Poll: Has your age ever played a role in landing a client? Auteur du fil: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Has your age ever played a role in landing a client?".
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I voted not sure.
Most of the time the subject is not raised, and no-one needs to know all my personal details. People are often surprised to discover how old I actually am. I came to translating late, so my diploma dates from this century.
I have used my age as an excuse NOT to land a client, or at least to back out of jobs where the language was distinctly aimed at Generation Y and Millennials. It is way beyond an elderly hippie like me!
But I don't seem... See more I voted not sure.
Most of the time the subject is not raised, and no-one needs to know all my personal details. People are often surprised to discover how old I actually am. I came to translating late, so my diploma dates from this century.
I have used my age as an excuse NOT to land a client, or at least to back out of jobs where the language was distinctly aimed at Generation Y and Millennials. It is way beyond an elderly hippie like me!
But I don't seem to be on the way out - I have turned down a whole month's work this week, and I am still booked solid. I am far from being the oldest around here. Age is not generally an issue with my clients.
[Edited at 2017-08-27 12:40 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | How would that ever come into the picture? | Aug 27, 2017 |
Clients want to know things such as whether I can do the work by when and for much, and they want to know if I'm qualified, experienced, and often - certified. Nobody has ever asked me my age, and I can't imagine anyone every would.
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I started out translating professionally rather late in life and as age and experience often go arm in arm at the beginning clients probably assumed I was much more experienced than I really was (that’s why I had a good proof-reader). I’ve never been asked my age, but anyone who looks at my CV can soon work it out…
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Age and experience is an asset.
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Number of years of experience is included in my CV, not my age. My clients don't know how old I am. It's irrelevant.
| | | | Ricki Farn
Allemagne
Local time: 21:48
anglais vers allemand
| I have no idea | Aug 27, 2017 |
I think if someone wants to, they can guesstimate my age from my CV and profile picture, but I'm not sure if anyone has ever bothered to do so. (They could also just ask me, but I don't think anyone ever has.)
| | | | Mario Freitas 
Brésil
Local time: 16:48
Membre (2014)
anglais vers portugais
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| Unanswerable question, sorry | Aug 27, 2017 |
No one really knows the criteria used by the client, unless they explicitly state them, which usually doesn't happen. My CV and profiles don't mention my birthdate, yet my years of experience. However, the potential client can easily find out my age elsewhere.
Now, let's be real. If that's an actual criteria for a client to select their professionals, I'm not sure I even want to work for that person. They'll likely have other undue criteria and rules.
[Edited at 2017-08-27 17:31 GMT... See more No one really knows the criteria used by the client, unless they explicitly state them, which usually doesn't happen. My CV and profiles don't mention my birthdate, yet my years of experience. However, the potential client can easily find out my age elsewhere.
Now, let's be real. If that's an actual criteria for a client to select their professionals, I'm not sure I even want to work for that person. They'll likely have other undue criteria and rules.
[Edited at 2017-08-27 17:31 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 15:48
anglais vers espagnol
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| Tricky question, to say the least | Aug 27, 2017 |
As Mario Freitas stated, this question tends to be in the unanswerable category. For whoever thought this question up, let me clarify:
In the United States, it is against federal law to make employment or contractual decisions based on age. Questions about age or birthdate are not used in employment applications or contract applications (for independent, freelance or contract translators).
I am pretty certain that many European countries (and other countries besides Eur... See more As Mario Freitas stated, this question tends to be in the unanswerable category. For whoever thought this question up, let me clarify:
In the United States, it is against federal law to make employment or contractual decisions based on age. Questions about age or birthdate are not used in employment applications or contract applications (for independent, freelance or contract translators).
I am pretty certain that many European countries (and other countries besides European ones) have adopted similar regulations.
That ageism, the discriminatory practice still in use in many labor markets, is real, I have no doubt about it.
Seriously, what teenager or inexperienced adult writes these poll questions? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 13:48
néerlandais vers anglais
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Clients don't ask, I don't tell.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brésil
Local time: 16:48
Membre (2014)
anglais vers portugais
+ ...
| Even in Brazil | Aug 28, 2017 |
Mario Chavez wrote:
In the United States, it is against federal law to make employment or contractual decisions based on age.
Even in my underdeveloped corner of the world, Mario. The problem here is not the existence of the law; it's making people comply, lol.
| | | | Thayenga
Allemagne
Local time: 21:48
Membre (2009)
anglais vers allemand
+ ...
| Not that 'I'm aware of | Aug 28, 2017 |
Besides that, this would be in violation of EC laws.
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 21:48
français vers anglais
I was in the running to translate a slew of documents to publicise a concert to be given by a couple of former Pink Floyd members. I got the job because of my intimate knowledge of their music. Pretty sure I aced it in part because of my age.
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