| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5] > | Worldwide crisis = higher demand for translation services? Thread poster: Viktoria Gimbe
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| Another possible reason? | Feb 27, 2009 |
Could it be that direct clients with translation departments are letting go their in-house people and outsourcing the work to us? No direct experience of this, just speculating.
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Bravo, Viktoria, for changing the focus to quality.
During the 'good' times when credit flows freely and companies spend lavishly, quality usually goes for a toss. But when companies are forced to spend wisely and cost-consciousness becomes the bye-word, as we are seeing now, quality can become a distinguishing factor, and it's great to see that the translation industry is moving in that direction as well.
What makes quality so important in the translation industry is ... See more Bravo, Viktoria, for changing the focus to quality.
During the 'good' times when credit flows freely and companies spend lavishly, quality usually goes for a toss. But when companies are forced to spend wisely and cost-consciousness becomes the bye-word, as we are seeing now, quality can become a distinguishing factor, and it's great to see that the translation industry is moving in that direction as well.
What makes quality so important in the translation industry is that the final product lends itself to immediate assessment if the client is a native speaker. Not much quality testing required! In other industries, quality testing cannot and does not reveal all defects (such as in a software program), sometimes for months after release.
This is just as well. Those of us who have been and will continue to deliver quality translations with dependable, reliable and timely client support can reap the benefits of this sharp tilt towards quality. And non-performers or poor performers (both freelancers and agencies) will have to shape up if they wish to continue to operate profitably. Come to think of it, this could be the much-needed remedy to the low entry barriers that have been afflicting our industry!! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Each person is different | Feb 27, 2009 |
Jon O wrote:
Are people really working so much? I'm astonished and slightly awed to read that. What's the reason? Can you really work those hours without the quality of your work suffering? I personally find it next to impossible to work more than about 6 hours per day without my brain simply giving up and going into stasis. And I still make a pretty decent living that way. Is it the irregularity of workflow which makes people work such insane (from my perspective at least) hours?
How many hours per day of work do colleagues think is sustainable over the long term? Interesting to know.....
I don't think you are lazy. Each person is different. I have worked 9-10-11 hours a day ever since I had my first job when I was 18. I was raised that way, that's what I saw my father do all his life and that's what I do even if at times I am dead tired. I can't help it!
| | | | Eric Hahn (X) 
France
Local time: 06:16
French to German
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| What's the meaning of "global crisis" ? | Feb 27, 2009 |
From the creators of the term "global systemic crisis" :
"Back in February 2006, LEAP/E2020 estimated that the global systemic crisis would unfold in 4 main structural phases: trigger, acceleration, impact and decanting phases. This process enabled us to properly anticipate events until now. However our team has now come to the conclusion that, due to the global leaders’ incapacity to fully realise the scope of the ongoing crisis (made obvious by their determination to cure the co... See more From the creators of the term "global systemic crisis" :
"Back in February 2006, LEAP/E2020 estimated that the global systemic crisis would unfold in 4 main structural phases: trigger, acceleration, impact and decanting phases. This process enabled us to properly anticipate events until now. However our team has now come to the conclusion that, due to the global leaders’ incapacity to fully realise the scope of the ongoing crisis (made obvious by their determination to cure the consequences rather than the causes of this crisis), the global systemic crisis will enter a fifth phase in the fourth quarter of 2009, a phase of global geopolitical dislocation."
http://www.leap2020.eu/English_r25.html
I don't want to spoil your fun, but after the death of socialism, it's not unthinkable that we assist at the death of capitalism right now.
But for us translators, there's no need to worry about this !
[Edited at 2009-02-27 20:08 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| It will not be that terrible | Feb 27, 2009 |
Eric Hahn wrote:
I don't want to spoil your fun, but after the death of socialism, it's not unthinkable that right now, capitalism is on its death bed.
It will not be that terrible folks! All it takes is to lower taxes and that each of us expects less from the state and more from own accomplishments. The sooner our politicians and the general public realise that, the sooner we will begin to see a recovery. It's all it takes to fix this situation.
| | | | Arnaud HERVE
France
Local time: 06:16
English to French
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Jon O wrote:
Maybe I'm just lazy......
No you are not lazy, you just concentrate on perfect work and try to understand what you translate. The brain is more complex than just nerves.
But as you can see, on Internet forums anything sensible can be denied.
For my part, I work 23 hours a day, I don't sleep because during the remaining hour, I have to go shopping, take shower, post on Proz forums...
