Poll: My criteria for taking on new clients have gotten more rigorous over the past 2 - 3 years Initiator des Themas: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "My criteria for taking on new clients have gotten more rigorous over the past 2 - 3 years".
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My criteria have not changed in the last 2-3 years. I haven’t been looking for new customers for a while, though I am always happy to meet a new client…
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I don't really need to work since I have had a guaranteed monthly income for several years now. So if any prospective client, regardless of whether they represent an agency or are a direct one, seems ignorant in certain ways and persists in that during the negotiations related to her/his project, I just blow them off as politely as I can.
It's always better to know what kind of person you will be or would have been dealing with before getting too involved in any project, esp. if it is one ... See more I don't really need to work since I have had a guaranteed monthly income for several years now. So if any prospective client, regardless of whether they represent an agency or are a direct one, seems ignorant in certain ways and persists in that during the negotiations related to her/his project, I just blow them off as politely as I can.
It's always better to know what kind of person you will be or would have been dealing with before getting too involved in any project, esp. if it is one that is as massive as mine tend to be.
[Edited at 2020-08-18 12:38 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-08-18 12:43 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-08-18 12:46 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-08-18 13:19 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-08-18 13:51 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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This is roughly the time since I reached pension age, and I get taxed very heavily if I earn more than a certain amount while drawing my pension.
The pension covers basics and my earnings cover what I want to do with my life - see family, join in activities with colleagues, see the countries where I live and where my languages are spoken and perhaps more of Europe.
So it is a balance. Life is too short - really - for jobs I am not interested in or will not do well, especially ... See more This is roughly the time since I reached pension age, and I get taxed very heavily if I earn more than a certain amount while drawing my pension.
The pension covers basics and my earnings cover what I want to do with my life - see family, join in activities with colleagues, see the countries where I live and where my languages are spoken and perhaps more of Europe.
So it is a balance. Life is too short - really - for jobs I am not interested in or will not do well, especially at the end of the year when I only get to keep about 20% of what I earn after tax! Colleagues with different specialist areas will be happy with some of these jobs, so I need not struggle with them now as I would 20 years ago.
Otherwise I tell clients when rates are too low, so-called NDAs include ridiculous indemnity clauses, or if there is anything else I consider is a deal-breaker.
Then I enjoy working for really good clients when I am not otherwise occupied. Perhaps celebrating a big birthday with friends who may not be there for many more birthdays, or catching up on things I want to do while I still can. I also spend time on my physiotherapy exercises - an accident in the spring was a wake-up call, and suddenly I thought of several friends who have been out of circulation for a while and fought back! I got off lightly, but you never know what is around the corner.
Take care everyone, and stay safe! ▲ Collapse
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Philip Lees 
Griechenland
Local time: 08:01
Griechisch > Englisch
| Longer than that | Aug 19, 2020 |
Not in the last 2-3 years, but I'm a lot more picky about clients than I was 10 years ago. Any client who won't satisfy my criteria for payment, deadlines, etcetera, can ... just look elsewhere.
| | | | Josephine Cassar
Malta
Local time: 07:01
Mitglied (2012)
Englisch > Maltesisch
+ ...
Christine Andersen wrote:
This is roughly the time since I reached pension age, and I get taxed very heavily if I earn more than a certain amount while drawing my pension.
The pension covers basics and my earnings cover what I want to do with my life - see family, join in activities with colleagues, see the countries where I live and where my languages are spoken and perhaps more of Europe.
So it is a balance. Life is too short - really - for jobs I am not interested in or will not do well, especially at the end of the year when I only get to keep about 20% of what I earn after tax! Colleagues with different specialist areas will be happy with some of these jobs, so I need not struggle with them now as I would 20 years ago.
Otherwise I tell clients when rates are too low, so-called NDAs include ridiculous indemnity clauses, or if there is anything else I consider is a deal-breaker.
Then I enjoy working for really good clients when I am not otherwise occupied. Perhaps celebrating a big birthday with friends who may not be there for many more birthdays, or catching up on things I want to do while I still can. I also spend time on my physiotherapy exercises - an accident in the spring was a wake-up call, and suddenly I thought of several friends who have been out of circulation for a while and fought back! I got off lightly, but you never know what is around the corner.
Take care everyone, and stay safe!
Very good perspective learned the hard way.
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos
Vereinigte Staaten
Local time: 22:01
Mitglied (2003)
Spanisch > Englisch
+ ...
I have definitely become pickier about taking on new clients. My regular ones still treat me well and I don't feel the need to broaden my horizons at this time unless the opportunity is really interesting. If I were younger, it might be a different story.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brasilien
Local time: 03:01
Mitglied (2014)
Englisch > Portugiesisch
+ ...
| Kind of true | Aug 19, 2020 |
My potential client assessment criteria do become more restraining regularly. There are more and more emails that go straight to the bucket and I don't even reply. I always check the Blue Board, and I don't consider any client who is not there or who has less than 4.6 point average. I have reduced the number of local clients to about 10%, and I have no new local clients since 2017, except for some direct clients.
Of course in time you can "filter" your portfolio. It's natural.
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