One of the biggest no-no’s in translation is submitting a job late. Now, I’m not going to supply you with excuses you can use when you submit your output late, but here are a few points that may help you avoid getting into that situation.

1. Know exactly what you are being tasked to do. If you don’t understand, ask all your questions as soon as possible. Many delays are caused by endless exchanges of emails about things that should have been tackled BEFORE you even accepted the job. Remember: once you say yes, the clock starts ticking.

2. Make sure the tools you are required to use are working. Nothing beats a delay caused by “technical problems”.

3. Check that your file is working. Closing the deal without checking if your file is corrupted is a major boo-boo. Itis worth considering that your clients may belong to different time zones, so it could happen that the moment you put a stamp on the deal, they pack their things and log out, leaving you with no chance to ask them for a working version of the file.

4. Factor in “research time” when you make your projections. You client will usually ask you how long you can take to finish a task, but even if he or she doesn’t, be sure to look over the file’s subject to see if you might need more time to double-check the terms or jargon used. Don’t forget to add that in when they ask you how much time you might need for translation. Be careful, though, because too much delay on delivery may cause you to lose the bid. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that clients usually count work hours at 300 words per hour for translation, and 1000 words per hour for editing jobs.

5. Commit to the time of work agreed upon. This simply means that when you accept a job, the client expects to receive your translated files at a certain estimated time that both parties have agreed upon – basically a deadline. That means you are not supposed to watch movies or party out when you are not done yet only to later on submit a rushed, substandard output or request for an extension.

6. Check the file from end to end. This is to make sure that you have translated the whole file properly. Remember, an incomplete output cannot be considered  a finished output.  Unfinished work will be marked as a delayed delivery.

In addition, if you do have problems in the file while in between the work, make sure you do notify your corresponding Project Managers because they will know what to do so you can submit your output in a timely manner.

That’s all for now! I hope these tips help you deliver your translated articles on time. Good luck!