Poll: Who do you ask to provide references? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Who do you ask to provide references?".
View the poll results »
| | | | | I don't ask for references | Feb 17, 2022 |
For clients, I use the Blue Board and my horse sense. For colleagues, I only work with people whose work I am already familiar with.
[Edited at 2022-02-17 08:44 GMT]
| | | | | Employers and clients? | Feb 17, 2022 |
As freelancers, we do not have employers. Of course, you can have a day job or perhaps you have just quit your day job; then, asking your employer could be an excellent way to start building references. But as freelancers, we are our own employers 
Having said that: I regularly ask my clients for references, over here and/or on LinkedIn. Their feedback proves to be very valuable in acquiring new clients.
[Edite... See more As freelancers, we do not have employers. Of course, you can have a day job or perhaps you have just quit your day job; then, asking your employer could be an excellent way to start building references. But as freelancers, we are our own employers
Having said that: I regularly ask my clients for references, over here and/or on LinkedIn. Their feedback proves to be very valuable in acquiring new clients.
[Edited at 2022-02-17 09:05 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 19:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
It's been a very long time since I was last asked to provide references for anything.
Nowadays, most new clients that approach me come by word-of-mouth recommendation from other clients, or occasionally colleagues, so there is usually no need to check on their background.
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| I don't ask for references | Feb 17, 2022 |
In general, when I am approached by a potential client they have already done their homework or I have been recommended. Otherwise, I provide a link to my WWAs and/or to my website where I posted several references and samples of my work.
P.S. Over the years, I had several employers but with the exception of the last one none was involved in translation…
| | | | | Ambiguous question | Feb 17, 2022 |
I interpreted this question as asking my clients for references to be put in e.g. the WWA section of ProZ, but it can also be interpreted as asking clients/vendors for references about their reputation/work.
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I have a list of clients who can vouch for my skills when it comes to the translations I have done for them from each of my source languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian). But rather than contacting references, I think that prospective clients are much more likely to search me on the Internet.
| | | | Samuel Murray 
Netherlands
Local time: 19:10
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| ProZ.com feedback page | Feb 17, 2022 |
You can refer people to your ProZ.com feedback page. Go to https://www.proz.com/feedback-card/ and add your profile number to the end. It's also a good way to see if a new colleague has had any positive feedback: go to their profile and replace "profile" or "translator" with "feedback-card" in the URL.
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| My many lovers | Feb 17, 2022 |
I always despatch them with a feedback form.
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 11:10
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
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Proz's WWA feature has been very important to promote my language services.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 19:10
French to English
I asked a couple of friends who I have translated for to act as references, but in fact it turns out I don't really need them.
Just as well because I really don't want them to get fed up with answering questions about my work when they're busy with something else entirely.
Edith van der Have wrote:
As freelancers, we do not have employers.
Freelancers are a huge majority here but there are in-house translators too, and agency owners. I used to read these forums while employed at an agency for example.
| | | | | Do All References Actually Respond/Go Along With It Every Time, Anyway, If At All? | Feb 23, 2022 |
[quote]Kay Denney wrote:
Just as well because I really don't want them to get fed up with answering questions about my work when they're busy with something else entirely.
That's why I assume that most of my prospective clients look for me on the Internet, and make their decision based on that. They realize that they may never get a response from a listed reference, because the latter has moved on to other projects or endeavors, and are working with other people, in the present.
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