Astonished - are these deadlines normal? Thread poster: Inga Petkelyte
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Inga Petkelyte 
Portugal
Local time: 07:52
Lithuanian to Portuguese
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Yesterday in evening I finished my work, switched off my PC and had my late evening.
Today I find an email: "Service Request - Disregard". Hummm... Checking the previous emails of the night. And: "Service Request": sent at 20.27, May 20. Deadline: 8.00, May 21.
Is this normal?? Are translators expected to sleep over their computers and be ready for anything at any time?
I was keen about cooperating with this particular agency as they work in my absolutely favourite field but li... See more Yesterday in evening I finished my work, switched off my PC and had my late evening.
Today I find an email: "Service Request - Disregard". Hummm... Checking the previous emails of the night. And: "Service Request": sent at 20.27, May 20. Deadline: 8.00, May 21.
Is this normal?? Are translators expected to sleep over their computers and be ready for anything at any time?
I was keen about cooperating with this particular agency as they work in my absolutely favourite field but like this... Feel confused.
Another one - Some time ago, I noticed a job posting for 220K words. It was posted at somewhat half past noon and the delivery deadline was at 2 p.m. in two days. I was wondering how one on earth would manage that, especially that it had still take some time for sourcing the vendor and confirmation of the order. In the end, not even 48 hours were given for that amount of work. Or are such ads meant for corporate vebdors only? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Different time zones? | May 21, 2015 |
I get a lot of requests during late evening and in the night from agencies the other side of the Atlantic ocean. I usually read, but don't answer them. If some really tempting offer arrives, I might respond, but it is rare. And I just won't work on weekends or during the night. Family and private life are more valuable for me. (I can see myself handle this differently if I had no family, though.)
And those giant jobs, to be done yesterday? I wouldn't really want to be a part of that... See more I get a lot of requests during late evening and in the night from agencies the other side of the Atlantic ocean. I usually read, but don't answer them. If some really tempting offer arrives, I might respond, but it is rare. And I just won't work on weekends or during the night. Family and private life are more valuable for me. (I can see myself handle this differently if I had no family, though.)
And those giant jobs, to be done yesterday? I wouldn't really want to be a part of that. I just can't imagine that any reasonable quality can be achieved by splitting a large job - even among good translators. Style and terminology will always be all over the place, and I don't want to contribute to anything like that.
Best regards,
Anna ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:52
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Equally astonished | May 21, 2015 |
Inga Petkelyte wrote:
..... Some time ago, I noticed a job posting for 220K words. It was posted at somewhat half past noon and the delivery deadline was at 2 p.m. in two days.....
220K words would take me approx. 73 days, working flat out, at my normal speed of 3,000 words (completed, checked, and ready to go) per day. That's about 3 months !
| | | | Roy OConnor (X)
Local time: 08:52
German to English
| Rush jobs can be a headache.. | May 21, 2015 |
...but often there is no other way. In engineering when a company bids for a project, the time allowed to cobble the documentation together can be very limited and co-operative efforts in translation are essential to complete the bid.
The customer is willing to accept variations in style and terminology and is just glad to have the translation in on time to stand a chance of winning the order. It might mean burning the midnight oil, but such jobs are usually well paid. I've never do... See more ...but often there is no other way. In engineering when a company bids for a project, the time allowed to cobble the documentation together can be very limited and co-operative efforts in translation are essential to complete the bid.
The customer is willing to accept variations in style and terminology and is just glad to have the translation in on time to stand a chance of winning the order. It might mean burning the midnight oil, but such jobs are usually well paid. I've never done this sort of co-operative work through an agency though, only for direct customers. ▲ Collapse
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Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 02:52
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
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[Edited at 2015-05-21 20:59 GMT]
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 02:52
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
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