| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] | Should the KudoZ points system be abolished? Thread poster: XXXphxxx (X)
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XXXphxxx (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:55
Portuguese to English
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TOPIC STARTER | No, I don't have all the statistics | Mar 12, 2014 |
This is simply an impression gleaned from countless exchanges I've had over the years with agencies who tell me they now wouldn't touch the site with a barge-pole having got their fingers badly burned on previous occasions. The general consensus being that they now feel safer sourcing translators via the directories of the professional associations instead.
Note I didn't say "all", I said "the majority", but yes, it's guesswork on my part.
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Jan Sundström wrote:
Typically, I rely a lot on the kudoz ranking when selecting translators, but I handpick and invite those translators personally, not through job postings. Often after comparing their profile with ATA/ITI/SFÖ and corresponding sites.
then something is seriously wrong with me... I have lots of KudoZ (3470), I've been a member for years (my membership has just elapsed), I'm a member of both ITI and CIoL in the UK and I'm registered with your company since at least 2011... I was never ever contacted for a job...
| | | | Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 23:55
Italian to English
In memoriam | Sector specialisation | Mar 12, 2014 |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote:
then something is seriously wrong with me...
I seriously doubt that, Giovanni!
I have lots of KudoZ (3470), I've been a member for years (my membership has just elapsed), I'm a member of both ITI and CIoL in the UK and I'm registered with your company since at least 2011... I was never ever contacted for a job...
Perhaps it's just that Jan's agency doesn't have much work in your sectors and language combinations.
This is a busy period for wine translators in the run-up to the Vinitaly trade fair next month. As it has every year, Proz is generating a decent number of agency and direct enquiries for me from people who have had a shufty at the Kudoz rankings for IT>EN wine terminology. Not all convert into customers but enough of them do to make membership worthwhile.
| | | | Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:55
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
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| Why change a winning formula? | Mar 12, 2014 |
Although the system isn’t perfect (is there such a thing?), I think it should be left the way it is. It’s a very clever way to get people to contribute. I am in contact with the owners of several sites doing similar things (trying to create a forum where linguists will work together to create something of value), and as far as I can tell Proz has hit on the best solution thus far. You need to build in a way to reward people that people actually care about. Here on Proz, this reward takes the... See more Although the system isn’t perfect (is there such a thing?), I think it should be left the way it is. It’s a very clever way to get people to contribute. I am in contact with the owners of several sites doing similar things (trying to create a forum where linguists will work together to create something of value), and as far as I can tell Proz has hit on the best solution thus far. You need to build in a way to reward people that people actually care about. Here on Proz, this reward takes the form of appearing higher up in the directory, which potential clients use to search for translators. This is definitely worth (some) of my time.
I also agree with several people here who noted that it is in fact possible to climb quite high within a relatively short time (a year or two).
Although I agree that the glossaries are a complete state, I think the KudoZ arena (in its current form) is a very useful resource and one that has helped me out many times. Sure, there are a few grumpy pedants lurking in damp corners (you know who you are), and horribly unqualified impostors (don’t worry, they will get what they deserve), but there are also a plethora of intelligent people with actual knowledge and a genuine desire to get to the bottom of things.
Incidentally, people lament the loss of ‘all the great translators who left Proz’ (who are now holed up in the ITI, CIoL and Stridonium forums, according to my sources), but wasn’t this same KudoZ points system already in place back then? That is, it’s not the KudoZ points system that caused them to leave, they left because they were grumps.
Michael ▲ Collapse
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| Supply/demand | Mar 12, 2014 |
Giles Watson wrote:
Perhaps it's just that Jan's agency doesn't have much work in your sectors and language combinations.
In this particular case, Giles is spot on.
Since our focus is very much on the Scandinavian market, the bulk of our orders are either to or from the Nordic languages. For EN>IT and other mainland pairs, the number translators available exceed our needs by far.
Agecies who say that they don't touch Proz with a barge-pole lose out on some tremendous talent.
For a PM or Vendor Manager with a discerning eye and some time to counter-check basic facts, it's easy to root out the "kudoz hunters" from the genuinely reliable translators.
To be honest, the profiles here on Proz contain a lot more information than ATA/ITI/IoL/you-name-it, which makes it easier for me as a PM to get a grasp of the experience, technical know-how and quality I can expect from a translator.
| | | | | You are exactly right, Jan | Mar 12, 2014 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
Agecies who say that they don't touch Proz with a barge-pole lose out on some tremendous talent.
For a PM or Vendor Manager with a discerning eye and some time to counter-check basic facts, it's easy to root out the "kudoz hunters" from the genuinely reliable translators.
To be honest, the profiles here on Proz contain a lot more information than ATA/ITI/IoL/you-name-it, which makes it easier for me as a PM to get a grasp of the experience, technical know-how and quality I can expect from a translator.
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:55
Portuguese to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Quality over quantity | Mar 12, 2014 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
To be honest, the profiles here on Proz contain a lot more information than ATA/ITI/IoL/you-name-it, which makes it easier for me as a PM to get a grasp of the experience, technical know-how and quality I can expect from a translator.
I agree that there is a dearth of information on those sites but I suppose the intention is to keep to facts, whereas there are some serious flights of fancy and just pure fabrication on a great number of profiles here on ProZ, including that of "Certified Pros".
As for the accusation that those who have departed the site are "grumps" I think that's taking it a step too far.
I'm pleased that the system works well for some of you. You have it from the horse's mouth, nothing is going to change. I'm not sure why this thread got revived one year after I started it but, as they say: I'm outta here.
| | | | | I understand... | Mar 12, 2014 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
In this particular case, Giles is spot on.
Since our focus is very much on the Scandinavian market, the bulk of our orders are either to or from the Nordic languages. For EN>IT and other mainland pairs, the number translators available exceed our needs by far.
But I work for two other major Scandinavian agencies and they have a large volume of work in my language combination... I'm not complaining... I was just curious...
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| I agree with Lisa... | Mar 12, 2014 |
translators' organizations don't need to "inflate" members' profiles. We are all certified and that should be enough. They are only directories. We don't need to "sell" our skills, they are implied.
| | | | | very kind... | Mar 12, 2014 |
Giles Watson wrote:
I seriously doubt that, Giovanni!
As far as the reasons why I was asking, see my previous answer...
| | | | | Exactly the other way around | Mar 12, 2014 |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote:
translators' organizations don't need to "inflate" members' profiles. We are all certified and that should be enough. They are only directories. We don't need to "sell" our skills, they are implied.
That right there may be the reason you don't get all the jobs you'd like. Of course you need to sell yourself and your skills.
| | | | | I get lots... | Mar 12, 2014 |
Mikhail Kropotov wrote: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL wrote:
translators' organizations don't need to "inflate" members' profiles. We are all certified and that should be enough. They are only directories. We don't need to "sell" our skills, they are implied. That right there may be the reason you don't get all the jobs you'd like. Of course you need to sell yourself and your skills.
of jobs through ITI and CIoL... I'n not actively looking for jobs and I don't need to sell my skills...
[Edited at 2014-03-13 08:43 GMT]
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Requested by poster | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 17:55
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
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| It is possible. | Mar 15, 2014 |
Little Woods wrote:
Particularly such a person got 30 points in less than 3 days.
[Edited at 2014-03-15 00:23 GMT]
[Edited at 2014-03-15 00:26 GMT]
[Edited at 2014-03-15 00:50 GMT]
I think it is possible. At least one Chinese translator got more than that in one day, because his answers were picked for all the questions he answered on that day. It doesn't necessarily mean he "climbed the rank by tricks".
[Edited at 2014-03-15 02:27 GMT]
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