How do you find out if an agency is reputable? 스레드 게시자: Teodora Gaydarova
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How do you find out if an agency is reputable when it doesn't have a proz.com, TranslatorsCafe or LinkedIn profile? Do you use any databases of blacklisted agencies?
I applied for a translation job recently and I was asked to translate 1000+ words as a test. It's highly unusual, and I can't find any info about the company.
| | | | | Some pointers | Jun 29, 2017 |
Teodora G wrote:
I applied for a translation job recently and I was asked to translate 1000+ words as a test. It's highly unusual, and I can't find any info about the company.
What more do you need to know about them? It's highly unusual because it's highly irregular and highly offensive to ask any professional to do so much for free (assuming it is a free test). An hour of work has to be an absolute limit, surely, and if a test is worth doing then it's worth doing well, not rushing it.
How do you find out if an agency is reputable when it doesn't have a proz.com, TranslatorsCafe or LinkedIn profile? Do you use any databases of blacklisted agencies?
There's at least one group in LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/grps/Unacceptable-Translation-Rates-Naming-Shaming-3415770/about? and probably some on Facebook and elsewhere. Also, Glassdoor may well give pointers. And there's Payment Practices.
But if to start with you're just wondering whether it's a scam, there are all sorts of other things to do in terms of checks. Start by visiting the Scam Centre, where there's a link to various Wikis about risk management: http://www.proz.com/about/translator-scam-alerts/
| | | | | That's not a test | Jun 29, 2017 |
I assume you mean +1000 word free test, am I right?
If that is so, it is not a test but a scam from the start. A test may be 100-200 words long, not more than that.
I would stay away from that agency.
| | | | Tony M
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As Walter syas, that is not a reputable agency, full stop!
Any reputable agency would volunteer verifiable information about the company; if you have to go and search for it yourself, then that is already a bad sign; the fact that you find none is a pretty clear indication this is not reputable.
There are other blacklists of known scammers — but this might not be a scammer, just a dodgy agency.
Either way, don't waste any more of your time on them, move o... See more As Walter syas, that is not a reputable agency, full stop!
Any reputable agency would volunteer verifiable information about the company; if you have to go and search for it yourself, then that is already a bad sign; the fact that you find none is a pretty clear indication this is not reputable.
There are other blacklists of known scammers — but this might not be a scammer, just a dodgy agency.
Either way, don't waste any more of your time on them, move on... ▲ Collapse
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| Ask in a Bulgarian translator forum | Jun 29, 2017 |
One of the ways to "find out" is to "judge them on their deeds", which means you don't need to waste any more time with the agency in question.
In addition to all the advice above I just wanted to add: find a Bulgarian translator's forum (or maybe a FB group nowadays) where you can ask about opinions on a specific agency, if the online info is insufficient or none. Especially for inquiries about agencies in Bulgaria it may be very useful. If you ask about a small agency, there's ver... See more One of the ways to "find out" is to "judge them on their deeds", which means you don't need to waste any more time with the agency in question.
In addition to all the advice above I just wanted to add: find a Bulgarian translator's forum (or maybe a FB group nowadays) where you can ask about opinions on a specific agency, if the online info is insufficient or none. Especially for inquiries about agencies in Bulgaria it may be very useful. If you ask about a small agency, there's very little chance anybody will know them on LinkedIn.... I always ask in a Czech forum - which doesn't mean I always get an answer. But I don't remember having ever started to work for any agency I haven't found a sufficient online info about nor received any feedback in the forum.... usually there were also some other suspicious signs - as after all, there're in you case too, a big, big red sign!
I definitely wouldn't want to work for such a client, even if I was in financial distress... too risky. ▲ Collapse
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I am just on Linkedin. Could you please tell me how I can inscribe on that group? I surely want to follow it.
Thanks,
Rob
| | | | | Good question | Jun 29, 2017 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
I am just on Linkedin. Could you please tell me how I can inscribe on that group? I surely want to follow it.
I really don't remember how I came to join. Can you not just request membership? If I can manage to sort out anything at all on a computer, you can guarantee it isn't difficult  .
| | | | | I received an invitation | Jun 29, 2017 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
I am just on Linkedin. Could you please tell me how I can inscribe on that group? I surely want to follow it.
Thanks,
Rob
Some time ago, I received an invitation to be part of the group. It has been very helpful. You can hit the button Ask to join, and I am sure an administrator would give you access.
Luxi
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Sheila Wilson wrote:
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
I am just on Linkedin. Could you please tell me how I can inscribe on that group? I surely want to follow it.
I really don't remember how I came to join. Can you not just request membership? If I can manage to sort out anything at all on a computer, you can guarantee it isn't difficult .
I couldn't find the group on Linkedin, but clicked on your link and voila! I asked to join. Lets see what is happening.
| | | | | Oops - don't tell everyone! | Jun 30, 2017 |
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
I couldn't find the group on Linkedin, but clicked on your link and voila! I asked to join. Lets see what is happening.
I hope I haven't broken any rules by sharing the link. Of course you'll be accepted as freelance translators, but I know they want to keep out representatives of those agencies who have a bad reputation and are often discussed there.
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