Poll: How many good reasons could you list for becoming a freelance translator/interpreter?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jan 31, 2010

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many good reasons could you list for becoming a freelance translator/interpreter?".

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Michael Harris
Michael Harris  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 09:49
Member (2006)
German to English
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Jan 31, 2010

The only negative thing is "TIME".

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 08:49
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Jan 31, 2010

1. You are your own boss
2. You have the freedom to balance work and personal life

3. You do something you enjoy

...


 
Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:49
Member (2006)
English to Polish
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Jan 31, 2010

10+ as well as against it...

 
Marlene Blanshay
Marlene Blanshay  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 03:49
Member (2009)
French to English
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

Own boss
Not having to go on job interviews

Can work your own hours

doing what you enjoy

not having to get dressed up

not commuting


 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 00:49
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

Freedom times 10+!
Freedom is priceless, in all its facets. The advantages of full-time employment are a steady income stream and health insurance. If those bases can be covered in a freelance business, everything else is gravy.



In a recent poll quite a few colleagues felt that freelancing was more stressful than working a regular day job. In some cases I think that could be a matter of thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. As far as I'm conc
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Freedom times 10+!
Freedom is priceless, in all its facets. The advantages of full-time employment are a steady income stream and health insurance. If those bases can be covered in a freelance business, everything else is gravy.



In a recent poll quite a few colleagues felt that freelancing was more stressful than working a regular day job. In some cases I think that could be a matter of thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. As far as I'm concerned, I came alive when I early-retired from my full-time office job.
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Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 09:49
English to Italian
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

true, even though "work your own hours" usually means "work more than you would if you were a 9-5 employee"

 
Brandis (X)
Brandis (X)
Local time: 09:49
English to German
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

An acumulation of working contacts and knoledge and tendencies of the agencies leads to a periodical offer. On the other side they are happy and so am I . It is somewhat funny though to get there, it had required a pool of information about language oriented people, for over 22 years of my time and i am sure it will continue. But the price of good expression ?? there is infact none. Brandis

 
Reed James
Reed James
Chile
Local time: 03:49
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

I said six to ten, but I am sure I could find more if I thought long enough. It is wonderful to be able to do things my way without having to ask for permission or being told what the best way to do something is. I never waste time with mandatory chit-chat you find at offices, and I am able to attend events when and as they happen: in the middle of the day. In short, freelancing is a way of life that accommodates your own personal pace.

 
Dor Zigdon Lax
Dor Zigdon Lax
Israel
Local time: 10:49
Member (2009)
English to Hebrew
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

1. Pay is okay (I know, not for everyone)
2. Work from home (for a single feline parent, that's a godsend)

3. Sometimes interesting

4. Make your own hours

5. Saying you're a translator sounds sharp

6. Develops linguistic skills

7. It's an important, satisfying profession (No wonder translators might be some of the few information age workers who remain in the same trade for so long)



On the downside there's only th
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1. Pay is okay (I know, not for everyone)
2. Work from home (for a single feline parent, that's a godsend)

3. Sometimes interesting

4. Make your own hours

5. Saying you're a translator sounds sharp

6. Develops linguistic skills

7. It's an important, satisfying profession (No wonder translators might be some of the few information age workers who remain in the same trade for so long)



On the downside there's only the hectic schedule (took my first anti-anxiety non-prescription calmer-downers today. cheers!)
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gcpradhan1
gcpradhan1
India
Japanese to English
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

1- Most important is freedom.I am my own boss !
2- Money is ok.

3- Flexibility of choices.

4- Chance to learn something new everyday.


 
Jacek Sierakowski
Jacek Sierakowski
Belgium
Local time: 09:49
English to French
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

All the above, plus not having to commute, no traffic jams, no rush hours.

 
DianeGM
DianeGM  Identity Verified
Local time: 10:49
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
www.proz.com/polls/3173 comments Feb 1, 2010

1. Freedom including chosing the jobs, rates, holidays, clients, times, etc as I want.
2. I work from home.

3. I can be there for my kids whenever they need me.

4. I work with languages I love in the fields I love (could do that as an employee and/or in other profesisons but not in conmbination with 1, 2, 3 and 5 - or I haven't found a way to do so yet... at least).

5. Challenge - never a dull moment, never a day like the last or the next & I learn
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1. Freedom including chosing the jobs, rates, holidays, clients, times, etc as I want.
2. I work from home.

3. I can be there for my kids whenever they need me.

4. I work with languages I love in the fields I love (could do that as an employee and/or in other profesisons but not in conmbination with 1, 2, 3 and 5 - or I haven't found a way to do so yet... at least).

5. Challenge - never a dull moment, never a day like the last or the next & I learn something new every day.



Wiht more free time I could think of more reasons ....
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Poll: How many good reasons could you list for becoming a freelance translator/interpreter?






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