What I find very convenient is that new jobs come in a beautiful order exactly when older jobs are finished. So I never have a lazy day.
And also, I observe an upward trend, because all clients who no longer had the money have accepted my rates raise. I am just that good.
| | | | Eric Hahn (X)
France
Local time: 06:16
French to German
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| Not for all of us | Feb 27, 2009 |
I don't worry too much, but if I were a "capitalist", I would 
[Edited at 2009-02-27 19:16 GMT]
| | | | Amal Al-Arfaj
Saudi Arabia
Local time: 07:16
Member (2005)
English to Arabic
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| Happening here too | Feb 27, 2009 |
I have this client who often said they couldn't afford my translation rate. I always get editing jobs from them. Suddenly, they can afford it now. Old clients whom I didn't hear from for years came back with work. New clients do not negotiate rates or minimum charges anymore even after I increased my rates. They always emphasize on quality.
February is a slow month to me too but not this year.
[Edited at 2009-02-27 21:29 GMT]
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Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 00:16
Spanish to English
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| Busy here too! | Feb 27, 2009 |
I am so busy that I do not have time to write a lengthy post. This is definitely my busiest time in 15 years. If only I could take all the projects I have been offered and do them consecutively one after the other, I think I could work for the next five years.
The bulk of it seems to be government work, collections, taxes, mergers/acquisitions, companies seeking new business in Latin America and Canada, the alternative energy sector (wind turbines / solar energy). Basically companie... See more I am so busy that I do not have time to write a lengthy post. This is definitely my busiest time in 15 years. If only I could take all the projects I have been offered and do them consecutively one after the other, I think I could work for the next five years.
The bulk of it seems to be government work, collections, taxes, mergers/acquisitions, companies seeking new business in Latin America and Canada, the alternative energy sector (wind turbines / solar energy). Basically companies and governments seeking out new business opportunities and companies and governments filing lawsuits regarding breached contracts, etc. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rod Walters
Japan
Local time: 13:16
Japanese to English
| Can't help being rude? | Feb 28, 2009 |
Textklick wrote:
There have been a few forums/mini polls recently along the lines of "Was January your worst ever month", "Have you been evicted from your house yet this week" etc. etc.
Generally, they turned out to be a whinger's paradise.
Last night I saw a rather good local TV program from Japan's national broadcaster NHK. It was about how the economy of Shikoku has been devastated by the sudden huge decline in exports and the knock-on effects this has had through the entire economy. It featured managers of small companies, largely in their 60s, whingeing about how for example, the fine cotton gloves they manufactured for car factories were now just sitting in boxes in the warehouse. The manager got on the phone to Toyota for a whine, asking "How do future prospects look for glove purchases?" only to receive a torrent of self-pity "We'll probably be cutting purchase of gloves even further because we're laying off most of our workers". Utterly dejected and thinking that maybe heavy grade protective gloves might be an idea, the manager wandered about junk recycling yards talking to young workers scrabbling about in the filth. After discussing cinching, water-resistance, and other pathetic, small-minded details, he said ruefully to the camera "I believe we can do this!"
The program was full of other snivelling from furniture makers who are refocusing on repairs, and pearl farmers who are going to 7 mm from 8 mm in the hope of selling larger quantities at lower prices. I had to chuckle at how these whiners kept wallowing in their own difficulties.
| | | | Arnaud HERVE
France
Local time: 06:16
English to French
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| Where did all the turned-off projects go? | Feb 28, 2009 |
How come we don't read posters who, for example, were not doing well last year, and are now working full-time thanks to this impressive mass of projects that our top notch translators have to refuse now?
Ok, not everyone posts on Proz, I guess.
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Viktoria Gimbe wrote:
Is it just me, or the demand for translation services has been noticeably picking up since the Notorious Crisis has started?
You did say on Feb 13th in the other positive thinking thread that your work was "recession proof". So the fact that your workload is maintaining a steady course surprises me not a bit
It would seem likely (sorry if that sounds like speculation) that some sectors are suffering or will suffer - automobiles for one, seemingly worldwide. Real estate may be another - the spending power of Brits for proerty in Europe has taken a hammering lately, and I can report that whereas I used to get sporadic work in the field from French estate agents looking to sell to UK residents, that work has dried up. Ditto the Renault stuff.
