Poll: Which personal characteristic has worked well for you in your career? Користувач, який розмістив тему: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which personal characteristic has worked well for you in your career?".
View the poll results »
| | | |
All of the above. I would add remaining composed in all situations and being honest, diplomatic and well-mannered…
[Edited at 2024-11-29 09:48 GMT]
| | | | Tom in London
Велика Британія
Local time: 23:05
Член (2008)
Італійська --> англійська
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which personal characteristic has worked well for you in your career?". View the poll results »
My irresistible charm.
| | | | | Welcome back! | Nov 29, 2024 |
Tom in London wrote:
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which personal characteristic has worked well for you in your career?". View the poll results »
My irresistible charm.
| | |
|
|
|
Kevin Fulton 
Сполученi Штати Америки
Local time: 19:05
німецька --> англійська
| Other – sheer luck | Nov 29, 2024 |
When I decided to try to work full-time as a translator in the mid-1980s, I bought a computer (running on a variant of CP/M), and joined a local computer club to gain expertise in operating the equipment. One of the members, a notoriously picky Prussian, owned a small translation/tech writing business. When he learned that I was trying to get into the translation business, he gave me a small job, translating a brochure for an upcoming auction in Germany. Over the years, he passed on his overflow... See more When I decided to try to work full-time as a translator in the mid-1980s, I bought a computer (running on a variant of CP/M), and joined a local computer club to gain expertise in operating the equipment. One of the members, a notoriously picky Prussian, owned a small translation/tech writing business. When he learned that I was trying to get into the translation business, he gave me a small job, translating a brochure for an upcoming auction in Germany. Over the years, he passed on his overflow and taught me a lot about translating and technical writing. Using him as a reference was useful in obtaining jobs from other local translation agencies, since if he repeatedly hired me, they assumed that I must be at least competent.
Early in this century, I stumbled across an agency that was affiliated with a division of large multinational corporation. Eventually this agency was bought by a larger firm which increased my opportunities; this, in turn led to colleagues' referrals to contacts at other agencies or direct clients. Consequently I rarely lacked for work, despite a absence of driving ambition or much more than a modicum of talent.
I was also very lucky to have good clients – only two real deadbeats: one skipped the country and was uncollectable; I had to hire an agency to pursue the other to recover a large sum.
However, I never developed many marketing skills, since the work came to me. I attended trade fairs, both in Europe and locally, mainly as a means of taking a tax deduction to take a "working" vacation or meet with friends. When I realized that I didn't possess the skills to cope with the current challenges, I called it quits, with no regrets.
[Edited at 2024-11-29 14:24 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Some of the above. But first of all, subject matter expertise...
| | | | Lingua 5B
Боснія і Герцеґовина
Local time: 00:05
Член (2009)
англійська --> Хорватська
+ ...
| Subject-matter | Nov 29, 2024 |
Is subject-matter a “personal” characteristic? Don’t think so. I think this is about your personality traits.
Can’t pinpoint just one characteristic.
| | | | | Autodidacticism ... | Nov 29, 2024 |
... is behind everything I've achieved in the last half century.
| | |
|
|
|
Gennady Lapardin
Росiйська Федерацiя
Local time: 02:05
Італійська --> російська
+ ...
| Attention to detail and two more skills | Nov 30, 2024 |
Attention to detail + adaptability to ever changing topics + curiosity/analytical research skills = my own formula of tasty cake, the skills wich are acquired through decades of intense work. The skill of patting-down one's pockets is out of my expertise
| | | | expressisverbis
Португалія
Local time: 23:05
Член (2015)
англійська --> португальська
+ ...
| All of them and... | Nov 30, 2024 |
... being humble, fair and honest.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Which personal characteristic has worked well for you in your career? | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
