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clau1198
Community Member

Writers and translators

I  translated a book which is currently at Amazon, a sample of which I always attach when I bid. Morever, I also show the links of a website that I´m writing in english with a good acceptance... If that´s not a portaofalio I really don´t know what could be! I´m Very dissaponted about upwork or maybe it´s just about there are too many writers and translators... No pay no gain

21 REPLIES 21
amaechi-amaechi
Community Member

Hi!

The US govt. Shutdown only just recently ended, and it cost the economy 11 billion dollars.

Folks are still reeling from the shock. Consumer confidence is still quite low, and things are only just starting to get back to normal. But there are still fears that another shutdown will happen on the 15th, so nobody is sure yet.

Since most Upwork clients are from the US, most of these tremors in the economy will have ripple effects in your Upwork job feed, and in clients' propensity to hire.

All you have to do is exercise some patience, and hope that common sense will prevail in the US polity so we don't have another shutdown on the 15th of this month.

Claudio lives in Venezuela.

 

I'm pretty sure he has more pressing things to worry about than a partial govt. shutdown in the U.S.

that´s the problem. i really need to work but what else!


Preston H wrote:

Claudio lives in Venezuela.

 

I'm pretty sure he has more pressing things to worry about than a partial govt. shutdown in the U.S.


Amaechi A wrote: "Since most Upwork clients are from the US, most of these tremors in the economy will have ripple effects in your Upwork job feed, and in clients' propensity to hire."

 

Preston,

 

I'm not sure what part of the above—which is a well-established fact, and relevant to success on Upwork regardless of where one lives, and regardless of passing political and economic storms elsewhere—escaped your notice.

 

Best,

Michael

Yes, I agree that Upwork is a blessing to the people in Venezuela, and is even more beneficial to them when U.S.-based clients are hiring and paying Venezuelan freelancers in larger numbers.

 

Of course, the work that that U.S. leaders are doing to help Venezuela out of their current predicament far exceeds the benefit that Upwork provides to Venezuela. I'm sure that we all can agree that we want things to get better there. With the news from the past week, it looks like things ARE looking up in that country.

clau1198
Community Member

It´s been almost impossible for me to get a job here as a writer and/or translator, although I have 6 years of experience and a good profile. I give up

If you think you do excellent work, you should raise your standard hourly rate - substantially.

 

I won't pretend to know the "right" rate for the jobs you want to win, but try lifting the standard rate on your profile to, say, $30 per hour and then apply for different jobs at rates ranging from $20 per hour to $30 per hour and see if you start getting some responses and whether there is a pattern for which range of prices get you the most income (not the most jobs, but the most income). One of the hardest things for any new freelancer is finding the sweet spot for their pricing - it's pretty much a guessing game until you start having some success, especially if you don't do the same work in the offline world..

 

Upwork's predecessor made the pricing of winning bids public, which was big help in understanding where your own proposal fit in within the range of all proposals on a particular project. Upwork, for reasons unknown, has never had this feature.

 

Another thing to consider is how to accomodate clients who want to price their projects in terms of cost per word/fixed pricing, rather than an hourly arrangement. I have never dealt with this sector, but maybe someone else here can give you some insights into how clients want their translation projects priced. 

 

Good luck.

Sorry, but I don´t like you ironic speech about rising my rate. The best way to start wining jobs is by means of low rates and quality, then I could rise my rate. I know how to work

petra_r
Community Member


Claudio A wrote:

Sorry, but I don´t like you ironic speech about rising my rate. The best way to start wining jobs is by means of low rates


You are very, very, very wrong. Will wasn't being ironic, he was right (well, partly. You ARE way too cheap which results in clients thinking you are either desperate or a low quality freelancer.)

I don't think South American English is well priced at $ 30 plus when you are starting out, but certainly way more than you are charging right now. Do your research. I would suggest nothing less than $ 15 an hour.

 

Go ahead and be snarky and ungrateful for very good advice given to you. See where it gets you. Exactly where you are now: NOWHERE.

