Poll: Are you receiving fewer translation jobs than a year ago? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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About the same number of translation jobs, though with a larger number of words than last year. The big difference in comparison to last year is that I’m receiving much more editing and transcreation jobs… | | |
Please ask open questions | May 24, 2019 |
May I again suggest to ask poll questions in an open form, i. e. not simply yes-no-questions, but questions with a range of possible answers? A yes-no-question is always leading and polarizing. This question would actually work much better with answer options like "a lot fewer than a year ago; a little fewer; about the same; a little more; many more; ..." and the results would be more meaningful. | | |
neilmac Spain Local time: 07:39 Spanish to English + ...
Yes, but so far, it isn't a problem. I've had a couple of quiet weeks, which has enabled me to see to other affairs without stressing about having to take time away from my work. | |
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Angus Stewart United Kingdom Local time: 06:39 French to English + ...
Yes, I suspect two factors are contributing to this: (1) the dreaded Brexit effect and (2) the trend towards more demand for PEMT is leading to me receiving far fewer traditional translation projects from at least two of my regular clients. | | |
Yes, alas, I've been receiving far fewer translation jobs in the last year or two. Like Angus, I suspect the reason is the apparently interminable uncertainty caused by the "Brexit effect" and the rise in the use of MT and the demand for "PEMT". Also, a large Paris agency for which I used to work occasionally has recently taken over several smaller agencies for which I worked frequently and has imposed tougher terms and conditions. | | |
Kay Denney France Local time: 07:39 French to English
It seems that I'm getting more projects, and more large projects too, because I'm definitely earning more. Haven't felt a Brexit effect (yet at any rate). A couple of agencies seem to have dropped me, after sending several requests for my "best price" and "could you lower your rate just for this project/client?", so I presume I'm now too expensive for them. However other agencies are now sending more work, and I have gained a few new clients too. | | |
Henry Schroeder United States Local time: 01:39 Member (2002) German to English + ... Yes. And good question. | May 24, 2019 |
Neural/Machine translations are the number one factor in this. A second may be economic concerns due to the length of the business cycle, i.e. less spending and investment by companies. You also see this drop in demand in the job board at proz.com. And very reasonable rate offers are simply ignored. I believe there will be some changes in the industry. Many of my regular translation agencies (for years) are only sending me crazy jobs or rush work. ... See more Neural/Machine translations are the number one factor in this. A second may be economic concerns due to the length of the business cycle, i.e. less spending and investment by companies. You also see this drop in demand in the job board at proz.com. And very reasonable rate offers are simply ignored. I believe there will be some changes in the industry. Many of my regular translation agencies (for years) are only sending me crazy jobs or rush work. One big question is becoming the level of perfection. Neural machine translation post edited + another round of editing produces very good results. BUT NOT PERFECTION. The question is how much the necessary next round of editing and proofreading is worth. Or whether it is necessary. If you just need to understand the text, but don't need perfection, then a machine translation + a little editing is sufficient. This would require a downward adjustment in prices or at least such an offer. ▲ Collapse | |
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Susanna Martoni Italy Local time: 07:39 Member (2009) Spanish to Italian + ...
Our job is changing and I think that this is a crucial moment. I am attending some meetings and roadshows where several stakeholders say "Do not worry, you have to learn how to manage changes. Learn to sell, to market and satisfy all these new needs trying to diversify yourself". Uhm. I am sincerly worried. | | |
No, same or more | May 24, 2019 |
It is probably due to the kind of work I do, and word of mouth. | | |
About the same | May 26, 2019 |
Fewer jobs, but as many or more words. I've had three humongous (book-length) jobs so this year and another one is coming up soon. | | |