| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | How can I raise my rate? Thread poster: Bárbara Hammerle López-Francos
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| Higher rates can imply tighter deadlines | Apr 19, 2013 |
As soon as I joined ProZ (18 months ago) I realised that I had to stop accepting €0.03. Up until then I had been working practically exclusively for one agency that used to send me the P.O. with what they were going to pay me and the text in the same email. I never had the opportunity to ask for a higher rate.
It took me a year to get the agency off my back (I hardly ever work for them now, although it took me ages to convince them that I had no intention of working for the rates... See more As soon as I joined ProZ (18 months ago) I realised that I had to stop accepting €0.03. Up until then I had been working practically exclusively for one agency that used to send me the P.O. with what they were going to pay me and the text in the same email. I never had the opportunity to ask for a higher rate.
It took me a year to get the agency off my back (I hardly ever work for them now, although it took me ages to convince them that I had no intention of working for the rates they were offering me).
However, although I have since found other agencies, I have discovered that they expect me to work a lot faster. I always thought that 2000 words a day was a decent amount, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Last week a new client contacted me and I churned out (literally) 15000 words in three days.
OK, I realise that I didn't have to accept the work, and maybe I made a mistake, because how can anyone produce a decent translation when it entails working practically non-stop for three days?
[Edited at 2013-04-19 20:33 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kate Tomkins
Local time: 03:05
Member (2012)
German to English
| Always make sure the client understands how long good translations take! | Apr 19, 2013 |
Helena, my experiences are completely opposite to yours! When working with professional agencies paying decent rates, I have found that the deadlines they set are always completely reasonable. If they were not, it would be up to me to inform them that the deadline is not realistic and that I could not accept the terms (suggesting a more suitable deadline).
I am sure there are some highly intelligent people who can translate 5000 words a day at a very high standard, but they are rare... See more Helena, my experiences are completely opposite to yours! When working with professional agencies paying decent rates, I have found that the deadlines they set are always completely reasonable. If they were not, it would be up to me to inform them that the deadline is not realistic and that I could not accept the terms (suggesting a more suitable deadline).
I am sure there are some highly intelligent people who can translate 5000 words a day at a very high standard, but they are rare and should therefore be paid top rates. However, everyone has their limits and standards will eventually begin to slip! With work as intensive as translating, you need to be able to step away from your work and take a break on a regular basis. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson 
Spain
Local time: 03:05
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Helena Chavarria wrote:
As soon as I joined ProZ (18 months ago) I realised that I had to stop accepting €0.03.
Last week a new client contacted me and I churned out (literally) 15000 words in three days.
I wonder if you have ever used that word to a client, Helena. Obviously, we need to be polite, so you may want to tone it down by saying "No, sorry", but it does sometimes have to be said. You've stopped working for 0.03€ - that's great. But you're still a sweat-shop worker, aren't you? Just one that's rather more well-off.
I really think you should do some tests and some calculations, then write down what is acceptable to you and what isn't, both in terms of rate and output. Consult those figures every time you quote for a job, and just say "No" if they won't agree. Remember, you can give yourself some room for manoeuvre by quoting above your minimum rather than starting with it.
Try telling the client the truth: working under those conditions causes loss of quality.
| | | | | It's difficult when you're surrounded by people who work for peanut shells. | Apr 19, 2013 |
Many people in Spain don't even work for peanuts, they work for peanut shells!
I live in Spain and ever since I decided that I wouldn't work for less €0,05 it's been a case of accepting all the work from agencies that offered me a decent rate.
neilmac wrote:
With the economic crisis and fierce competition from Spanish-speaking countries outside Europe (particularly one beginning with "A"), very few people translating into Spanish can manage to get 7 cents a word from agencies nowadays. Many translators find themselves obliged to work for 4 or 5 cents, although anything less does seem unacceptable.
The comparison with other languages is also a false premise: rates for German have always been higher and how some of my French colleagues manage to charge rates of 10-15 cents still never ceases to baffle me.
I tell myself that I need to invest in a couple of days to brush up my profile and contact 5, 10, 15... agencies. The only thing is that about a year ago I did just that, but no one answered me
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| Yes, I seem to spend my life saying 'No' | Apr 19, 2013 |
Sheila Wilson wrote:
Helena Chavarria wrote:
As soon as I joined ProZ (18 months ago) I realised that I had to stop accepting €0.03.
Last week a new client contacted me and I churned out (literally) 15000 words in three days.
I wonder if you have ever used that word to a client, Helena. Obviously, we need to be polite, so you may want to tone it down by saying "No, sorry", but it does sometimes have to be said. You've stopped working for 0.03€ - that's great. But you're still a sweat-shop worker, aren't you? Just one that's rather more well-off.
I really think you should do some tests and some calculations, then write down what is acceptable to you and what isn't, both in terms of rate and output. Consult those figures every time you quote for a job, and just say "No" if they won't agree. Remember, you can give yourself some room for manoeuvre by quoting above your minimum rather than starting with it.
Try telling the client the truth: working under those conditions causes loss of quality.
I've spent the last 18 months rejecting work.
My main problem is that I really enjoy translating. I love working with words, learning new things, helping complete strangers.
| | | | | This is unbelievable. They have been taking advantage of you | Apr 19, 2013 |
Just tell them everybody has been telling you that the rates are far too low -- just totally not serious. Tell them that from the ethical point of view -- to protect the profession, you have to raise the rates. Your rates should be at least $0.8-010. At least. Don't let them take advantage of you, and look for other companies in the meantime.
| | | | Tim Friese
United States
Local time: 21:05
Member (2013)
Arabic to English
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| Strongly agree | May 6, 2013 |
LilianBoland wrote:
Just tell them everybody has been telling you that the rates are far too low -- just totally not serious. Tell them that from the ethical point of view -- to protect the profession, you have to raise the rates. Your rates should be at least $0.8-010. At least. Don't let them take advantage of you, and look for other companies in the meantime.
This is my experience. I do life science translation in Spanish > English and I have less qualifications than the OP. Depending on the job and the agency, I request between $.10 and $.18 and never accept anything below $.08.
Bárbara, you have incredible qualifications. Start bidding on jobs from reputable agencies for something between $.10 and $.20. If your translations are good, you will get repeat customers. You could easily be working half the hours for several times the pay.
One thing you should point out is that you're not just bilingual, you're what could be called "biprofessional" - someone who has worked in the field in both languages. There are precious few people who can claim that.
Good luck!
| | | | Andrea Riffo
Chile
Local time: 00:05
English to Spanish
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Hi Bárbara (and Helena),
$0.10 is my minimum for life sciences translation, with the added "setbacks" that my pair is English > Spanish AND I live in a Latin American country (which means MANY agencies contact me seeking $0.03 translations).
There ARE good clients out there; where you live is irrelevant.
Greetings!
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