, 2006 |
I've received really strange emails from new proz users, over time; with topics completely translation-unrelated, if you see what I mean!
But sometimes, the questions/calls for help are legitimate and reasonable; when that's the case, why not help, if time allows?
| | | | | If I felt qualified | Apr 7, 2006 |
to answer their question and had the time I wouldn't have a problem replying. Although it's always pleasant to receive thanks for such a favour I certainly wouldn't expect it and that wouldn't be my reason for giving such help. But no-one's ever asked me for career advice, not sure I'd be the best person to give it
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Dusica Cook
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 14:28
English to Bosnian
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i would and i have tried to give answers to several questions i was asked. i never felt threatened by those questions or was reluctant to giving out "the secret"... why not! i had questions and was helped and it is my way of passing the knowledge further on!
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This question reminds me when I was a beginner and wrote to some translators asking for advice. Some didn't answer, and it doesn't matter, they might have been busy. But some others did answer to me, not only with valuable advice but they also helped me to find work, to improve my skills, to be able to accept payments in another country than mine and so many things that we became friends.
I was also helped by people who weren't Proz.com members that I had found just googling, two of... See more This question reminds me when I was a beginner and wrote to some translators asking for advice. Some didn't answer, and it doesn't matter, they might have been busy. But some others did answer to me, not only with valuable advice but they also helped me to find work, to improve my skills, to be able to accept payments in another country than mine and so many things that we became friends.
I was also helped by people who weren't Proz.com members that I had found just googling, two of them also spent time answering to my e-mails. I would have liked to give them some feedback several months later, but I was unable to find their address again.
And now I help beginners as I can, moreover in Powwows.
What I hate is when instead of writing a personal e-mail targetted at somebody for a particular reason I receive a bulk e-mail, sent to many people, with no feeling, no personality. I don't feel like helping in that case.
For those who might be disappointed after helping somebody because there was no feedback, think that the person you helped will be able to help somebody else.
Claudia
[Editado a las 2006-04-07 12:26] ▲ Collapse
| | | | tazdog (X)
Spain
Local time: 14:28
Spanish to English
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I've received quite a few e-mails asking for advice on getting started as a translator, most if not all of them from people who came across my profile but were not registered site users. I have taken the time to answer all of them, some in great detail. About two-thirds of them wrote back to thank me, while the rest never even acknowledged receiving my reply. I must say the latter really put me off--but I will still probably continue to answer questions of this type.
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I've received a few e-mails from younger colleagues, requesting advice, and have always replied to them.
With their permission I'm also beginning to collect these "FAQs" on my blog, so that my answers may help others as well.
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Dyran Altenburg (X)
United States
Local time: 08:28
English to Spanish
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I get e-mail requests quite often, although not many from ProZ users.
They run the gamut from How can I become a translator? to How do I create an effective Marketing/Business Plan?, and everything in-between.
The only questions I don't answer (I direct the askers to this site) are the ones asking me for work.
--
Dyran
| | | | EmmanuelleAn (X)
Local time: 14:28
English to French
+ ...
| I am happy to offer advice | Apr 7, 2006 |
I am always happy to give some advice. It reminds me of my begining not so long ago... I do not give them all the tips to become a professional translator. It also is up to them to search and find some information by themselves. They must start developing their own experience. That is a good way to test their motivation. I do not understand why some translators would be reluctant to give some advice. I guess they were the same when they began and were happy to receive some advice from others.
| | | | heikeb
Ireland
Local time: 13:28
Member (2003)
English to German
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Not if the e-mail deals with very general questions that would be much better asked in the appropriate forum.
Much better meaning that they get a much wider perspective through answers from a variety of people. That's what the forums are there for, after all.
| | | | Özden Arıkan
Germany
Local time: 14:28
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
I like helping people, and I am really willing to spare time for it, but I do not want to experience this sort of thing once again: someone wrote me asking how he could use Wordfast. I replied and sent him the links of the Wordfast site, Wordfast's Yahoo list, our Wordfast support forum on Proz.com, and every other related link I knew of. I did not even receive a thank you, and the next day the same guy posted in a general translation forum asking "How can I use Wordfast?" In short, I do not lik... See more I like helping people, and I am really willing to spare time for it, but I do not want to experience this sort of thing once again: someone wrote me asking how he could use Wordfast. I replied and sent him the links of the Wordfast site, Wordfast's Yahoo list, our Wordfast support forum on Proz.com, and every other related link I knew of. I did not even receive a thank you, and the next day the same guy posted in a general translation forum asking "How can I use Wordfast?" In short, I do not like people who keep asking for fish, but I am there, to the best of my capabilities, to help those who want to learn how to catch fish... or where to find a good fishing line, for that matter ▲ Collapse
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Reed James
Chile
Local time: 08:28
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
| As long is it is relevant | Apr 7, 2006 |
I see nothing wrong with answering people's queries. I get the chance to share my knowledge, and if I don't quite know how to answer the question at the beginning, then I can learn something in the process.
Reed
| | | | | Career advice--much advice being given without so much as a "thanks" | Apr 8, 2006 |
I have done so thus far but, to be honest, the people who have sought my advice and received it so far have not been kind enough to say "thanks," so I am leaning against it now. I have taken time from my busy schedule and given advice without so much as receiving a simple "thanks" and to me that is plain rude! So my new attitude will be to take these requests with a grain of salt. If the notes are polite enough and say thanks in advance or something to that effect, I may take the time to answer ... See more I have done so thus far but, to be honest, the people who have sought my advice and received it so far have not been kind enough to say "thanks," so I am leaning against it now. I have taken time from my busy schedule and given advice without so much as receiving a simple "thanks" and to me that is plain rude! So my new attitude will be to take these requests with a grain of salt. If the notes are polite enough and say thanks in advance or something to that effect, I may take the time to answer them. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mrudula Tambe
India
Local time: 17:58
English to Marathi
+ ...
In memoriam | I found this site highly useful | Apr 10, 2006 |
So I recommended this site to many others in India. And when they unable to comprehend certain things they asked me for directions. Yes I provided them as per my capacity.
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Do/would you reply to e-mails from new site users seeking your career advice? | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
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