Forum: Japanese / 日本語
Topic: Handling agencies that believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity of 参考資料
Poster: Nadja Balogh
Post title: Keep hanging in there, it's just a matter of time
Hi JoBee,
I really feel for you and I know exactly what situation you're in because I've been there myself.
It might interest you to know that one agency which is now one of my favourite clients used to be a lot like the agency you describe - providing useless reference material which they expected me to follow slavishly, and if I didn't, I had to provide lengthy explanations as to why not.
As I was just starting out as a freelance translator at that time, I still had more time on my hands (and maybe more patience generally speaking, who knows), so I started pointing out all the flaws of their precious reference materials (they came from several different end clients).
At first they naturally weren't very pleased about this, but in the end it seems that some of what I said got through to them (or to somebody on the end client's side, who knows), because I could notice that they started to trust my judgment more and more. Today, our relationship is very relaxed and they are sending me lots of work - usually not of the type where the end client is of the reference-worshipping type.
So what I'm trying to say is, depending on the agency it may be worth going through this process.
That said, there are others which I was glad to say goodbye to as soon as I could afford to do so.
So, good luck to you, I'm sure it's going to work out just fine!
Topic: Handling agencies that believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity of 参考資料
Poster: Nadja Balogh
Post title: Keep hanging in there, it's just a matter of time
Hi JoBee,
I really feel for you and I know exactly what situation you're in because I've been there myself.
It might interest you to know that one agency which is now one of my favourite clients used to be a lot like the agency you describe - providing useless reference material which they expected me to follow slavishly, and if I didn't, I had to provide lengthy explanations as to why not.
As I was just starting out as a freelance translator at that time, I still had more time on my hands (and maybe more patience generally speaking, who knows), so I started pointing out all the flaws of their precious reference materials (they came from several different end clients).
At first they naturally weren't very pleased about this, but in the end it seems that some of what I said got through to them (or to somebody on the end client's side, who knows), because I could notice that they started to trust my judgment more and more. Today, our relationship is very relaxed and they are sending me lots of work - usually not of the type where the end client is of the reference-worshipping type.
So what I'm trying to say is, depending on the agency it may be worth going through this process.
That said, there are others which I was glad to say goodbye to as soon as I could afford to do so.
So, good luck to you, I'm sure it's going to work out just fine!