Poll: Which of these months are your busiest?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Mar 11, 2025

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which of these months are your busiest?".

This poll was originally submitted by Sittie Hane Mama. View the poll results »



 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 05:24
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
October-December Mar 11, 2025

Last year it was October-December, but this may vary from year to year. There's no pattern.

Sandra Boca
Sittie Hane Mama
expressisverbis
 
Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 05:24
English to Dutch
+ ...
October-December Mar 11, 2025

In most years, the last quarter is the busiest for me. I often have the impression that end clients set themselves a deadline of 31 December and when that deadline approaches, they all suddenly realise that means stuff needs to get translated and there is a scramble to get all documents translated before the end of the year.

Lieven Malaise
Sittie Hane Mama
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 04:24
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
. Mar 11, 2025

There is no pattern. Last year my busiest period was July to September…

Luca Adie
expressisverbis
Luis M. Sosa
 
Peter Simon
Peter Simon  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 05:24
English to Hungarian
+ ...
Absolutely... Mar 11, 2025

... no periodic pattern at all!

Agnes Fatrai
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
expressisverbis
Luis M. Sosa
Lingua 5B
 
Months not quarters Mar 11, 2025

My busiest months (average per month over the past 20 years) are March, May, September and October.
My slackest months are December, August, July and June.

October and December are both in the fourth quarter, and August and September are both in the third, so they sort of cancel each other out. This suggests that, in my case, my market (art and advertising) tends to work not so much in terms of quarters as in terms of months.

Still, with the last quarter as 100:<
... See more
My busiest months (average per month over the past 20 years) are March, May, September and October.
My slackest months are December, August, July and June.

October and December are both in the fourth quarter, and August and September are both in the third, so they sort of cancel each other out. This suggests that, in my case, my market (art and advertising) tends to work not so much in terms of quarters as in terms of months.

Still, with the last quarter as 100:

1st - 117
2nd - 114
3rd - 106
4th - 100

By comparison, over the past 20 years, if December is 100, then March is 161.
Collapse


 
Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:24
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Well, these are quarters, not months Mar 11, 2025

But in my case April and May.
Clear seasonality related to financial reporting.

Regards,
Dan


 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 04:24
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No pattern, but we see this: Mar 11, 2025

Some agencies only contact us when their "preferred" translators are unavailable, treating us like backup options rather than valued professionals.
This shows a lack of respect for long-term collaboration and professional relationships, and that's why I usually decline those offers.
If an agency doesn't consider me good enough for ongoing collaboration, then they shouldn't expect me to be their "emergency fix" or "firefighter" when it's convenient for them.
I agree with my col
... See more
Some agencies only contact us when their "preferred" translators are unavailable, treating us like backup options rather than valued professionals.
This shows a lack of respect for long-term collaboration and professional relationships, and that's why I usually decline those offers.
If an agency doesn't consider me good enough for ongoing collaboration, then they shouldn't expect me to be their "emergency fix" or "firefighter" when it's convenient for them.
I agree with my colleagues, I believe there isn't a typical pattern.
Collapse


Baran Keki
Elaine Ruby
Lingua 5B
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: Which of these months are your busiest?






PerfectIt
Check translations faster for consistency, quality and style guide compliance

PerfectIt helps professional translators deliver error-free documents in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. It helps improve consistency, ensure quality, and enforce style guides. ProZ members receive a 30% discount off individual purchases of PerfectIt.

More info »
Draftsmith
Edit Translations Faster With Affordable AI You Can Trust

Draftsmith is an affordable AI editing tool for busy translators. It works directly in Microsoft Word, supporting the way you work ProZ members receive a 20% discount on a single user subscription of Draftsmith.

More info »