Poll: As a freelancer, do you tend to hire other freelancers when you need a service?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Mar 5, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "As a freelancer, do you tend to hire other freelancers when you need a service?".

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Ventnai
Ventnai  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 10:59
German to English
+ ...
Yes Mar 5, 2019

For different language combinations to mine

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:59
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Mar 5, 2019

I don't "hire" other freelancers. We tend to do each other favours, and some money may change hands in the process, but no one is "hiring" anyone else.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Rahaf ziad
 
Diarmuid Kennan
Diarmuid Kennan
Ireland
Local time: 09:59
Member (2006)
Danish to English
+ ...
Yes, except for politicians Mar 5, 2019

I took this to mean services in general - so, yes, I tend to hire freelancers, e.g. if I need a plumber or an electrician, I would rather engage a freelancer (independent tradesman) than contact a company. This has definitely been reinforced by my own status as a freelancer - I feel a kind of solidarity with others in a similar situation.
This doesn't apply to politicians, however. I would never vote for an independent candidate (of which we have many here in Ireland) I prefer my candidat
... See more
I took this to mean services in general - so, yes, I tend to hire freelancers, e.g. if I need a plumber or an electrician, I would rather engage a freelancer (independent tradesman) than contact a company. This has definitely been reinforced by my own status as a freelancer - I feel a kind of solidarity with others in a similar situation.
This doesn't apply to politicians, however. I would never vote for an independent candidate (of which we have many here in Ireland) I prefer my candidates to belong to a party.
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Mr.Q
Christine Andersen
Anna Herbst
Maria Simmen
Rita Utt
Paola Tigrino
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 02:59
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes Mar 5, 2019

I'm currently working with a ProZ colleague on a translation from English. I have also partnered with fellow Prozians in the past.

I just re-read the question. If this is about freelancers in general, yes, I always try to give my business to them, as opposed to a large business, and I like to pay them well.

[Edited at 2019-03-05 09:32 GMT]


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Julio Madrid
Mr.Q
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:59
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes Mar 5, 2019

Well, if what the question means is services in general my preference has always been to work with freelancers or small enterprises rather than large businesses. If we’re talking about translation I’ve been working with a few freelancers for a long time (some are Prozians).

Julio Madrid
 
Julio Madrid
Julio Madrid  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 02:59
Member (2018)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Yes Mar 5, 2019

For translation/languages related work, no. I haven't outsourced nor hired freelancers for I haven't had the personal need to translate anything in other language pair other than the ones I work with. For other services, yes. I tend to look for freelancers first. My website design and maintenance, logo, fonts, business cards, marketing and SEO, I hire freelancers. At home, for interior design, construction work, maintenance and repairs.

Laura Bissio CT
Tina Vonhof (X)
 
Edith van der Have
Edith van der Have
Netherlands
Local time: 10:59
Member (2016)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Yes, I do ... Mar 5, 2019

... both for translating/proofreading and other services, such as book keeping, webdesign, etc.

Maria Simmen
 
Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 10:59
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
small independent companies Mar 5, 2019

I try to buy products and services from small, independent companies rather than large chains, in part because I feel they need the support, in part because the service is better, in part because I don't want small companies to be pushed under by large chains offering more of the same wherever you go, with little room for personal choice or service. Whether the small company is a freelancer or not depends on the service/product and on the company in comparison to the other options.

Mr.Q
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Tina Vonhof (X)
 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
No re/outsourcing Mar 5, 2019

I started my career working under a big project in a group of experienced translators, and even years after we often cooperate and recommend each other.

While I can trust known specialists, cross-checking and proofreading our jobs, it's not the case with strangers, not to mention bottom-feeders, because even with shared TMs and glossaries such a crowd-working is a project management gone overdrive while re-translating/re-checking/re-wording/re re, often aggravating distr
... See more
I started my career working under a big project in a group of experienced translators, and even years after we often cooperate and recommend each other.

While I can trust known specialists, cross-checking and proofreading our jobs, it's not the case with strangers, not to mention bottom-feeders, because even with shared TMs and glossaries such a crowd-working is a project management gone overdrive while re-translating/re-checking/re-wording/re re, often aggravating distributed faults.

Of course, the best policy is taking just enough jobs in the field, having reliable colleagues to secure you.

[Edited at 2019-03-05 23:34 GMT]
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Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 06:59
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes, but never thought of it Mar 7, 2019

There are certain areas/professions that are typically freelancers, and we all hire them regularly.
In other areas, we might prefer another kind of professional.
But not for "empathy" reasons, only because that's how the market works.
And I've never thought about it, of course.


 


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Poll: As a freelancer, do you tend to hire other freelancers when you need a service?






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