posted 02 November 2001 14:47            

I am wondering if someone who has more experience with agencies can explain this to me. A while back I applied to an agency and got a favorable response - the usual note saying that they were happy with the test I provided, and they would contact me if an appropriate project came along. Well, since then I have not heard from them, but they have advertised for translators with the same qualifications several times in a public forum. I am assuming that although they liked my sample translation, I am probably too expensive (I generally work for direct clients and a few specialized agencies). Could there be anything else? The only other thing that I could think of was that they see jobs in the pipeline in this area and want to have a group of translators in their database ready to take it on. Should I remind them of my existence, or would that be being pesky?

posted 04 November 2001 20:22            

quote:

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I am assuming that although they liked my sample translation, I am probably too expensive (I generally work for direct clients and a few specialized agencies).

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I think you might've hit the nail on the head there. Many agencies operate on very small profit margins, and any translator charging too much more than what the agencies would call "average" just won't get any work. From my own experience of agency work, translators who work mainly with direct clients tend to be quite a lot more expensive than translators who work with agencies, in some cases charging more than the agency charges its clients!

There's no harm in reminding them that you should be on their database, though. With agencies, timing is everything - if your CV is the one that drops onto the database manager's desk the day they need your language combination, then great! If you know they're getting work in your combination and haven't approached you, reminding them that your CV is in their heap somewhere can't hurt (send them another CV, too - it's not always easy to find them when you want them!). CVs may not be added to the database straight away, simply because agencies receive so many of them, and if they're busy then they get "filed" (read: put in a heap for later!) instead. So reminding the agency of your existence can't hurt.

But the bottom line is, if you cost too much, they won't use you. If you're keen to pick up agency clients, why not apply a different rate to them? I used to find it terribly frustrating when I contacted translators - not necessarily specialists, or with unusual combinations - only to find their rates were absolutely enormous, and they wouldn't cut the rate for agencies, although agencies do generally add value (well, the good ones do anyway!) and take the rap if things go wrong. It just made me think that hey, here's a really inflexible person who I wouldn't work with if they were the last translator left on this earth. Not great for PR, really...

I ought to mention a similar experience I had. An agency approached me for my details, and since then has advertised for exactly my qualifications in a public forum. And why don't they work with me? Because they pay less than half what I charge - and I do work at agency rates. Not to put too fine a point on it, they seem to pay people a pittance (and, so I've heard, fail to pay up at all on occasions).

You could even just reply to the next job offer they post in a public forum. As you've done a test piece, why not remind them that they were happy with it? You never know - if you don't ask, you don't get!

But I would certainly look at the pricing thing. Maybe even call them, tell them what you've said here and ask whether the rate is the problem? (Depends how approachable they are and how brave you are! )

Good luck! Let us know how you get on!

All the best

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