| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Sending your rates, signing NDA, completing your profile but you never hear from the agency? Thread poster: Abdulsamad Attayee
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Hello, during 2023 and also this year, I might have sent translation rates, signed NDAs and also completed my profile for about ten agencies, but I don't remember receiving any tasks from these agencies. Can I ask, is this a scam, please share your opinion?
Thanks
| | | | Keith Jackson 
France
Local time: 14:07
Member (2017)
French to English
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| Salespeople and vendor managers | May 2 |
In my experience, nine out of 10 who contact me are sales people and vendor managers trying to meet their sign-up targets, without anything necessarily in the pipeline to offer you. One out of 10 is legitimately interested with a project in mind.
| | | | Abdulsamad Attayee
Local time: 16:37
Member (2022)
Pashto (Pushto) to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks, I think this is a new trend, and I am not sure about the reason... | May 2 |
Keith Jackson wrote:
In my experience, nine out of 10 who contact me are sales people and vendor managers trying to meet their sign-up targets, without anything necessarily in the pipeline to offer you. One out of 10 is legitimately interested with a project in mind.
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I haven’t seen any trend occurring mostly within the last two years. In my experience, this happens quite often and has been around longer than you might think. It looks like some agencies want to collect heaps of CVs just in case. I must say though that over the years I had one or two cases where suddenly they sent me a project some years after the first contact…
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Abdulsamad Attayee
Local time: 16:37
Member (2022)
Pashto (Pushto) to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | If it is not a recent trend, then it is at least a waste of time for a long time on one side... | May 2 |
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:
I haven’t seen any trend occurring mostly within the last two years. In my experience, this happens quite often and has been around longer than you might think. It looks like some agencies want to collect heaps of CVs just in case. I must say though that over the years I had one or two cases where suddenly they sent me a project some years after the first contact…
| | | | | Not usually a scam, but annoying | May 2 |
When agencies have real jobs, they tend to take a quick look at your profile, then ask what your rates are and how soon you can deliver. If you have already signed a code of conduct (on this site or with a professional association) and look professional, they can send the NDA afterwards!
If they spend time on tests, CVs for the database and other paperwork, don´t be disappointed if you never hear from them again. By the time you have jumped through all those hoops, most of your tra... See more When agencies have real jobs, they tend to take a quick look at your profile, then ask what your rates are and how soon you can deliver. If you have already signed a code of conduct (on this site or with a professional association) and look professional, they can send the NDA afterwards!
If they spend time on tests, CVs for the database and other paperwork, don´t be disappointed if you never hear from them again. By the time you have jumped through all those hoops, most of your translation time will have gone, if the deadline has not already passed! It is a sign that they have time on their hands, or possibly that they are bidding for a contract, if they say so. The trouble with those is that many other agencies will also be bidding for it, so they cannot promise you any work.
On the other hand, many agencies try to have a list of translators they can call on fast when there is work. If they specialise in your languages, or perhaps your special subject area, they may be seriously interested. I have had work sent many months or even years after signing up.
Other agencies just like to claim that they offer ´any language´ or hundreds of languages, so they want a base of translators to cover their claims. I avoid those, because when they do offer work, their rates may be very low.
These are just broad generalisations, so check out each agency carefully if you send your CV, sign NDA and so on. They are probably largely a waste of time, but they may be fine, and if so good luck! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Abdulsamad Attayee
Local time: 16:37
Member (2022)
Pashto (Pushto) to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thank you for the detailed post... | May 2 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
When agencies have real jobs, they tend to take a quick look at your profile, then ask what your rates are and how soon you can deliver. If you have already signed a code of conduct (on this site or with a professional association) and look professional, they can send the NDA afterwards!
If they spend time on tests, CVs for the database and other paperwork, don´t be disappointed if you never hear from them again. By the time you have jumped through all those hoops, most of your translation time will have gone, if the deadline has not already passed! It is a sign that they have time on their hands, or possibly that they are bidding for a contract, if they say so. The trouble with those is that many other agencies will also be bidding for it, so they cannot promise you any work.
