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Poll: Do you like working with companies that have a dedicated Vendor Manager? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you like working with companies that have a dedicated Vendor Manager?".
This poll was originally submitted by Diego_CW. View the poll results »
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I’ve always found that the existence of a vendor manager or a vendor management team is a sure-fire sign of a company that doesn’t give two hoots about its suppliers. PS I really hate being called a vendor. PPS Just to elaborate, an agency with a good relationship between PMs and translators doesn't need vendor managers.
[Edited at 2020-10-15 09:53 GMT] | | |
neilmac Spain Local time: 04:49 Spanish to English + ...
I only work with one agency, very occasionally (only once this year, a small job) and they don't have a vendor manager. I also hate being called a vendor and dislike its current widespread use as synonymous with "supplier". To me, the most frequent collocation with "vendor" would be peanut/ice cream, and I've always associated it with street sellers, or maybe vending machines. | | |
Mervyn Henderson (X) Spain Local time: 04:49 Spanish to English + ... Down with vendors | Oct 15, 2020 |
#Metoo. But it's better than being called a "customer" by your own customer, which I've experienced too. | |
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I also hate being called a linguist | Oct 15, 2020 |
Chris S wrote: PS I really hate being called a vendor. which seems to have come into fashion lately. I'm not a linguist, I'm a translator! | | |
Kevin Fulton United States Local time: 22:49 German to English My own experience | Oct 16, 2020 |
About 15 years ago I started working for an agency with an identifiable "vendor manager". Others had "recruitment managers" or others with similar titles – but with similar functions. This agency sent its "vendors" candy and cards at Christmas. Over time the agency sent me to Germany twice to meet its end clients, and even flew me at no little expense to their main office to meet the in-house staff. The candy and cards stopped along with a change in management. In accounting terms, I'm ... See more About 15 years ago I started working for an agency with an identifiable "vendor manager". Others had "recruitment managers" or others with similar titles – but with similar functions. This agency sent its "vendors" candy and cards at Christmas. Over time the agency sent me to Germany twice to meet its end clients, and even flew me at no little expense to their main office to meet the in-house staff. The candy and cards stopped along with a change in management. In accounting terms, I'm classified along with the internet provider, the copy machine repair company and the guy who delivers bottled water. What matters to me is the ongoing work I receive paid in a timely manner. My point is that "vendor" is just a bookkeeping entry title. It doesn't matter what an agency calls you on its books if it respects you, pays on time and sends you work. In the same vein, I don't care whether my German clients call me "Dr. Fulton", "Mr. Fulton" or even "Kevin" and use the familiar form of address. The affirmation I expect is regular work paid at my rate on time. ▲ Collapse | | |
The concept is new to me. My main clients are organizations with human resources offices that handle the contracts. | | |
What is a vendor manager? | Oct 16, 2020 |
I don't think I ever encountered one of those. | |
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Mario Freitas Brazil Local time: 23:49 Member (2014) English to Portuguese + ... Not when they are not for real | Oct 16, 2020 |
No, because I'm sick and tired of seeing people who use the titles "Project Manager" or "Vendor Manager" who can barely understand what you tell them. These titles have become a mere ornament, in most cases, to use a nicer title than "assistant". | | |
Liena Vijupe Latvia Local time: 05:49 Member (2014) French to Latvian + ...
I said no, because I find in unnecessary (usually they just send me spam they call "newsletters" or ask for information updates), but I'm actually rather indifferent. My regular clients don't seem to have vendor managers or I never hear from them if they do. I also don't really care what they call me as long as they keep sending me work and I enjoy working with them otherwise ("you may call me a pot, just don't put in the oven" is how the saying goes over here). | | |
Tom in London United Kingdom Local time: 03:49 Member (2008) Italian to English
I have no idea what a "Vendor Manager" is, and I suspect I don't want to know. | | |
Corbett AM Ireland Local time: 03:49 French to English + ... Talent Agent ... | Oct 16, 2020 |
... another dubious title, whether for a translation agency or a general recruitment agency. I feel like I am about to be asked to sign up and give my life away like say pop idols, the people you would most associate with talent agencies - though actors sign up to them too - do when they are signed up by talent agencies. Individual translators who work for themselves yet call themselves CEOs also make me wonder. Chief Executive Officer implies that you are the chief /most sen... See more ... another dubious title, whether for a translation agency or a general recruitment agency. I feel like I am about to be asked to sign up and give my life away like say pop idols, the people you would most associate with talent agencies - though actors sign up to them too - do when they are signed up by talent agencies. Individual translators who work for themselves yet call themselves CEOs also make me wonder. Chief Executive Officer implies that you are the chief /most senior officer of many Executive Officers and if you work for yourself - even if you outsource - you are really only senior to imaginary staff members (a 'Don't worry if seem to be talking to myself, I'm having a staff meeting' type of thing only they take it a step further). To go back to the poll question, I also hate the title 'vendor manager' and yes it does show little concern for the translator and the work they do as well as the client. Many translation agencies also act like general recruitment agencies i find which is why they give their staff members these titles. That said, translation agencies who don't give themselves these titles or try to look bigger than they are in status can be no different to those that do in their way of dealing with translators. They can be just as easy or difficult to deal with.
[Edited at 2020-10-16 09:33 GMT] ▲ Collapse | |
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Corbett AM Ireland Local time: 03:49 French to English + ... Forgot to add... | Oct 16, 2020 |
... I know we have to wear many hats working for ourselves - translator, marketer, accountant, etc, but generally a self-employed translator in their 'office' (some don't even have that) is just one person and so CEO is still a bit of a stretch.
[Edited at 2020-10-16 09:32 GMT] | | |
Names is for tombstones, baby | Oct 16, 2020 |
I don't care much what title people give me. You can call me vendor, linguist, resource, wolpertinger or whatnot, if it makes you happy, as long as you pay my rates. Companies that have a dedicated "vendor manager" tend to be bigger shops, often with more red tape and rules and workflows that are optimized for their own purposes and not for the purposes of translators, so they might not be the companies I like best, but it always depends on the individual agency. I like it best to work with good... See more I don't care much what title people give me. You can call me vendor, linguist, resource, wolpertinger or whatnot, if it makes you happy, as long as you pay my rates. Companies that have a dedicated "vendor manager" tend to be bigger shops, often with more red tape and rules and workflows that are optimized for their own purposes and not for the purposes of translators, so they might not be the companies I like best, but it always depends on the individual agency. I like it best to work with good project managers who know what they do, know their translators and don't change every few months. ▲ Collapse | | |
Lingua 5B Bosnia and Herzegovina Local time: 04:49 Member (2009) English to Croatian + ... It doesn't make much difference. | Oct 16, 2020 |
Based on my experience, no difference between those that do and those that don't in terms of efficiency. | | |
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