The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022 - 29

BUSINESS PRACTICES By Gabriela Kouahla
Freelance
Translator's
Client
Reference List
Why?
A
Dear X,
Thank you for your good feedback on my translation. I am at your
entire disposal for any further translation requests.
Following our collaboration, I would like to include you in my
reference list as someone who has a good knowledge of my skills and
abilities in translation [Add language pair].
If you agree to be one of my references, I will include your name,
title, and contact information on my reference list and keep you
informed of potential employer contacts.
Please let me know if you are comfortable with this request and if
there is any information I can provide related to it.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
If your client's response is positive, how do you create the
reference list and when do you send it?
How?
How do you create a client reference list? Personally, I opt
for a simple document, letter style, that you can create with
Word and then save as a PDF. What does it include? My contact
details, the contact details of each client, and above all the
language pair(s).
The client reference list of a freelance
translator is very important when it comes
to potential clients (direct/companies) or a
job application for a new translation agency.
It allows you to provide additional proof of
your experience and assure a potential client
or company/agency of the quality of your
work. Everyone loves good feedback!
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Knowing that sometimes a translator has several niches,
I advise you to create several reference lists. A client who is
considering your services as a marketing translator isn't really
interested in your experience as a legal translator.
At this point, respecting the time of a potential client or
project manager is essential. They will need to have a clear
understanding of how you can help them as a translator. So, the
goal is to have references from different clients of your niche(s).
" Business Practices " will alternate in this space with " The
Entrepreneurial Linguist. " This column is not intended to constitute
legal, financial, or other business advice. Each individual or
company should make its own independent business decisions
and consult its own legal, financial, or other advisors as
appropriate. The views expressed here are not necessarily those
of ATA or its Board of Directors.
American Translators Association 29
reference list is a bonus you might consider including
in your application. Remember, everyone loves a good
bonus. If a client says they're satisfied with your work,
take the opportunity to ask for a recommendation. Do it quickly
after the work is completed and the client has expressed
satisfaction. If you wait too long, for example, months or
years later, a client may not remember you and your work
performance. For example:
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The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022

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