Test, Agreement, Training, then NO Job!

ricardonhorta wrote:

...I once was contacted by an agency (about seven years ago) to do an in-house test, since they had an opening for a Translator. When I got there, there were three other Translators there to take the test as well.

A few minutes later we were asked to go to a different room to take the test. It was four A4 pages long, which I found unusual, at best.

Then, I whispered to the guy next to me: "hey, what pages do you have?" He answered: 22, 23, 24 and 25. I looked at mine: 26, 27, 28, 29... Then the other guy whispered the same to the girl in front of him: 18, 19, 20, 21. I got up and walked out. The other guy did the same. It was pretty obvious to us that wasn't a test... it was someone getting Translations for free.

I'm not saying that happened to you (you mentioned it was a short test), but this is a lesson I learned. I don't mind translation tests at all... when they're short! But I think twice about it when the test is over 300 or 400 words long. Like others said, a sample should be enough.

Susana Valdez wrote:



Taija, reading your post, I just come to realize the same thing. I believe I wouldn't get there myself, so I have to thank you for it.

To Abdelhalim: Once I heard a story at a conference of a renowned Portuguese translator - he had received a proposal from a company with very low rates and to "educate" the client, he sent an Invoice to him charging him for the time he wasted reading his proposal. From time to time I remember this story always with a smile and I believe that even though we don't profit directly from educating them, we can try to spare others from bad experiences if we do take the time to educate them. Regarding BB, I've seen at least one entry about a translator who had done tests and received no job. Perhaps you could send a support ticket to Proz.com staff to learn more about this.

Attila Piróth wrote:
The American Translators Association's Code of Professional Conduct and Business Practices contains the following point for employers:
"I further commit myself to the following practices with translators and interpreters:
I will not require translators or interpreters to do unpaid work for the prospect of a paid assignment."

Free test samples – especially with a rush-job-like deadline of 3 hours – fall in this category, in my opinion.

Abdelhalim Zeid wrote:
a test of 320 words and they have asked to return the translated test within three hours.

ildiko wrote:



Hi Adbelhalim,
Sorry to hear your story, I wish you much more pleasant and rewarding experiences in your career than this one.
If you DO receive work from them, you should definitely ask for a test money transfer within 3 hours from delivery! : D

Eleftherios Kritikakis wrote:
I guess everyone was waiting for your translation in there... and they picked it up immediately and started evaluating it. Does this sound like a normal scenario? No.

You may get some jobs from them, but it's better to think of yourself like a store; people come in, they check the products, some buy, some don't. Never hold your breath for a "potential" client. Move on quickly.

Abdelhalim Zeid wrote:

Hi,

Few weeks ago, a translation agency posted a job that they need translators to work on a sports project. I have contacted them, then they have sent me a test of 320 words and they have asked to return the translated test within three hours. Since I am very passionate about sports' translations, it was OK with me. I have managed to complete the translation test on time. Later on, they told me that they have received a very positive feedback on my translation and they listed me in their database as an EN>AR translator with extensive experience in sports translations. They have asked to sign their freelance agreement and send them a scanned version, I did!