Poll: Do you think the number of WWA entries one has can influence an outsourcer's decision? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think the number of WWA entries one has can influence an outsourcer's decision?".
This poll was originally submitted by Berenice Font. View the poll results »
The WWA system is a ProZ.com feature that provides translators, interpreters and other service providers with a means of requesting, collecting and displ... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think the number of WWA entries one has can influence an outsourcer's decision?".
This poll was originally submitted by Berenice Font. View the poll results »
The WWA system is a ProZ.com feature that provides translators, interpreters and other service providers with a means of requesting, collecting and displaying in their profiles "Willingness to Work Again" ("WWA") feedback from clients and colleagues. See http://www.proz.com/faq/815#815 for more information. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 07:07
Member (2006)
German to English
| Yes, to a point | Nov 15, 2012 |
and, it depends.
I have two bad experiences wit the WWA button, after having outsourced work to them.
After receiving a translation back that was an appauling quality, I did look into what was behind the WWA entries and discovered that almost all were from people in their own country (- misuse??) and from a couple of other translators which I had problems with in the past (with regard to quality).
Since then, I have almost stopped outsourcing completely, an... See more and, it depends.
I have two bad experiences wit the WWA button, after having outsourced work to them.
After receiving a translation back that was an appauling quality, I did look into what was behind the WWA entries and discovered that almost all were from people in their own country (- misuse??) and from a couple of other translators which I had problems with in the past (with regard to quality).
Since then, I have almost stopped outsourcing completely, and if I do, then only to people I know are reliable - which are, unfortunately, few and far between.
And on the other hand, those people that I have had good experiences with, also have positive WWA entries, but from more reliable sources.
So, I do not just let myself get "blendet", but look at in more detail ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 07:07
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Yes, to a point | Nov 15, 2012 |
I suppose it depends on whether they can be bothered looking it up and how much store they set in what is really just a subjective appraisal from largely anonymous parties. What I mean is that even a mediocre or inept translator could get their pals to make positive entries to boost their visible profile, so as usual I maintain a healthy scepticism as to its true worth.
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 14:07
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
How can I tell? I don't have any WWA entries and I'm neither an outsourcer nor a mind reader. 
With regards to customers, I didn't get all of them from Proz, anyway. The few who found me here contacted me because of what's in my profile and online CV.
There really should have been a "Haven't the foggiest" option for this poll.
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It's definitely not an objective measure of professional skill but, together with other factors, it can show the outsourcer that the person can be trusted.
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I don't know what this is, so presumably neither will customers?
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Julian Holmes wrote: How can I tell? I don't have any WWA entries and I'm neither an outsourcer nor a mind reader. With regards to customers, I didn't get all of them from Proz, anyway. The few who found me here contacted me because of what's in my profile and online CV. There really should have been a "Haven't the foggiest" option for this poll.
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 06:07
| Yes, up to a point. | Nov 15, 2012 |
I think outsourcers may be positively influenced initially by the appearance of a cute little yellow (gold?) star on one's profile. It may boost the confidence of translators just starting out.
I stopped collecting them once I realised that my best clients selected me based on criteria which involved no stars at all. My best clients would be unwilling to give me a WWA, although they keep sending me work. I know they would be unwilling. I haven't asked them, but I know (confidentiali... See more I think outsourcers may be positively influenced initially by the appearance of a cute little yellow (gold?) star on one's profile. It may boost the confidence of translators just starting out.
I stopped collecting them once I realised that my best clients selected me based on criteria which involved no stars at all. My best clients would be unwilling to give me a WWA, although they keep sending me work. I know they would be unwilling. I haven't asked them, but I know (confidentiality and ridiculousness being the two suspected reasons). ▲ Collapse
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David Wright
Austria
Local time: 07:07
German to English
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| wonita (X)
China
Local time: 01:07
| To a certain point | Nov 15, 2012 |
One or two would be fine, but I am very skeptical about translators with many WWA entries, looks like those cheap agencies crammed with 5s.
