Just a warning.

Again and again (and again today)  I have come across the demand that an unpaid, one-page test translation must be returned right away, immediately or on the same day it is received.

What this tells me almost without exception is that the agency is likely to use the test translation as part of a job.

You get page five, I get page 9 while other service providers (desperate for work) get one page each, and voila --- 18 pages of a tourism translation is managed completely free of charge.

Don't fall for it - please.  

Nanna

I agree with Nana. I think such long tests are just a way of getting the job for free.

I don't agree with tests.  As many colleagues have already said, we are professionals and no one is going to ask a doctor or a lawyer for tests before they hire them, so why they should ask us? Our qualifications should be enough as well as they are for all the other qualified professionals.

But as a "newbie" translator I'm also aware of the insecurity and fear one feels of refusing a test thinking it may lead to loosing jobs. But regarding to that I think if we want to prove the quality of our skills, the only way is working hard and get a good reputation in the market. I don't believe a test will do so.

Regards

Cátia Cassiano

Originally written by Cátia Cassiano on September 8, 2009 4:32 AM But as a "newbie" translator I'm also aware of the insecurity and fear one feels of refusing a test thinking it may lead to loosing jobs. But regarding to that I think if we want to prove the quality of our skills, the only way is working hard and get a good reputation in the market. I don't believe a test will do so. Regards Cátia Cassiano

It may be useful to know that corporate ATA members commit themselves not to ask potential outsourcees to do free translation tests (see https://www.atanet.org/membership/code_of_professional_conduct.php, point II D).  My commercial argument against translation tests would now be: "Well, this idea of free tests is disapproved by the ATA, so why should I agree with it?", even if neither me, nor the outsourcer are actually ATA members...