Off topic: Annoyingly 'polite' clients Trådens avsändare: Baran Keki
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Baran Keki 
Turkiet
Local time: 23:03
Medlem
Engelska till Turkiska
A few weeks ago, I was approached by a 'boutique agency' led by a Spanish lady for a large technical project through here. She asked me take a paid test, which I did and got paid within two days at a very good rate. I'd had a fairly lengthy email exchange with her prior to that and supposed that I'd established a good rapport with her. I was given to understand that her client was an anally retentive type and the project itself was as boring/uninspiring as f**k, but the money was good and it had... See more A few weeks ago, I was approached by a 'boutique agency' led by a Spanish lady for a large technical project through here. She asked me take a paid test, which I did and got paid within two days at a very good rate. I'd had a fairly lengthy email exchange with her prior to that and supposed that I'd established a good rapport with her. I was given to understand that her client was an anally retentive type and the project itself was as boring/uninspiring as f**k, but the money was good and it had the promise of keeping me busy for the next couple of months at least.
She told me there were two other candidates for the job, and I kind of knew my chances were slim (and also more than half wishing they wouldn't pick me for the translation job).
Not having heard from her for over a week, I sent her an email asking about the status of the project and let her know that I was interested in the proofreading task. She replied immediately saying that she hadn't heard from her client yet, but would let me know as soon as she heard from them (which she reckoned would be by next Monday).
A week after that, I sent her another email about the job, and didn't hear back from her. Today I sent her yet another email, and again the radio silence.
I know without the shadow of a doubt that those two other guys have already got the project (translation and proofreading), and I know that she's received my emails, but is reluctant to spell out the fact that I couldn't get the job (I can't think of any other explanation). Something like this happened before, again with a Spanish client (as ill luck would have it). I wouldn't like to make generalizations, but I just can't help thinking that if it were a British or German client, they would tell me straight away "sorry pal, you failed, we're moving ahead with the other guys, good luck!", or something along those lines. But this person seems to ignore my emails, doubtless hoping that I would 'get the message' and stop bothering her (conscience) eventually, rather than saying that they don't want to work with me, 'out of politeness' I guess?
I don't know about you, but I find their way of 'sparing my feelings' by ignoring my emails annoying to say the least. Is this a cultural thing? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnien och Hercegovina
Local time: 21:03
Medlem (2009)
Engelska till Kroatiska
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We never know why somebody didn't reply, it can be a thousand reasons. I had a similar scenario (paid test followed by radio silence), I thought the project was gone but they did get back to me and the project was huge and well-paid, the client was professional and kind. The radio silence was caused by them being on holidays or similar.
However, the common statistics would confirm that in this kind of scenario, the project is indeed gone.
Don't take it personally, it's ... See more We never know why somebody didn't reply, it can be a thousand reasons. I had a similar scenario (paid test followed by radio silence), I thought the project was gone but they did get back to me and the project was huge and well-paid, the client was professional and kind. The radio silence was caused by them being on holidays or similar.
However, the common statistics would confirm that in this kind of scenario, the project is indeed gone.
Don't take it personally, it's just business. ▲ Collapse
| | | | ATIL KAYHAN
Turkiet
Local time: 23:03
Medlem (2007)
Turkiska till Engelska
+ ...
I know from experience that employers have a habit of not informing interviewees or job candidates if the outcome of the selection process is negative. They naturally get in touch with the candidates that they selected. It may not sound fair but that is how the business world goes around.
Having said that, ignoring emails of a job candidate is not quite the same thing. I think that is taking it too far. Assuming that she is expecting you to "guess" the outcome of the selection p... See more I know from experience that employers have a habit of not informing interviewees or job candidates if the outcome of the selection process is negative. They naturally get in touch with the candidates that they selected. It may not sound fair but that is how the business world goes around.
Having said that, ignoring emails of a job candidate is not quite the same thing. I think that is taking it too far. Assuming that she is expecting you to "guess" the outcome of the selection process, I would say she is not very professional at all. A professional would reply to the emails regardless.
Having said that as well, I would not dwell on it too much, either. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Joakim Braun
Sverige
Local time: 21:03
Tyska till Svenska
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Lingua 5B wrote:
We never know why somebody didn't reply, it can be a thousand reasons.
Exactly. Flu, maternity leave, broke her leg while skiing, sick kid, death in the family, had a huge rush project to deal with... in 4 out of 5 cases it's something like that and you'll be contacted several weeks later.
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Joakim Braun
Sverige
Local time: 21:03
Tyska till Svenska
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| If the client is polite, it's a scam | Feb 3 |
Well, I don't mean that, but it made a funny headline.
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ATIL KAYHAN wrote:
I know from experience that employers have a habit of not informing interviewees or job candidates if the outcome of the selection process is negative. They naturally get in touch with the candidates that they selected. It may not sound fair but that is how the business world goes around.
I really respect any client or agency who informs me even if I don't end up selected for a project – especially if they provide a short explanation. Sure, it costs them some time-equals-money, but I am much more likely to contact them next time if they search vendors for a different project, and more likely to recommend them to other translators because if you are left waiting, you may turn down other projects to keep your schedule free as you're waiting for an answer. Mailing back shows that they respect everyone's schedule and time. Having decent manners pays off.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnien och Hercegovina
Local time: 21:03
Medlem (2009)
Engelska till Kroatiska
+ ...
Andrus Lauringson wrote:
ATIL KAYHAN wrote:
I know from experience that employers have a habit of not informing interviewees or job candidates if the outcome of the selection process is negative. They naturally get in touch with the candidates that they selected. It may not sound fair but that is how the business world goes around.
