Poll: What do you do if you finish your work earlier than the delivery deadline? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What do you do if you finish your work earlier than the delivery deadline?".
This poll was originally submitted by Jina Yeo. View the poll results »
| | | | | Deliver it earlier | Nov 20, 2016 |
To me, it's a no-brainer. Because:
- The client will understand that I gave their work priority;
- It shows that I'm efficient;
- I may get paid sooner;
- They might have more work for me!
P.S. This happened to me recently. The client was very pleased and gave me a much larger job the same day.
[Edited at 2016-11-20 13:37 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 07:56
Spanish to English
+ ...
If I think the client might fiddle about with the text unnecessarily, I may keep it until the deadline is nearer. I general, I don't want them to think that I can always deliver ahead of time, so that can be another reason for not handing it over immediately. It always gives you more time to let someone else look over the text for you.
| | | | | Deliver it earlier | Nov 20, 2016 |
Well, it’s a no-brainer for me too. Job done and dusted? Send it! I’m known to deliver quite often ahead of time and I’ve found over the years that this not only gives me an excellent argument on the rare occasions I need to negotiate a new deadline, but also serves as a good "marketing tool"…
[Edited at 2016-11-20 09:13 GMT]
| | |
|
|
|
I know my PMs will be very pleased, so the job can move on to the next stage (review, QA, dtp etc.).
The PMs also get recognition if they can deliver on time or even early.
| | | | Ventnai 
Spain
Local time: 07:56
German to English
+ ...
| Not sure good idea to deliver early | Nov 20, 2016 |
I think the best policy is to deliver at the scheduled time or a little earlier. If you deliver early on a frequent basis, then the client will start to expect you to deliver early all the time. This might not be good for you to organise your other work and your free time. I do deliver early at times but will also hold completed translations back until just before delivery. I sometimes programme Outlook to send an email with finished work at a later time.
| | | | Ana Vozone
Local time: 06:56
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Love them, and leave/deliver them | Nov 20, 2016 |
of course. I love jobs that have been completed, and love to get them "out of the system" too. I then get to enjoy the free time or accept (or start on) another job.
Also, early delivery is better/safer when you have sent your client queries that might require changes in the text you delivered.
| | | | | Always deliver it earlier | Nov 20, 2016 |
I actually PLAN to deliver it earlier. If anything goes wrong, I'll have time to get it right before the deadline.
For instance, a somewhat frequent occurrence:
Client assigns me a job on a Monday morning, and I tell them they'll deliver it by the next Friday.
They ask me whether I could deliver it by Wednesday.
I tell them that most likely yes, however I won't promise it for W... See more I actually PLAN to deliver it earlier. If anything goes wrong, I'll have time to get it right before the deadline.
For instance, a somewhat frequent occurrence:
Client assigns me a job on a Monday morning, and I tell them they'll deliver it by the next Friday.
They ask me whether I could deliver it by Wednesday.
I tell them that most likely yes, however I won't promise it for Wednesday; I'll just try my best.
Quite often I end up - in this case - sending it done on Tuesday night.
This has enabled me to avoid delivering ANY translation job late... since 1973!
Closest shave so far was 9 minutes BEFORE the agreed deadline, however my agency-assigned proofreader took full blame for the non-existent "delay". ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 01:56
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Reasons to deliver it earlier | Nov 20, 2016 |
I strive to deliver my projects earlier for these reasons (not necessarily in this order):
a) To make room for the next project
b) To finish the job by invoicing it on the same day
c) To show I'm dependable
To this day and to my knowledge, no client has ever used my early delivery to take advantage of me or my time.
However, far it be from me to try to establish some standard or best practice for everybody else. I set my own rules depending on w... See more I strive to deliver my projects earlier for these reasons (not necessarily in this order):
a) To make room for the next project
b) To finish the job by invoicing it on the same day
c) To show I'm dependable
To this day and to my knowledge, no client has ever used my early delivery to take advantage of me or my time.
However, far it be from me to try to establish some standard or best practice for everybody else. I set my own rules depending on what works for me and my customers. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Deliver it earlier | Nov 20, 2016 |
I agree with Mario.
Most of my jobs are small, so I don't usually have a lot of time anyway. If I deliver a couple of hours before the deadline or half a day, it is no big deal anyway.
I have been caught out once or twice - knowing the job was completed, I FORGOT to deliver when I had decided for one reason or another not to deliver it straight away. If I need to convince a client that their deadlines are too tight, I think it is best to tell them straight out.
... See more I agree with Mario.
Most of my jobs are small, so I don't usually have a lot of time anyway. If I deliver a couple of hours before the deadline or half a day, it is no big deal anyway.
I have been caught out once or twice - knowing the job was completed, I FORGOT to deliver when I had decided for one reason or another not to deliver it straight away. If I need to convince a client that their deadlines are too tight, I think it is best to tell them straight out.
If I am keeping a job for an extra check after a break, I leave myself a note that it is not completed. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 07:56
Member (2006)
German to English
If I am finished before the deadline, get it off and away. What is thepoint of having a finished project lying around on the desk.
Obviously if you are an "employee", then you leave it lying around and have a nap, but we have to get on with other important things - or at least myself.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 02:56
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Deliver early | Nov 20, 2016 |
And I think that's so obvious. Holding a finished job and waiting for the deadline to deliver it sounds pretty childish to me. I see no reason at all to do such a thing.
| | |
|
|
|
| I was puzzled by the question | Nov 20, 2016 |
When a customer asks us can you do it, for how much, and by when, then it's wise to add a safety factor to the "by when". The delivery date has to be set by the translator, because it is the translator who knows by when a translation can be done. Customers are not translators, nor are they the translator who is doing the work. Generally you leave a safety margin in setting your date. You want to deliver on time, or early, but never late.
Why would you not deliver early if it is ... See more When a customer asks us can you do it, for how much, and by when, then it's wise to add a safety factor to the "by when". The delivery date has to be set by the translator, because it is the translator who knows by when a translation can be done. Customers are not translators, nor are they the translator who is doing the work. Generally you leave a safety margin in setting your date. You want to deliver on time, or early, but never late.
Why would you not deliver early if it is done early? This gives the client more time to ask questions and gives everyone extra time to double check etc.
I saw a comment that if you deliver early the customer will always "expect" early. Well, does it matter what the customer expects? We are still the ones who determine the time by which something will be done, when it is our work, and that has to be defined before anyone agrees to do the project. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 07:56
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | doing today what I can do today | Nov 21, 2016 |
If something is done just pass them, I am sure they will appreciate and if one day I need an extra day plus they will happily to extend.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: What do you do if you finish your work earlier than the delivery deadline? | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
