Poll: Has your age ever played a role in landing a client?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Aug 27, 2017

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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Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 22:47
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
I doubt it Aug 27, 2017

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
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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 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]
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Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 16:47
German to English
+ ...
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.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 21:47
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Not sure! Aug 27, 2017

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…

 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 22:47
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
No Aug 27, 2017

Age and experience is an asset.

 
M. Anna Kańduła
M. Anna Kańduła  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:47
English to Polish
No Aug 27, 2017

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
Ricki Farn
Germany
Local time: 22:47
English to German
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
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 18:47
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
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
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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]
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Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 17:47
English to Spanish
+ ...
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
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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?
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 15:47
Dutch to English
+ ...
My age Aug 28, 2017

Clients don't ask, I don't tell.

 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 18:47
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
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
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 22:47
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Not that 'I'm aware of Aug 28, 2017

Besides that, this would be in violation of EC laws.

 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 22:47
French to English
once maybe Aug 28, 2017

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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Poll: Has your age ever played a role in landing a client?






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