I really respect any client or agency who informs me even if I don't end up selected for a project – especially if they provide a short explanation. Sure, it costs them some time-equals-money, but I am much more likely to contact them next time if they search vendors for a different project, and more likely to recommend them to other translators because if you are left waiting, you may turn down other projects to keep your schedule free as you're waiting for an answer. Mailing back shows that they respect everyone's schedule and time. Having decent manners pays off.
In an ideal world, yes. Freelancer's world tends to be chaotic. Each time a project is not immediate, i.e. as in "please find attached the file and tell me if you can start immediately", in all other cases I always start with a premise that the project will not materialize, and I don't assume it's a project at all. I don't care how many emails we exchanged or how many details were shared. Especially if it's something far/undetermined date in the future, 99% of those never happen.
| | | | Baran Keki
Turkiet
Local time: 23:03
Medlem
Engelska till Turkiska
TOPIC STARTER
Well, it looks like frustration got the better of me yesterday, for less than an hour after opening this thread I received a reply from the client. I don't know how to interpret this after two weeks' wait for a project that is said to be 'starting very soon'. Apparently she was unavailable on the days I sent her emails. I'd hate to imagine she decided to reply after reading my post.
As I said, I observed this kind of behaviour before. It appears that some people prefer not to convey 'bad n... See more Well, it looks like frustration got the better of me yesterday, for less than an hour after opening this thread I received a reply from the client. I don't know how to interpret this after two weeks' wait for a project that is said to be 'starting very soon'. Apparently she was unavailable on the days I sent her emails. I'd hate to imagine she decided to reply after reading my post.
As I said, I observed this kind of behaviour before. It appears that some people prefer not to convey 'bad news' to those with whom they had some sort of interaction. It's not because they don't bother or want to waste their time on unnecessary emails, they just seem to want the other party to 'get the message' through their silence. To them, this seems more 'humane' or 'polite', or am I reading too much into this?
There is nothing worse than living in false hope and worrying about how you're going to manage other potential jobs from regular clients in the weeks to come while you're working on that big project, should you land it.
I'm not green, I've seen similar scenarios before where jobs never materialized, but then I've also seen scenarios where long forgotten bids or offers resurfaced again and all of a sudden I was up to my eyes in work while making other plans (when it rains it pours as they say).
So yes, I'd much rather they tell me straight off I'm not considered for the job. It saves time and hassle, and I believe I've earned that courtesy after losing 1 or 2 hours of my life exchanging emails with them in English (which is not my native tongue). ▲ Collapse
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| I'd just ask directly | Feb 4 |
I don't have patience for two/three weeks of BS. So, usually, after that time I send an email just asking what happened with the project/client and why there's no news/replies to my inquiries.
Politely, I typically tell them that I've been waiting for the reply to organize my agenda. Most of the time I get a reply with an explanation.
If I don't get a reply, then I might think twice about working with that agency again. To me, those are great candidates to be included i... See more I don't have patience for two/three weeks of BS. So, usually, after that time I send an email just asking what happened with the project/client and why there's no news/replies to my inquiries.
Politely, I typically tell them that I've been waiting for the reply to organize my agenda. Most of the time I get a reply with an explanation.
If I don't get a reply, then I might think twice about working with that agency again. To me, those are great candidates to be included in the Yellow Board > https://www.proz.com/forum/business_issues/370694-could_we_have_a_yellow_board_for_rating_time_waster_agencies.html ▲ Collapse
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Maria Laura Curzi wrote:
I don't have patience for two/three weeks of BS. So, usually, after that time I send an email just asking what happened with the project/client and why there's no news/replies to my inquiries.
That is so true. It even goes beyond translation – companies (and people) often need a nudge (including me).
| | | | | Understand your frustration | Feb 8 |
Baran Keki wrote:
Well, it looks like frustration got the better of me yesterday, for less than an hour after opening this thread I received a reply from the client. I don't know how to interpret this after two weeks' wait for a project that is said to be 'starting very soon'. Apparently she was unavailable on the days I sent her emails. I'd hate to imagine she decided to reply after reading my post.
As I said, I observed this kind of behaviour before. It appears that some people prefer not to convey 'bad news' to those with whom they had some sort of interaction. It's not because they don't bother or want to waste their time on unnecessary emails, they just seem to want the other party to 'get the message' through their silence. To them, this seems more 'humane' or 'polite', or am I reading too much into this?
There is nothing worse than living in false hope and worrying about how you're going to manage other potential jobs from regular clients in the weeks to come while you're working on that big project, should you land it.
I'm not green, I've seen similar scenarios before where jobs never materialized, but then I've also seen scenarios where long forgotten bids or offers resurfaced again and all of a sudden I was up to my eyes in work while making other plans (when it rains it pours as they say).
So yes, I'd much rather they tell me straight off I'm not considered for the job. It saves time and hassle, and I believe I've earned that courtesy after losing 1 or 2 hours of my life exchanging emails with them in English (which is not my native tongue).
I've seen it and I've been there, so I understand your frustration. And I dwell on it for a day or two at the most for clients who don't get back to me within a few days but move on since this kind of thing is very common. I would first dream about how much money I can earn if I get this job, and I try to consider myself lucky if I do get the job, but at the same time, I will take other client's offer in case that first job didn't materialize. And if it materializes, fine. I have to work my axx off working 10 hours a day, but I still get to earn more money and the magnitude of happiness is greater when something you didn't expect to come materializes.
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