[Edited at 2012-11-15 19:25 GMT]
| | | | | Not the number, but the poster | Nov 15, 2012 |
I'm not interested in the number of WWAs, but I do look at who gave them. Not all WWAs were created equal... 3 WWAs from respected colleagues who can actually judge the quality, based on long-term cooperation rather than a one-off job, tell me more than 10 WWAs that were obviously traded for a BB entry.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 07:07
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Susan van den Ende wrote:
I'm not interested in the number of WWAs, but I do look at who gave them. Not all WWAs were created equal... 3 WWAs from respected colleagues who can actually judge the quality, based on long-term cooperation rather than a one-off job, tell me more than 10 WWAs that were obviously traded for a BB entry.
Yes, it's the quality and not the quantity of WWAs that matters.
Some of my long-term clients have never thought about giving me a WWA, nor would I ask them to. My clients and I follow a different trail: theirs is being happy with the work I do for them, and me being happy about the continuous work they're sending me.
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DianeGM
Local time: 08:07
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
+ ...
| I don't know | Nov 15, 2012 |
Like most people responding here - I am a freelancer not an outsourcer.
The outsourcers who have approached me through Proz ususally stated that they were approaching me as my profile intially appeared to meet their search/needs. I don't know if my WWA was a factor, maybe it was, I don't know, but I doubt if it was the deciding factor.
Though the discusssion here seems to concern not does it influence... but should it influence .... i.e. whether someone's WWA is a reliable i... See more Like most people responding here - I am a freelancer not an outsourcer.
The outsourcers who have approached me through Proz ususally stated that they were approaching me as my profile intially appeared to meet their search/needs. I don't know if my WWA was a factor, maybe it was, I don't know, but I doubt if it was the deciding factor.
Though the discusssion here seems to concern not does it influence... but should it influence .... i.e. whether someone's WWA is a reliable indicator of the translator's professionalism and the quality of their translations. After all contractors can hide their WWAs if they choose to, outsourcers can't do that with BB entries - and from a Chomskian perspective that's a great thing, but it is a consideration all the same. ▲ Collapse
| | | | MTS LLC
United States
Local time: 00:07
Spanish to English
| Absolutely Yes! but..... | Nov 15, 2012 |
We outsource and have found many good translators on Proz. I think most of the previous comments mention a few good points. I think a wise outsourcer will look at the number of WWA as well as the quality. By quality I clearly mean from what outsourcer the WWA feedback is from. I feel better when I see other reputable translation companies posting WWA for a translator. I mean companies that I know have a solid process in place, so a poor translation won't cut it. Using this process I am happy to ... See more We outsource and have found many good translators on Proz. I think most of the previous comments mention a few good points. I think a wise outsourcer will look at the number of WWA as well as the quality. By quality I clearly mean from what outsourcer the WWA feedback is from. I feel better when I see other reputable translation companies posting WWA for a translator. I mean companies that I know have a solid process in place, so a poor translation won't cut it. Using this process I am happy to say we have rarely had issues with finding reliable quality translators.
The Proz WWA, is an excellent tool, but of course the outsourcers still has to use good judgement as he evaluates the information. I think linguists should take the time to ask their clients to post on their behalf whenever possible. Thanks Proz! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | WWA vs. KudoZ for order of results in directory searches | Nov 16, 2012 |
Despite the fact that it would invite much worse abuses and absurdities than the current system of (apparently) using (only) KudoZ to rank translators who meet all other criteria in a directory search, it might be worth considering using WWA or a mixture of both to do so. WWA is probably a more relevant criterium for ranking.
I don't think that I have ever been found by a potential client that I was willing to work for through ProZ, although I have occasionally received requests for... See more Despite the fact that it would invite much worse abuses and absurdities than the current system of (apparently) using (only) KudoZ to rank translators who meet all other criteria in a directory search, it might be worth considering using WWA or a mixture of both to do so. WWA is probably a more relevant criterium for ranking.
I don't think that I have ever been found by a potential client that I was willing to work for through ProZ, although I have occasionally received requests for offers from agencies that probably found me here. Therefore, I have no WWA entries and would never consider asking any of my clients for one; objectively speaking though, I think that the tie-breakers for translator searches ought to go something like WWA average > number of WWA entries > number of KudoZ points relevant to search.
To date, I have only outsourced a few times and I have always fairly precisely narrowed down my search of the directory. Contact information (e-mail and phone number - and their actually answering!) was then my primary tie-breaker among translators who were otherwise clearly qualified.
Sincerely,
Michael ▲ Collapse
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