Poll: Under what conditions do you accept unpaid translation tests? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Under what conditions do you accept unpaid translation tests?".
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If I’m really interested in that job or in that translation agency (I have never been asked for an unpaid test by a direct client) I'm happy to do a short unpaid translation test (up to 300 words), providing we have already agreed on price and payment terms and there is no deadline set for the test, so I can do it at my own pace. I would rather do a translation test for free than sending diplomas, references and the like and having to fill endless forms. I see it as a good investment…
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:07
Member (2008)
Italian to English
ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Under what conditions do you accept unpaid translation tests?". View the poll results »
Looking back over many years I don't think I have *ever* been given a job by any agency that asked me to do a translation test.
| | | | Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 13:07
Member (2020)
English to German
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I will accept unpaid tests of up to 300 words (yes, will also do 310) if there is either no fixed deadline or the deadline is sufficiently generous; I certainly don't mind fitting in a short test during a lull or over my Saturday/Sunday morning coffee to keep me busy.
That said, any terms for actual paid jobs will have to be settled in advance, since I want to know what to expect from a potential new client before accepting any tests. If the client does not pay enough, has outrageous payme... See more I will accept unpaid tests of up to 300 words (yes, will also do 310) if there is either no fixed deadline or the deadline is sufficiently generous; I certainly don't mind fitting in a short test during a lull or over my Saturday/Sunday morning coffee to keep me busy.
That said, any terms for actual paid jobs will have to be settled in advance, since I want to know what to expect from a potential new client before accepting any tests. If the client does not pay enough, has outrageous payment terms (even by translation standards) or uses some underdeveloped online translation tool, I see no point in losing any time on a test. ▲ Collapse
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matt robinson 
Spain
Local time: 13:07
Member (2010)
Spanish to English
I mean, I would if I were asked to. I don't see what the problem is really. The only condition would be that I thought it a chance worth taking; one that could result in the possibility of working together and developing a long-term relationship. In any case, what would I have lost if it led to nothing in the end?
| | | | | Up to ~300 words | Apr 19, 2022 |
My perennial experience is opposite to Tom's: most good clients of mine asked for short tests, though some of these were paid. In fact, I consider such tests the single most reliable way to check the candidate's translation skills, and in some subject fields they are almost indispensable.
| | | | Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 07:07
German to English
| One hour devoted to marketing | Apr 19, 2022 |
When I was still trying to grow my business I had no objection to taking a short test. Back then I had time on my hands to spend an hour or so, thus taking a test was a productive way to spend my time with the potential of getting a job.
In my experience, some tests don't work out, others result in work. I recall taking a test about 20 years ago which resulted in a customer I still have today, one of my main customers in fact. It was an hour well-spent.
| | | | | Under 250 words | Apr 19, 2022 |
Provided I understand it is worth, I usually accept doing tests for free up to 250 words' length.
I have accepted more than 250 words on rare occasions. Otherwise I only accept if they are paid and I specify my rates.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:07
Spanish to English
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It doesn't really apply to me nowadays, because I have enough work/clients already, and I don't have to work with agencies, except for the one or two I still occasionally collaborate with, but never new ones.
If I were desperate and needed to apply for for work from agencies, I might consider doing up to 300 words, but any more than that and I start to suspect that they were crowdsourcing translations.
| | | | Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 07:07
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Possibly for very large projects | Apr 19, 2022 |
My willingness to do such a test would be limited to cases of very large potential projects (e.g., a book or very long research paper) - and not always even then.
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I only agree to coming up with an unpaid sample if I am not in the middle of another book project, or if I have been told that I'm on the shortlist. And I am always more than glad to do one, under any circumtwances, when the client states that she/he has not asked anyone else to, because of my experience, background, and the way I have interacted with her/him during negotiations. So, in the latter case, it is always well worth it, because in the end, I actually get paid for it!
[Edited at... See more I only agree to coming up with an unpaid sample if I am not in the middle of another book project, or if I have been told that I'm on the shortlist. And I am always more than glad to do one, under any circumtwances, when the client states that she/he has not asked anyone else to, because of my experience, background, and the way I have interacted with her/him during negotiations. So, in the latter case, it is always well worth it, because in the end, I actually get paid for it!
[Edited at 2022-04-19 16:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Timothy Wood
United States
Local time: 05:07
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
I take on free translations only for friends and family. It does not happen very often, but I am happy to help when I can.
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