posted 12 June 2001 21:03            

I thought the article in Tranfree 33 about doing business with relatives was interesting. I have another angle on this issue I'd like to discuss: what about giving work to/recommending fellow translators who are friends and acquaintances from conferences, etc.? How can you actually tell what the quality of their translations is before you recommend them or give them work? How do you broach this sensitive topic with someone you like personally? There are pitfalls here, too, because you could lose the trust of a customer or damage your reputation if the person you recommended does not work out.

I have not yet confronted this issue directly since I don't subcontract work, but I have received work from/been recommended to others by acquaintances and friends, not all of whom had actually seen the quality of my work for themselves beforehand. I always offer a short test translation to the person who contacts me so that they have an "escape hatch" if I am not what they are looking for despite the recommendation. (Luckily this has not happened yet! :-) )The reason I do this is that in my former capacity as a PM, I saw people with impeccable and impressive resumes submit test translations that were essentially garbage, so I like to give people a chance to see my work before taking the plunge.

I would be interested to know how others handle this issue - after all, at the last conference I attended, business cards were flying (along with promises of recommendations...)

posted 30 June 2001 19:06            

When I suggest people whose work I have not seen (because I know that they do the language combination and the subject), I always tell the potential client that I have never seen their work and so the client will have to evaluate their credentials as usual. I will add something like "But he/she seems reasonable in net discusssions" or "He/she writes English remarkably well, even though it isn't his/her native language" or "His/her answers to questions about terms are always right on the mark" or whatever else it is about them that makes me feel comfortable at least suggesting them to someone who obviously has a rolodex that isn't full enough...

If I've actually seen their work (e.g., if I've proofread/edited it), then I will mention that specifically (since of course if their work were HORRIBLE and I knew it, I never would suggest them....). Then I'm free to lavish praise on them etc. from personal experience.