Dear Steven,

I agree with you in that a professional translator should
seldom/never do free sample translation. Based on my experience, 99%
of sample translation work request are scams. Such agencies divide a
large file among many translators (usually 5-6 pages or more) and
hire one proofreader so that the work can be done with a minimal
cost.

There are other ways to prove that you are qualified. You can provide
references. You can offer to email your previous translation work.
(if it is not confidential) You can send a copy of a certification in
translation. (ATA, state court, State Department, etc.)

However, there are some reputable companies that want to have a
sample translation. (and if the prospect for getting that job is
good) In that case, I would offer to do 200 words or less, and
charge a minimum fee. If they are genuinly interested in getting good
translators for their project. They usually do not mind paying a
small fee to a few translators out of respect.


Jisu Kim



--- In ataKorean@yahoogroups.com, "Steven S. Bammel" <sbammel@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Kipyo,
>
> I think the answer here is to seldom/never do free trial
translations.
>
> If a potential client can persuade me that a trial is needed for a
specific
> job, I'll offer to do it at a slight discount, but certainly not
free. It
> also had better be short. Otherwise, if they can just send these
things out
> for nothing, what's keeping them from wasting the time of 1,000
translators
> on a phantom job that may never materialize?
>
> My thought is that serious clients won't waste your time like that.
>
> Steven Bammel
>
> Steven S. Bammel, President
> Korean Consulting & Translation Service, Inc.
> Email: sbammel@...
> SDL Trados Certified (Advanced Level - Version 2007)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ataKorean@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ataKorean@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf
> Of tli7773
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 3:58 PM
> To: ataKorean@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ataKorean] Sample Translations
>
> Dear Colleagues:
>
> I would need your advise on sample translations. Some companies
have
> been providing me sample translations from their own test samples
while
> the other companies provided me their sample translations from any
> sources such as legal, mining, etc. Sometimes, the smaple
translation
> comes to my e-mail address as PDF format, which it looked like a
> scanned copy from a book or document, instead of neat and legible
word
> format.
>
> I usually return sample translations to them within the due date,
but I
> never heard back from them. Not even once! Therefore, it leads me
to
> doubt whether they provide me an actual project as a sample
translation
> and make money out of my sample translations. They usually promise
to
> respond to my sample within a few weeks whether it is acceptable or
> not, but they never kept that promise either.
>
> I also work with big translation companies, but they never have
> requested sample translations. They usually provide me trainings
or
> instructions rather.
>
> I know each one of you are very busy, but.... If one of you had
> similar experiences, suggestions or comments, your feedback would
be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Kipyo Alexander Han
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>