| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you often ask for a deadline extension? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you often ask for a deadline extension?".
This poll was originally submitted by Frank Wang
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you often ask for a deadline extension?".
This poll was originally submitted by Frank Wang
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 03:59
English to French
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Never after I agreed on it. When the deadline seems too tight, I decline the job but generally offer another deadline instead. It often works
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Interlangue wrote:
Never after I agreed on it. When the deadline seems too tight, I decline the job but generally offer another deadline instead. It often works
I agree!
I mean, problems can happen, but when I had problems, I called a colleague and asked him/her to do it, deadlines are deadlines.
[Edited at 2009-05-26 16:59 GMT]
| | | | | Under dire circumstances | May 26, 2009 |
Most of my clients offer reasonable deadlines. There have been a few times during a severe storm when I've lost electrical power and I've had to ask for an extension. I could probably count the number of extensions I've requested over the past 30+ years on the fingers of one hand (knock wood!).
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Renee Lizotte
United States
Local time: 21:59
French to English
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| Once in a blue moon... | May 26, 2009 |
I stick to the agreed deadline probably 99.99% of the time, but perhaps there have been a couple of rare occasions where I have had to negotiate an extra day or so after acceptance. Thankfully, my clients are usually very generous and allow me plenty of time to do the job anyway.
[Edited at 2009-05-26 19:48 GMT]
[Edited at 2009-05-27 18:07 GMT]
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Although I have on a couple of occasions wangled it so that the client has offered me one!
| | | | | Occasionally | May 26, 2009 |
When the client asks for the final document to be delivered on a Friday End of Business day. What on earth for?
It makes me feel more confortable and they receive it on Monday first thing in the morning!
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...but always before accepting the job! Some clients ask for absurd deadlines, 5000 words in one day, for instance. In such a case, I explain them that I can translate X amount of words per day, or that I need X time, to guarantee good quality. It usually works!
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Deborah do Carmo (X) 
Portugal
Local time: 02:59
Dutch to English
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| Never? And the Noddy badge goes to ... | May 26, 2009 |
I accept a deadline if I can deliver work to my usual standard by that deadline. If not, I offer my best alternative delivery time. More often than not, it's acceptable. Sometimes the job is really urgent and it ends up elsewhere. That's life. I've practised law long enough to know when deadlines are genuinely tight.
Have I ever had to renegotiate a deadline after acceptance? Yes, I'm human. It probably happens, on average, once every 18-24 months or so. I don't live in a bubble, I ... See more I accept a deadline if I can deliver work to my usual standard by that deadline. If not, I offer my best alternative delivery time. More often than not, it's acceptable. Sometimes the job is really urgent and it ends up elsewhere. That's life. I've practised law long enough to know when deadlines are genuinely tight.
Have I ever had to renegotiate a deadline after acceptance? Yes, I'm human. It probably happens, on average, once every 18-24 months or so. I don't live in a bubble, I get sick/injured ever so occasionally. Not talking winter sniffles here -- a crippling virus, a broken hand, that type of thing.
I opt not to outsource the work if it happens. I did so once and never again. Although the work wasn't bad, the translator in question showed a total disregard for the deadline and queried so many things with the source text during the day, I might as well have got out of bed and carried on myself.
Project managers are paid to manage projects. That is what they do best (at least those I am fortunate to deal with)-- my duty is to inform them as soon as possible if there is a problem, potential or otherwise, and not to jeopardise that deadline. I can suggest a colleague whose work I trust, but it's the PM who knows (or should know) who is otherwise best suited. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | deadline is deadline | May 27, 2009 |
...only in case of death.
[Módosítva: 2009-05-27 00:00 GMT]
| | | | Renee Lizotte
United States
Local time: 21:59
French to English
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| My sentiments exactly... | May 27, 2009 |
Lawyer-Linguist wrote:
I accept a deadline if I can deliver work to my usual standard by that deadline. If not, I offer my best alternative delivery time. More often than not, it's acceptable. Sometimes the job is really urgent and it ends up elsewhere. That's life...
Have I ever had to renegotiate a deadline after acceptance? Yes, I'm human. It probably happens, on average, once every 18-24 months or so. I don't live in a bubble, I get sick/injured ever so occasionally. Not talking winter sniffles here -- a crippling virus, a broken hand, that type of thing.
We´re only human. Sometimes there are things that are beyond our control. It´s just little ol´ me, and I don´t pass my work off to anyone else. Like Kevin, I could probably count the number of times I have had to renegotiate a deadline (after acceptance) on one hand. It´s rare. If and when anything does arise, the important thing is to communicate with the client and keep them in the loop. I find that most people are appreciative of sincerity.
| | | | Frank Wang
China
Local time: 09:59
Member
English to Chinese
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| The way we are expected to act in | May 27, 2009 |
The proportion of friends responding with "No, Never" is very high. I hail them.
After all, this is something we are expected to minimize or avoid. Now not accepting job assignments is my new, alternative resort. But this should be very seldom too and I maintain guaranteed responses to my regular outsourcers for ongoing support.
[Edited at 2009-05-27 02:31 GMT]
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| I can't do all the jobs I am offered. | May 27, 2009 |
Like Lawyer Linguist, I can see when it is no use to the client if I try to extend the deadline.
They then have to find another translator.
This very week I said no, sorry, I cannot deliver on Tuesday, to a good agency. An hour later a new mail came: Can you deliver on Friday?
So guess what I am doing from now until Friday?
I have a private life, and I get migraine if I sit working all night as well as all day to meet deadlines that are tighter... See more Like Lawyer Linguist, I can see when it is no use to the client if I try to extend the deadline.
They then have to find another translator.
This very week I said no, sorry, I cannot deliver on Tuesday, to a good agency. An hour later a new mail came: Can you deliver on Friday?
So guess what I am doing from now until Friday?
I have a private life, and I get migraine if I sit working all night as well as all day to meet deadlines that are tighter than they need to be. And then I REALLY can't meet deadlines.
Once accepted, I do everything possible to meet them, but before I take the job on, I want a realistic deadline.
Otherwise there's always Babelfish ▲ Collapse
| | | | | not as a rule | May 27, 2009 |
If i don't think I can do it in the time frame or it turns out to be a bit more technical than expected, I'll say so right off the bat.
Sometimes, the client will offer a little extra time, if they're in a spot and can't find anyone else in my language pair or for editing. But if i know it's impossible, then I will say forget it. I don't like to ask especially if it's the first time I work for someone. However, i'd rather risk asking for an extra day or the weekend rather than risk doing ... See more If i don't think I can do it in the time frame or it turns out to be a bit more technical than expected, I'll say so right off the bat.
Sometimes, the client will offer a little extra time, if they're in a spot and can't find anyone else in my language pair or for editing. But if i know it's impossible, then I will say forget it. I don't like to ask especially if it's the first time I work for someone. However, i'd rather risk asking for an extra day or the weekend rather than risk doing a less than perfect job. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Never ask for a deadline extension? | May 27, 2009 |
This is no secret, but when an agency offers you a job, with a specific deadline, you know that most of the time they keep at least three day as leeway, in case things go wrong, don't you? So, you are killing yourself to finish it on time when instead you could have taken it easier, with great benefit to you and your nervous system?
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