Perils of the Rush Job

Rush jobs, or jobs that need to be done very quickly (faster than normal), are offered every day on the market.  The client always needs the job done yesterday.  However...

 ...often they will live for a week while you hammer out the 20 page document.  In some cases, they cannot wait.  They need it now, done overnight, to be delivered tomorrow. Ah, they will even pay a little bit more -- a rush job bonus!  Great, you'll stay up all night and make a bit of extra money. Or is it great?

You are going to forfeit tomorrow's regular work, as you must sleep after an all-nighter. So you're really just replacing tomorrow's work with tonight, and making a few extra pennies, eurocents or rupees. There is a bigger issue here: QUALITY.

There is simply no way you can turn out the same quality in one night as you would in a whole week.  The document will have to be closely proofread by a fresh translator (one who actually got sleep during the night), and the doc will be loaded with very small errors.  Or maybe just 1 ore 2 mistakes, perhaps even a mistranslation or a spelling snafu.

Is the client/agency/project manager going to give you credit for the Rush Job aspect?  Likely not.  In my experience, the project managers and clients suddenly get amnesia and forget it was a rushed job.  (Hmm, they remembered it last night when they emailed 3 times for an update on its status). Now suddenly they are upset over 4 sentences that are worded a bit oddly. Perhaps you stuck too close to the source language format.  This can happen if you didn't have time to put it away and give it a good re-read the next day. Pehaps some words are clumsy sounding, and a fresher less-rushed translator would have chosen "stability" over "firmness" or taken "suitable deposits" instead of "deposits made to suit" ..... and it all seems so clear to you today. Right?

Don't be too hard on yourself.  You had a very short time to do a hard job.  AND you helped out the client!  You did them a tremendous favor, maybe aven a business-saving favor.  They needed that document translated, paid you a small bit extra, and got it done.  You still made much less than the usual overtime that a regular employee would get  -- I am certain they did not give you a 150% bonus!  So for your extra few cents, you got the job done for them.  They are grateful! right? 

No, they are upset with you for 2 mistakes in syntax, 3 poor sentence structures, and 1 really bad word choice. Ah, and you forgot the extra hyphen in someone's name.  Hmm, perhaps you should be nailed to a stake and left in the desert to be eaten by ants? Seems fair.

This client will not call you again for a few months.  By doing them a favor, you have sabotaged yourself and your repuation.  The moral:  Be very shy about rush jobs; there is no harm in turning them down.  Make sure payment is fair, and be prepared to have a friend proofread it for you (you'll have to pay him a small fee or buy him a round at the club/pub or tea house). 

Advice to the clients:  be fair if you need it done fast-fast-fast. Also be prepared to have an extra proofreader.  Time is money, and you should pay more if you need it done fast.  Don't be hard headed with a translator who actually helped you in a jam. (Or did you want to have your cake, and nibble it too)?

Advice to everyone: just talk it out and set guidelines before you start.  After the job, be gentle and professional in discussing any past errors.  Have a coffee and get along. 

Peace.

Rights for Translators!  Enforce them.