Poll: What do you usually do when offered more work than you can handle?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Apr 27, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What do you usually do when offered more work than you can handle?".

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Ventnai
Ventnai  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 15:33
German to English
+ ...
Depends Apr 27, 2020

It depends on how much work I actually have. I'll try and negotiate a later deadline if one is feasible.

Angus Stewart
Ivana Kahle
Josephine Cassar
Morano El-Kholy
Liena Vijupe
Anastasia Kingsley Kinkusic
Michael Harris
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:33
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Apr 27, 2020

I usually either recommend a trusted colleague, or accept the work and pass it on to the colleague myself. In the latter case, I accept full responsibility for checking the translation before delivering it back to the client. Otherwise, said trusted colleague takes care of it all. I wouldn't really call it outsourcing per se, because it's among friends/colleagues.

Sanjin Grandić
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 14:33
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Apr 27, 2020

It depends on the reason why I can’t handle it. Is the project out of my area of expertise, is the project too big for me, or am I too busy? In the first instance, I'll turn it down explaining why and leaving the door open for future work or I’ll recommend someone else. In the second instance, I might set up a translation team and share the work with one or two trusted colleagues. In the third instance, if the work is coming from a loyal customer, I’ll try to negotiate a more manageable de... See more
It depends on the reason why I can’t handle it. Is the project out of my area of expertise, is the project too big for me, or am I too busy? In the first instance, I'll turn it down explaining why and leaving the door open for future work or I’ll recommend someone else. In the second instance, I might set up a translation team and share the work with one or two trusted colleagues. In the third instance, if the work is coming from a loyal customer, I’ll try to negotiate a more manageable deadline. Otherwise, it’s no…Collapse


Rita Utt
Vítor Cortes
 
Ivana Kahle
Ivana Kahle  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 15:33
Member (2007)
German to Croatian
+ ...
Negotiate a later deadline Apr 27, 2020

It's worth trying.

Josephine Cassar
Anastasia Kingsley Kinkusic
Michael Harris
 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Make them wait Apr 27, 2020

I tell them when they can have it.

What is there to negotiate???

Edit: Actually I might quote them an exorbitant rate to get it earlier. Also non-negotiable.

[Edited at 2020-04-27 13:17 GMT]


Dan Lucas
Sanjin Grandić
Michele Fauble
 
Ali Sharifi
Ali Sharifi  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:33
English to Persian (Farsi)
+ ...
It has never happened to me, Apr 27, 2020

It has never happened to me.

Linda Miranda
 
Aline Amorim
Aline Amorim  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 11:33
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Recommend a trusted colleague Apr 27, 2020

1º - It has never happened to me
2º - I Recommend a trusted colleague when it happens.


 
Márcio Clemente
Márcio Clemente  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 14:33
Member (2013)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Negotiate deadline Apr 27, 2020

I always negotiate the deadline. If that's not possible I just turn it down.

Elizabeth Tamblin
Adam Warren
 
Kevin Fulton
Kevin Fulton  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:33
German to English
I quote my rate Apr 27, 2020

I haven't had many new offers this year; my regular customers have kept me as busy as I want to be for the most part. I've referred inquiries to colleagues. In general, however, for the past several years I've found that rates sought by potential clients have been so low that negotiation would be a waste of time.

Chié_JP
 
Paul Dixon
Paul Dixon  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 11:33
Portuguese to English
+ ...
Try to fit it in Apr 27, 2020

The crisis is so bad in Brazil that if by some miracle I got more work than I could handle I would try to fit it in and, if this is not possible, negotiate the deadline. I would definitely not use MT.
As the text says 'MORE work than you can handle', I assume you can't handle it because of the volume, not because of other considerations like subject.
If I got work that I am not allowed to do for legal reasons (sworn translations - am not Brazilian, Peace Corps work - am not a US citi
... See more
The crisis is so bad in Brazil that if by some miracle I got more work than I could handle I would try to fit it in and, if this is not possible, negotiate the deadline. I would definitely not use MT.
As the text says 'MORE work than you can handle', I assume you can't handle it because of the volume, not because of other considerations like subject.
If I got work that I am not allowed to do for legal reasons (sworn translations - am not Brazilian, Peace Corps work - am not a US citizen) I would pass it to a trusted translator meeting the criteria. In the case of work I would not do for moral reasons (fundamentalist Christian texts, homophobic texts) I would probably just turn them down.
Collapse


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 11:33
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Three choices Apr 28, 2020

1. If I have time for part of it, I'll ask the client to divide it with a colleague (only with the client's prior approval);
2. If I don't have time for it, I can indicate a colleague, if the client wishes; or
3. I'll just say I'm sorry, and I can't take it.
Unfortunately, # 3 is more common. I wish it were the least common one.


 


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Poll: What do you usually do when offered more work than you can handle?






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