Is there a list of translation agencies that provide tests for Freelancers? Thread poster: Joshua Gibbs
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I have worked for several agencies and private individuals both in the UK and Japan and passing tests set by companies has been one of the ways I have got work.
Is there a comprehensive list of translation agencies that provide in-house tests for translators available anywhere online?
| | | | | You must be one of a kind | Nov 7, 2012 |
Most - if not all - translation agencies so far that put me through tests, either:
- realized later that, as I was good enough to pass their test, I was also too expensive for their dire budget; or
- had no jobs for my language pair, and apparently neither for any other.
It looks as if they don't have money to buy a lamp, yet they go to a store and test all the lamps on the shelves ... See more Most - if not all - translation agencies so far that put me through tests, either:
- realized later that, as I was good enough to pass their test, I was also too expensive for their dire budget; or
- had no jobs for my language pair, and apparently neither for any other.
It looks as if they don't have money to buy a lamp, yet they go to a store and test all the lamps on the shelves there, just to do something. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Not sure, but... | Nov 7, 2012 |
it is indeed quite amazing the number of agencies (at least 20 thus far), who've written back to say words to the effect of "Congratulations on passing our test, we have now registered you on our database" and then have NEVER ONCE offered me any work. Leaving aside the few who never replied after I'd submitted my test, only ONE agency has ever said that I had been unsuccessful in the test (they also provided feedback to support their claim, which was not conclusive IMHO, but they obviously had b... See more it is indeed quite amazing the number of agencies (at least 20 thus far), who've written back to say words to the effect of "Congratulations on passing our test, we have now registered you on our database" and then have NEVER ONCE offered me any work. Leaving aside the few who never replied after I'd submitted my test, only ONE agency has ever said that I had been unsuccessful in the test (they also provided feedback to support their claim, which was not conclusive IMHO, but they obviously had blind faith in their proofreader).
So agency tests are not automatically a hurdle which, once crossed, will see you fighting off a constant stream of attractive job offers.
To return to your question, I do not know of any such list, but my experience is that most agencies set tests of some sort. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Having their cake and eating it too | Nov 7, 2012 |
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote: Most - if not all - translation agencies so far that put me through tests, either: - realized later that, as I was good enough to pass their test, I was also too expensive for their dire budget; or
- had no jobs for my language pair, and apparently neither for any other.
It looks as if they don't have money to buy a lamp, yet they go to a store and test all the lamps on the shelves there, just to do something.
Hah! My thoughts exactly! Well put Henrique - particularly the first paragraph; all of these agencies demand top-notch translation quality, but fail to offer the corresponding rates. I always discuss rates before making any tests.
[Edited at 2012-11-07 13:57 GMT]
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Neil Coffey 
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:20
French to English
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| Agree with the latter comments | Nov 7, 2012 |
I agree with the previous posters -- in my experience, there is generally a negative correlation between the amount of effort an agency is dedicating to its elaborate testing procedures and the amount of effort that it will be dedicating to actually supplying you with well-paid translation work.
Before undertaking any test, I would strongly advise you to try and get some assurance that (a) the test is actually in connection with a specific job that the agency imminently wishes to as... See more I agree with the previous posters -- in my experience, there is generally a negative correlation between the amount of effort an agency is dedicating to its elaborate testing procedures and the amount of effort that it will be dedicating to actually supplying you with well-paid translation work.
Before undertaking any test, I would strongly advise you to try and get some assurance that (a) the test is actually in connection with a specific job that the agency imminently wishes to assign to you and for which you are in principle their preferred candidate; (b) the job in question will have a decent rate attached to it.
If these aren't true, then I would at least quiz the agency further about what volume of work they realistically intend to assign to you in your area of specialisation and what their typical budget is. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 22:20
Member (2007)
English
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| Choose one agency; any agency... | Dec 24, 2012 |
Joshua Gibbs wrote:
Is there a comprehensive list of translation agencies that provide in-house tests for translators available anywhere online?
I'm sure any translation agency anywhere in the world will provide you with a text to translate for free if you ask nicely. And they'll thank you nicely and congratulate you on your effort. Then they'll file it away. Or maybe they'll sell it.
Seriously, Joshua, a job can certainly come following a good test result and I wouldn't advise anyone to just have a blanket ban on free tests, unless they're in the happy position of being inundated with interesting, well-paid work. But you can see from the response that it's a practice that's open to abuse. And it IS heavily abused.
So, by all means do free tests for those agencies who are giving you all the right vibes in your contact with them, but don't go searching to give your time for free to all and sundry. You'll just get hurt.
| | | | Marvin Sun
China
Local time: 05:20
English to Chinese
David Hayes wrote:
only ONE agency has ever said that I had been unsuccessful in the test (they also provided feedback to support their claim, which was not conclusive IMHO, but they obviously had blind faith in their proofreader).
In my experience, I was ever tested (legal document from English to Chinese) by an agency and told a failure to pass the test. I opened the feedback document and found something like (those examples may not be accurate, since my target language is Chinese):
"Good Faith (hereinafter referred to as ‘GF’)” is incorrect; the correct is “Good Faith (hereinafter ‘GF’)”;
“The city where the court is located” is incorrect, “the city in which the court is located” is correct.
The proofreader almost changed every sentence of my translation word by word; as long as there was a word different from his translation, he’d change it. Guess the agency didn’t know Chinese therefore they have to 100% trust their proofreaders.
There was another time I was sent a document containing contradictory Chinese sentences and obvious grammatical errors. I doubt some agencies’ attitudes towards translation test.
[Edited at 2012-12-24 12:54 GMT]
| | | | LouRou
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:20
Japanese to English
| I wonder if Japanese translation is different. | Sep 11, 2013 |
Hi Joshua,
I too am a Japanese to English translator, and have found almost all the work I have done has come to me after taking a translation test.
In fact, I don't know any Japanese translation agencies that will take somebody on without passing a test. I am wondering therefore if this is the norm with Japanese translations, even if it isn't for other languages.
However, I also agree with what others have said here.
I have passed every test I... See more Hi Joshua,
I too am a Japanese to English translator, and have found almost all the work I have done has come to me after taking a translation test.
In fact, I don't know any Japanese translation agencies that will take somebody on without passing a test. I am wondering therefore if this is the norm with Japanese translations, even if it isn't for other languages.
However, I also agree with what others have said here.
I have passed every test I've taken, but not every passed test has led to a job.
Sometimes you just get registered on their database, but most often I find that the problem is the rates offered, or the amount of "extras" some expect for a standard fee, particularly if the projects are relatively small as the "extras" can add so much time to your project.
I try therefore to clarify with the agency that my rates are satisfactory to them, and if they they can't at least give me a range that they will pay for translators (even if they can't give an exact figure as it's project dependent/dependent on quality), then I don't take the test.
As for the extras, that's something you can't tell until you start working with them.
Even if the rates etc are reasonable, they may not have the amount of work that justifies your initial investment in taking tests, particularly if the tests are very extensive.
Frustrating, yes, but it seems to go with the territory. ▲ Collapse
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