On the other hand, many agencies try to have a list of translators they can call on fast when there is work. If they specialise in your languages, or perhaps your special subject area, they may be seriously interested. I have had work sent many months or even years after signing up.
Other agencies just like to claim that they offer ´any language´ or hundreds of languages, so they want a base of translators to cover their claims. I avoid those, because when they do offer work, their rates may be very low.
These are just broad generalisations, so check out each agency carefully if you send your CV, sign NDA and so on. They are probably largely a waste of time, but they may be fine, and if so good luck!
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 14:07
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
Abdulsamad Attayee wrote: Keith Jackson wrote:
In my experience, nine out of 10 who contact me are sales people and vendor managers trying to meet their sign-up targets, without anything necessarily in the pipeline to offer you. One out of 10 is legitimately interested with a project in mind.
Not new at all, it's been going on for decades.
I don't sign NDAs or fill out databases, just so that some new PM can get extra points with their boss, so I can't answer your initial question. It's pretty easy to tell when someone has a project in place and when they are lying to have one just to get your CV (they will mention the word CV at least ten times), and your CV will be the main topic of conversation.
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 14:07
Member (2009)
English to German
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This little sentence suffices for me to just delete the sender's email. It is not only because, as a professional translator, I don't have a CV but a Business Brochure. The main reason is that I don't see any sense in playing "duck" and sit around waiting for jobs that will never come.
Like Christine said, if an agency is interested in a collaboration with you, they will ask the key questions regarding a specific project.
[Edited at 2024-05-02 12:27 GMT]
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Abdulsamad Attayee wrote:
I might have sent translation rates, signed NDAs and also completed my profile for about ten agencies....
The more things you have to do/provide/fill in before a specific project is discussed, the lower the chances of getting any work. Seems to be the common experience.
I'm fairly sure that the only NDAs I've ever signed have actually been after the first jobs have been delivered
| | | | Abdulsamad Attayee
Local time: 16:37
Member (2022)
Pashto (Pushto) to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I think this is a recent trend at least from my experience... | May 2 |
I have been a freelance translator since 2012, prior to Covid/Corona, I was receiving tasks but now all I get is, please send us your CV, and then complete your profile and then sign the NDA (which is a waste of time). Thank you all for sharing your opinion and advise.
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These agencies at the end of the year of enrolling will send you gpdr compliance agreement, hipaa certification and do on. If I have not recd a job from a company for a year, I donot deal anymore with them for the annual rigmarole.
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Abdulsamad Attayee
Local time: 16:37
Member (2022)
Pashto (Pushto) to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | This seems to be a serious issue to some | May 3 |
Since the posting of this post, I have about 100 visitors visiting my profile, prior to this I was getting about 10 to 15 visits. I don't know what this means, I hope it means that I will be getting more tasks instead of signing endless NDAs etc. I am happy to sign NDAs, as one colleague mentioned, if it comes with the task offer.
| | | | | Time consuming and annoying exercise..! | May 3 |
I did sign NDAs and completed "tests" for probably 10+ agencies in the year 2023, and guess what...
Only one or two of them managed to get back to me with "meaningful" jobs.
So you're not alone in this..!
| | | | | It's a waste of time and paper | May 3 |
I stopped signing NDAs unless there was a real job waiting for me because I felt bad about printing off at least half a dozen pages, filling in the first and last ones with my personal details and signature, scanning the whole lot and sending it back to the agency. Since 2008, I've been trying not to waste plastic or paper, and I don't like going against my principles for complete strangers.
If I could fill in NDAs on the computer, I wouldn't mind, though I haven't updated my CV si... See more I stopped signing NDAs unless there was a real job waiting for me because I felt bad about printing off at least half a dozen pages, filling in the first and last ones with my personal details and signature, scanning the whole lot and sending it back to the agency. Since 2008, I've been trying not to waste plastic or paper, and I don't like going against my principles for complete strangers.
If I could fill in NDAs on the computer, I wouldn't mind, though I haven't updated my CV since 2018! ▲ Collapse
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