Agencies –
for many translators and interpreters, it almost seems to be a dirty word,
probably because of the bad experiences they had with them.
for many translators and interpreters, it almost seems to be a dirty word,
probably because of the bad experiences they had with them.
I know
there are many different types of agencies out there, and so far I’ve had the
great fortune to work with mostly those that are worth the name, not what I
call “re-bagers” (“Umtüter” in German), meaning someone who simply passes a
job on to the translator or interpreter without adding any value, yet pocketing
money for it anyway.
there are many different types of agencies out there, and so far I’ve had the
great fortune to work with mostly those that are worth the name, not what I
call “re-bagers” (“Umtüter” in German), meaning someone who simply passes a
job on to the translator or interpreter without adding any value, yet pocketing
money for it anyway.
True, I’ve
encountered some I only worked for once, mostly because of their payment
practices, but I put that down as a learning experience and moved on. All of
the agencies I work with now are “true” agencies, doing what you would expect
from an agency: supplying glossaries, translation memories and reference
material, answering questions, and acting as mediators between the end customer
and the translator, in addition to acquiring the customers, and of course,
paying acceptable prices.
encountered some I only worked for once, mostly because of their payment
practices, but I put that down as a learning experience and moved on. All of
the agencies I work with now are “true” agencies, doing what you would expect
from an agency: supplying glossaries, translation memories and reference
material, answering questions, and acting as mediators between the end customer
and the translator, in addition to acquiring the customers, and of course,
paying acceptable prices.
Naturally,
I have to do my part, too: I’d rather ask too many questions than do something
wrong, inform the project managers of any and all problems, especially when
they might affect the deadline, and of course answer e-mails in a timely and
courteous manner.
I have to do my part, too: I’d rather ask too many questions than do something
wrong, inform the project managers of any and all problems, especially when
they might affect the deadline, and of course answer e-mails in a timely and
courteous manner.
Because the
most important component in a successful business relationship (and not only in
those) is without a doubt communication. Which has to go both ways, obviously!
most important component in a successful business relationship (and not only in
those) is without a doubt communication. Which has to go both ways, obviously!
I am always
happy to find new agencies to work with – if the relationship is a mutually
agreeable one! Last week, I was approached by two different ones that both
asked me to do some interpreting work for them.
happy to find new agencies to work with – if the relationship is a mutually
agreeable one! Last week, I was approached by two different ones that both
asked me to do some interpreting work for them.
The first
one called me, followed by an e-mail exchange containing the pertinent
information on them and the proposed job and the request to prepare a quote, the
receipt of which was acknowledged. A few days later, I received the
confirmation that the agency’s quote to the customer (it involved a total of eight interpreters) was accepted and the job would take place, as well as an e-mail
with the first batch of reference material. That is what it should be like,
especially when dealing with a new agency: Both ends did their part, supplied
the necessary information in writing, so that really not much could go wrong
anymore. (Except the usual, but that is just a chance you have to take with any
new partner, business or otherwise.)
one called me, followed by an e-mail exchange containing the pertinent
information on them and the proposed job and the request to prepare a quote, the
receipt of which was acknowledged. A few days later, I received the
confirmation that the agency’s quote to the customer (it involved a total of eight interpreters) was accepted and the job would take place, as well as an e-mail
with the first batch of reference material. That is what it should be like,
especially when dealing with a new agency: Both ends did their part, supplied
the necessary information in writing, so that really not much could go wrong
anymore. (Except the usual, but that is just a chance you have to take with any
new partner, business or otherwise.)
The other
agency contacted me via e-mail on Thursday. The requirement was for an
interpreter the following Monday at a place about 130km away. They asked for a quote, which I sent them within the hour, after having asked a few more
questions and received answers from them, all via e-mail. I received the
confirmation of receipt, which my e-mail program requests automatically, and
waited. And waited. And waited.
agency contacted me via e-mail on Thursday. The requirement was for an
interpreter the following Monday at a place about 130km away. They asked for a quote, which I sent them within the hour, after having asked a few more
questions and received answers from them, all via e-mail. I received the
confirmation of receipt, which my e-mail program requests automatically, and
waited. And waited. And waited.
After I had
not heard anything by noon on Friday, I wrote another e-mail asking whether my quote had met their approval or not, and whether they required my services
on Monday – after all, I have to be able to plan my week, too.
not heard anything by noon on Friday, I wrote another e-mail asking whether my quote had met their approval or not, and whether they required my services
on Monday – after all, I have to be able to plan my week, too.
I received
the confirmation that my e-mail had been received (and presumably read) –AND
NOTHING MORE! Not a word from the agency at all! If I was too expensive for
them (which is altogether possible, especially considering the distance I would
have had to drive and charge for), the least they could have done was to tell
me so, especially after I wrote them again, asking for that information?! Is
that too much to ask? I did them the courtesy to answer their request quickly,
particularly since it was such short notice, why could they not do the same for
me? Besides being very discourteous, it is also extremely unprofessional.
the confirmation that my e-mail had been received (and presumably read) –AND
NOTHING MORE! Not a word from the agency at all! If I was too expensive for
them (which is altogether possible, especially considering the distance I would
have had to drive and charge for), the least they could have done was to tell
me so, especially after I wrote them again, asking for that information?! Is
that too much to ask? I did them the courtesy to answer their request quickly,
particularly since it was such short notice, why could they not do the same for
me? Besides being very discourteous, it is also extremely unprofessional.
Even if
they had not gotten back to me until several days later – who knows what may
have happened: a power outage at the office, a computer failure, sudden illness
-, at least they could have let me know. True, there really is no excuse
nowadays to be so completely incommunicado, but I’m willing to give people the
benefit of the doubt. But they have not written or called, yet.
they had not gotten back to me until several days later – who knows what may
have happened: a power outage at the office, a computer failure, sudden illness
-, at least they could have let me know. True, there really is no excuse
nowadays to be so completely incommunicado, but I’m willing to give people the
benefit of the doubt. But they have not written or called, yet.
Needless to
say, should they ever approach me again, I will require quite a bit of
assurance before I consider working for them!
say, should they ever approach me again, I will require quite a bit of
assurance before I consider working for them!
What about
your experiences with agencies? How do you handle the communication issue? I’d
be curious to read about it in the comments below.
your experiences with agencies? How do you handle the communication issue? I’d
be curious to read about it in the comments below.