More on unpaid translation trials
I recently blogged about doing unpaid trial translations, and an agency recently contacted me about doing one. The trial was for a job they were bidding on. It was a fairly technical document dealing with software engineering, something that's squarely in my field of expertise. I'd be happy to do this job if it came through.
But there was a snag: they didn't want to pay for the trial unless they got the job. I balked at this; firstly because the trial was somewhat long (3 pages), and secondly because I wasn't even guaranteed the job if I passed the trial (the agency has to compete with other bidders on quality and price).
So the risk-reward payoff was looking pretty poor, and I fired up my email program this morning intending to turn down the offer of the trial. But I was in for a pleasant surprise: the agency had decided to pay me for the trial after all!
Not to toot my own horn (well maybe just a little toot — toot!), but I think I'm probably better qualified than most to do this particular job. And that's the problem with unpaid trials from the buyer's perspective: you risk missing the most qualified people, who probably are able to fill their schedules with paying work.
Hi Ryan,
I couldn’t agree more. In the past year I have tried to finish some test translations for weeks on end, but paid work simply takes precedence and more likely than not I never get around to them. By the time things slow down I am too embarrassed to submit it with “Hi, remember me? You sent me a test translation four months ago? Well, here it is. Hope you like it.”
Jill