Other sectors - govt, as Jeff says, EU stuff related to directives which will roll on regardless - will presumably see little difference. Insolvency services will flourish, I imagine. I will cease to speculate at that point
Other "crisis" related factors: exchange rates. UK-based agencies may be thinking twice about hiring freelancers they pay in euros. Conversely, euro-zone clients may see UK-based translators who are paid in GBP as a bargain at the moment, even allowing for currency charges. To pay your UK translator £100 would have cost you €150 not so long ago, now it's under €120. I guess that other currency corrections could have similar effects.
As has been mentioned, translators based in countries viewed as relatively resilient (Germany, say) may be benefitting over those based in countries apparently teetering on the brink of meltdown (Ireland, say).
Lastly, and possibly slightly mischievously. When the woe and whinging threads were around, it was pointed out, quite justifiably, that all individuals will suffer the odd personal downturn just through the nature of things. It's the nature of the freelancer's lot. The credit crunch was not necessarily to blame, it was said. All true.
For the sake of logic and consistency, I should point out that the same applies to individual mini-booms. It could just be one of those things.
And I'm speaking as a man who had a very mediocre January and a really not too shabby February and altered not one iota of his business practices in between
[Edited at 2009-02-28 00:49 GMT]
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Viktoria Gimbe
Canada
Local time: 00:16
English to French
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TOPIC STARTER | Rod, what is so rude about what Textclick wrote? | Feb 28, 2009 |
I don't see the rudeness you seem to be referring to, Rod. Seriously. In fact, I don't see the point of your post. Maybe if you put on your glasses and read the initial post in this thread again, you would see that contributors to this thread were specifically asked to describe their experiences and comment on them, rather than cry foul about the state of the global economy.
You are free to start a topic about the end of the world, if you so desire...
| | | | Arnaud HERVE
France
Local time: 06:16
English to French
+ ...
Viktoria, does a forum for literate adults have to consist of, on the one hand, positive minded persons who post exclusively positive experiences, and on the other hand, raving lunatics who talk about the end of the world?
In other words, why does it seem impossible to have a normal conversation here?
I would have thought the order to put one's glasses on belonged exclusively to a forum about some sort of sub-culture, populated by some impolite teenagers. And would have... See more Viktoria, does a forum for literate adults have to consist of, on the one hand, positive minded persons who post exclusively positive experiences, and on the other hand, raving lunatics who talk about the end of the world?
In other words, why does it seem impossible to have a normal conversation here?
I would have thought the order to put one's glasses on belonged exclusively to a forum about some sort of sub-culture, populated by some impolite teenagers. And would have been moderated here.
Maybe I don't have the same education than mainstream translators here, but frankly I am unpleasantly surprised everyday by the tone of some messages. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Viktoria Gimbe
Canada
Local time: 00:16
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Let's keep on topic | Feb 28, 2009 |
Charlie Bavington wrote: Other sectors - govt, as Jeff says, EU stuff related to directives which will roll on regardless - will presumably see little difference. Insolvency services will flourish, I imagine. I will cease to speculate at that point
That may be so, Charlie, but the title of this thread and my initial post were referring to the demand for translation services at large. Here, you are looking at particular markets and segments, which are not representative of the whole. So, translators specializing in the automotive industry may see their workloads suffer, but if those specialized in finance see their workloads double, then overall, the demand is anything but decreasing. That's what I wanted to check with colleagues representing different segments of different markets in different countries, to get a more general idea of what's been going on recently, rather than draw hasty conclusions from my own experience (which is something we have seen more than enough of here lately).
Charlie wrote: Lastly, and possibly slightly mischievously. When the woe and whinging threads were around, it was pointed out, quite justifiably, that all individuals will suffer the odd personal downturn just through the nature of things. It's the nature of the freelancer's lot. The credit crunch was not necessarily to blame, it was said. All true. For the sake of logic and consistency, I should point out that the same applies to individual mini-booms. It could just be one of those things. And I'm speaking as a man who had a very mediocre January and a really not too shabby February and altered not one iota of his business practices in between
Sorry if that's been your experience. I was one of those who admitted that things are getting tough worldwide for people, including myself. I can't wait to see the interest rate my bank will propose when time comes to renegotiate my mortgage. That may be so, but that has nothing to do with my workload or the rates I charge. If anything, the current positive trends I am experiencing are exactly what will allow me to further afford my mortgage, my dentist's services and electricity, even if the prices of these goods and services are on the rise. I'm not saying all is good, but things seem to be balancing out quite well. The extra demand for my services may not make me rich overnight, but it may keep me safe from harm. It is too soon to draw conclusons - but it can't hurt to check if others have observed a similar trend. Even if it's just out of curiosity.
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