Poll: If a new agency asks you for references, do you: Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If a new agency asks you for references, do you:".
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In general, when I am approached by a potential client they have already done their homework or I have been recommended. Otherwise, I provide a link to my WWAs and/or to my website where I posted several references and samples of my work.
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I always tell them that the NDA's I've signed with my clients prevent me from giving their details. Whether it's true or not, I hope it sounds professional.
[Edited at 2021-08-26 09:12 GMT]
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Because of the NDA I sign with every new client/agency, I never give names or even contact details to new clients. I simply tell them the fields I have worked in, or the field of the end clients without revealing any information about their identity.
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Mario Freitas 
Brazil
Local time: 08:25
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| A few, but not always the same and not random | Aug 26, 2021 |
I always choose a few recent and regular clients who have known me for a while and who send me jobs regularly. Never clients that haven't shown up for more than a few months. Not always the same, because it happens frequently and you don't want to bother the same people every time.
But whenever I'm asked for this, I always paste the link for the ProZ WWA page, as there are more than 100 past clients with positive reviews they can check in the same place.
As a matter of fact, clients... See more I always choose a few recent and regular clients who have known me for a while and who send me jobs regularly. Never clients that haven't shown up for more than a few months. Not always the same, because it happens frequently and you don't want to bother the same people every time.
But whenever I'm asked for this, I always paste the link for the ProZ WWA page, as there are more than 100 past clients with positive reviews they can check in the same place.
As a matter of fact, clients who ask for this are those who don't really know how to use search your ProZ profile. CV is there, referrals are there, sample translations are there, latest projects are there... and they keep asking for these things. Is it lack of know-how or just laziness?
PS: The NDAs we sign do not prevent us from getting referrals. You have to know how to interpret agreements and the law to know what you have the right to do, and the law is above any agreement.
[Edited at 2021-08-27 00:45 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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And send them the link to my WWAs,
| | | | | Ask for permission before. | Aug 26, 2021 |
Usually I ask my clients if they allow me to point them as references. When a new client asks for references it'll depend if I do have a solid reference that already agreed to it. So, it depends a lot.
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I never give clients' details to other clients, and if I am on good enough terms for a reference to be meaningful, then I do not want to risk losing a client. I do not know the new client yet, or whether they will actually send me any work, and once I actually lost a client after asking for a reference.
I can link to my WWAs, and I also explain that I am a Chartered Linguist. When I applied to become Chartered, I had to send two references to the Chartered Institute of Linguists - w... See more I never give clients' details to other clients, and if I am on good enough terms for a reference to be meaningful, then I do not want to risk losing a client. I do not know the new client yet, or whether they will actually send me any work, and once I actually lost a client after asking for a reference.
I can link to my WWAs, and I also explain that I am a Chartered Linguist. When I applied to become Chartered, I had to send two references to the Chartered Institute of Linguists - which is a professional body, and not a potential competitor to my clients, so they agreed.
If that is not enough, then I agree to do a test, but I never give references directly to clients. ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:25
Spanish to English
+ ...
I only work with one or two agencies, and on a very occasional basis. Since I don't rely on agencies for work, I tend not to jump through any hoops they might dangle.
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For all the reasons mentioned above. I also don't want to impose on my clients. Many years ago I named names and my client wrote a beautiful glowing letter on official stationery. I was embarrassed that I had taken up their time and resources for such an unimportant reason.
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 14:25
Member
English to Turkish
I wish more translation agencies would ask for references and vet the applicants thoroughly by contacting and checking their referees instead of allowing anyone and everyone into their books simply by clicking on the 'join us' button. At least this way real and proper translators would be less likely to be contacted for 'proofreading' awfully translated texts.
[Edited at 2021-08-27 08:30 GMT]
| | | | | There are better ways of checking credentials | Aug 27, 2021 |
Baran Keki wrote:
I wish more translation agencies would ask for references and vet the applicants thoroughly by contacting and checking their referees instead of allowing anyone and everyone into their books simply by clicking on the 'join us' button. At least this way real and proper translators would be less likely to be contacted for 'proofreading' awfully translated texts.
[Edited at 2021-08-27 08:30 GMT]
Agencies should certainly check the credentials of anyone they work with, and I send scans of relevant diplomas and certificates on request. Those can be verified. If I wanted to, I could get one of my friends to write me a reference - several could write a few lines of bullshit bingo and say nice things about me. But it would not be worth very much.
None of my good clients have asked for references, but they check on translators in other ways before sending translations out on the market. I have helped some of them with tests and QA myself.
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 14:25
Member
English to Turkish
| Of course, any kind of check is better | Aug 27, 2021 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
Agencies should certainly check the credentials of anyone they work with, and I send scans of relevant diplomas and certificates on request. Those can be verified. If I wanted to, I could get one of my friends to write me a reference - several could write a few lines of bullshit bingo and say nice things about me. But it would not be worth very much.
None of my good clients have asked for references, but they check on translators in other ways before sending translations out on the market. I have helped some of them with tests and QA myself.
than letting every Tom, Dick and Harry who clicked on the 'join us' button register and sending out job notifications to them on a first come first served basis.
Btw, by references, I meant bona fide Project Managers from translation agencies who have worked with you on a number of occasions and know about your quality as a translator. You can lie about your credentials, create fake resumes, get WWA reviews & ratings by agreeing to return the favor, but you can't produce a fake reference from an actual translation agency. They should have a genuine email address (not hotmail, gmail) and a telephone number (starting with a country code). And most important of all, they should agree to act as your referee.
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