Poll: Is your workload seasonal? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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no, but there are peaks aways in the same periods
| | | | | depends what you mean (as always!) | Dec 15, 2010 |
but as half of my source market goes to sleep in the second half of August and over Christmas/New year, then there are seasonal influences, yes.
| | | | | No, seasonal would imply a cycle | Dec 15, 2010 |
If it were seasonal, I'd be able to point peaks and valleys in specific seasons, or months of the year, or maybe specific weeks in any month. However I can't.
Either I have times, random weeks when there is no job deadline in sight, or I have times when several clients are fighting for my time. Those 'empty' weeks often include lots of estimates, proposals, etc., or I take the chance to do some market prospecting, new contacts, improving my web site, and so on.
The funn... See more If it were seasonal, I'd be able to point peaks and valleys in specific seasons, or months of the year, or maybe specific weeks in any month. However I can't.
Either I have times, random weeks when there is no job deadline in sight, or I have times when several clients are fighting for my time. Those 'empty' weeks often include lots of estimates, proposals, etc., or I take the chance to do some market prospecting, new contacts, improving my web site, and so on.
The funny thing is that all too often someone who asked me for a quote months (even years) ago suddenly reappears out of the blue, asking, "Do you remember me?" That long-gone quote turned into a top priority project. Some of these are of the type "We had found a more affordable solution, but it came out as a complete disaster, hence now we want to start it over with you."
The problem is that many clients expect translators to be fully available for them any time, all the time. When they come back to us after a few months' silence, they seem to feel slightly insulted that we found something else to do in the meantime. Well, the problem isn't in their expectations, but in the fact that - in spite of not knowing each other - they seem to be in cahoots for all of them to come back at the same time. An astrologer friend of mine might be able to explain this phenomenon mathematically, however this wouldn't help improving the situation. ▲ Collapse
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Susanna Martoni 
Italy
Local time: 13:45
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
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Seasonal influences as far as I am concerned.
| | | | Adnan Özdemir
Türkiye
Local time: 14:45
Member (2007)
German to Turkish
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| Seasonal? Regular? Irregular? | Dec 15, 2010 |
My translation workload:
Not seasonal
Not regular
Always irregular!
Sometimes makes me very happy, sometimes too bore me!
Saludos desde Turquía a todos
Türkiye'den herkese selamlar
[Edited at 2010-12-15 14:39 GMT]
| | | | | Irregular workload... | Dec 15, 2010 |
... with peaks on January, February and March!
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 13:45
English to French
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... fortunately - the bills I have to pay are not seasonal either (unfortunately)!
When one client has less (or nothing) to offer, another is eager to give me a workload and fill in my time.
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Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:45
Spanish to English
| My best months are... | Dec 15, 2010 |
usually the three leading up to August, when Spain shuts down for a month (or so). I attribute this to companies wanting to finish off projects before the long summer holiday. However, every year is different, and three years ago, for example, December was my best month. Swings and roundabouts. Also depends on exchange rate.
[Edited at 2010-12-15 11:26 GMT]
| | | | Elena Novski
Canada
Local time: 07:45
Russian to English
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Curiously, my summer months are the busiest. Over the years I am in the business, I have not found any distinct explanation to that phenomenon
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I have as many clients abroad as in my own country, so when it is vacation time here, I am usually working for some European, North American, or Australian agency/direct client.
There are, of course (and fortunately), periods when things slow down and I can take a break, but this is completely unpredictable.
Happy holidays to all of you!
| | | | awilliams
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:45
Italian to English
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| Completely unpredictable | Dec 15, 2010 |
I gave up trying to plan for dips in workload many moons ago - at one stage there was a lull in August to coincide with holidays in Italy but there was certainly no evidence of that this year. I haven't been able to pinpoint any patterns, so I book time off and stick to it regardless. The pre-Christmas rush 2010 has been quite hectic and was the same last year, so maybe a pattern is emerging there... See more I gave up trying to plan for dips in workload many moons ago - at one stage there was a lull in August to coincide with holidays in Italy but there was certainly no evidence of that this year. I haven't been able to pinpoint any patterns, so I book time off and stick to it regardless. The pre-Christmas rush 2010 has been quite hectic and was the same last year, so maybe a pattern is emerging there. I feel I've more than earnt my mince pie quota this year! ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:45
Spanish to English
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I dont really understand the question, but sort of agree with the No people above...
| | | | Rasha Samir
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 15:45
Arabic to English
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| unpredictable!! | Dec 16, 2010 |
It is an unpredictable business, this makes it good and bad in some way. But usually when i need work, i dont get some and end up doing nothing and some other times, I work endlessly with almost sleepless nights .. now am counting the stars .. no work for long:(
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