 


Claudio A wrote:

Sorry?

What work could I show if I haven´t got any?


Duh? Whatever work you have done. Or translate something specifically for your portfolio

 


Claudio A wrote:

Moreover I show samples of my previous jobs in every bid I send!


Pointless if your proposal isn't being read.  Portfolio items belong in your portfolio.

 


Claudio A wrote:

Seems like if you don´t pay upwork you don´t get anything...


Nonsense again.

 

clau1198
Community Member

Sorry but low rates is the technic that I´ve employed in other freelance websites with excellent results.

 That´s the best way to start and build reputation I really don´t know why it doesn´t work here...

petra_r
Community Member


Claudio A wrote:

Sorry but low rates is the technic that I´ve employed in other freelance websites with excellent results.

 That´s the best way to start and build reputation I really don´t know why it doesn´t work here...


Chances are it worked on low quality sites where clients just want the cheapest nonsense.

 

Those are likely also the kind of websites where you may get away with translating into your non-native language. This will also end in tears here.

 

clau1198
Community Member

I have translated a book which is currently at Amazon, a sample of which I always attach when I bid. Morever, I also show the links of a website that I´m writing in english with a good acceptance... If that´s not a portaofalio I really don´t know what could be! I´m Very dissaponted about upwork


Claudio A wrote:

I have translated a book which is currently at Amazon, a sample of which I always attach when I bid. Morever, I also show the links of a website that I´m writing in english with a good acceptance... If that´s not a portaofalio I really don´t know what could be! I´m Very dissaponted about upwork


Claudio,

if the sample in your portfolio is ment serious, I would not hire you for translations into English. There are just too many mistakes. If you want to translate novels, translate into Spanish. There is a market and you might be able to stand out. But this is not good enough and will only hurt your clients reputation:

 

When she was turning on a corner she saw a lady trying to cross the street. There was also a man walking hurriedly behind her in suspicious way.

thanks.... that´s totally right

 

Hi! Claudio.

Like someone else here mentioned, I think you need to specialise in English-Spanish, not Spanish-English.

 

While your English is rather good, it's still error-ridden both on your profile and here.

Most clients who post Spanish-English translations want someone who has native-level English skills, and won't tolerate one obvious error in your cover letter. This is clearly one reason why your cover letters aren't getting any responses.

Don't be frustrated.

Keep a good attitude. Things will turn out better for you soon.

Keep trying.

Writer, Social Media Manager


Claudio A wrote:

It´s been almost impossible for me to get a job here as a writer and/or translator, although I have 6 years of experience and a good profile. I give up


Well, sorry, you are not giving up, you never made an effort in the first place. A few sentences thrown out, no portfolio, no work examples, full of typos and errors.

You have not taken upwork seriously, how do you expect a client to take you seriously?

Claudio, besides using Martina's advice to better your profile, you should also try the relevant Upwork tests. If you're happy with the results, leave them under your profile, they will help prospective clients decide whether they should give you a job or not. If you're not happy with your results, you can hide them until you get a better mark.

 

Anyhow, getting started on Upwork is difficult, there's nothing unusual about your story.

Sorry?

What work could I show if I haven´t got any? Moreover I show samples of my previous jobs in every bid I send! Seems like if you don´t pay upwork you don´t get anything... Thanks god there are seious freelance websites!

Moreover it´s very unpolite from you to say a few sentences thrown

Hello,

 

I just visited your profile.

 

Here is what I will suggest. Spend time writing a one page profile of your skills, your work experience and your work culture. 

 

You can also leave the links to your personal website or blog to be used as a work sample. Go through Upwork Community so you can learn the tricks of the scammers so you can avoid wasting time working for them.

 

(I came to Upwork Community to check if I can learn from those who have been here before me how to be successful on Upwork, and avoid making the mistakes they made when they first joined Upwork)

You will hit gold. The money you got cheated out of will do no good for the one who cheated you. Forget about it and apply for other jobs.

Writer, Social Media Manager