What should a translator's portfolio look like?
Vestluse postitaja: Sanja Gjurova
Sanja Gjurova
Sanja Gjurova
Austraalia
Local time: 16:55
inglise - makedoonia
+ ...
Sep 16, 2011

I would like to make my own portfolio with sample translations. Is there a standard format, and what should I include in it? Also, have you found it to be useful?

Kind regards,

Sanja


Donna Michelle Lim
 
Teymur Suleymanov
Teymur Suleymanov  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:55
vene - inglise
+ ...
Hard to tell, honestly... Sep 16, 2011

Sanja Mladenovska wrote:

I would like to make my own portfolio with sample translations. Is there a standard format, and what should I include in it? Also, have you found it to be useful?

Kind regards,

Sanja


To tell you the truth, it's hard to tell... I have I believe 2 small projects included right here at ProZ, and while it certainly helps to make my profile complete, I haven't really seen any positives to it in terms of client's feedback. I mean, they still want me do their test translations, no matter what.
So, I just have those two pieces of translation from previous work just sitting there... Clients don't seem to care or even be aware of those.

You can just have a couple of your own texts there in both languages, just for the sake of having a portfolio, since this is "such a cool thing to have"...

HTH,
Teymur


 
Annett Hieber
Annett Hieber  Identity Verified
Saksamaa
Local time: 06:55
inglise - saksa
+ ...
Hi Sanja, Sep 20, 2011

I have made my portfolio some time ago. But it's simply in the style of a CV, only that it is made up for a freelancer. I haven't included sample translations or anything else. When potential clients ask me for a CV or a portfolio I send them this document, and, if required, add certificates or anything else.

It is like Teymur said, agencies or potential end clients are not really interested in my own sample translations. If they want a sample translation, they send me theirs. It's
... See more
I have made my portfolio some time ago. But it's simply in the style of a CV, only that it is made up for a freelancer. I haven't included sample translations or anything else. When potential clients ask me for a CV or a portfolio I send them this document, and, if required, add certificates or anything else.

It is like Teymur said, agencies or potential end clients are not really interested in my own sample translations. If they want a sample translation, they send me theirs. It's simply up to you, if you want to make the effort with own sample translations. It depends on how much time you have to spare.

Wish you luck.

Annett
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John Fossey
John Fossey  Identity Verified
Kanada
Local time: 00:55
Liige (2008)
prantsuse - inglise
+ ...
Potential clients do review portfolio Sep 20, 2011

Potential clients do review portfolios and WWA records. The reason I know is that on my CV I have links to both on my proz.com portfolio, but via a redirect link on my personal website which activates a Statcounter.com script that reports back to me where viewers came from and where they went. I frequently find that when a new client appears they have already left their cybertracks on my portfolio. So there seems to be value to including them in your CV as a link to your proz.com profile.

 


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What should a translator's portfolio look like?







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