ProZ.com quick polls

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ProZ.com quick polls provide a quick, convenient (and unscientific!) way for translators to exchange opinions. To learn more, read the Poll FAQ »

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If you could eliminate one billing model in translation tomorrow, which would it be?

By anonymous

Flat-rate per project.	33.3%
Hourly rates.	20.7%
Other (please share)	19.5%
Strict per-word pricing.	16.1%
Minimum charge fees.	10.3%

87 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (1)] [View this poll]

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Archived polls

6656 polls, displaying 1 through 50

How often do you spend +30 min. researching a single obscure term or phrase?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 18

Only for specialized/technical texts.	41.4%
A few times a week.	22.4%
Rarely, I cap my research time.	19.0%
Daily—it’s a professional hazard.	11.2%
N/A (please share)	6.0%

116 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

Outside of standard translation, which complementary service generates the most income for you?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 18

You have not voted on this poll.

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[Discuss in forum (1)] [View this poll]

How do you handle clients who send uneditable files?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 17

Politely ask them for an editable source.	51.8%
Convert them myself with OCR/tools.	22.3%
Charge an extra formatting fee.	12.9%
Cry a little, then manual retype.	7.2%
N/A (please comment).	5.8%

139 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (6)] [View this poll]

How often do you notice the source text was AI-generated before being sent to you for translation?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 16

Hard to tell.	40.6%
Occasionally.	20.3%
Frequently.	17.4%
Rarely.	13.0%
Other	8.7%

69 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (2)] [View this poll]

A good posture in front of the computer is important, how do you take care of your back?

How do you respond when the company's proofreader makes stylistic changes you disagree with?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 14

You have not voted on this poll.

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[Discuss in forum (2)] [View this poll]

How heavily do you currently rely on AI for help with communications (emails, posts, etc.)?

By Jared Tabor - featured on Aug 12

Not at all	54.2%
Only somewhat	25.5%
Moderately	15.6%
Very heavily	4.7%

275 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (7)] [View this poll]

How do you respond when the company's proofreader makes stylistic changes you disagree with?

By WordAnt - featured on Aug 11

Fix errors but let stylistic choices go	30.0%
Other	25.0%
Note client's preference for next time	20.0%
Accept the changes to save billable time	10.0%
All of the options listed	10.0%
Send a data defense citing style guides	5.0%

20 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (8)] [View this poll]

How important are formal certifications (ATA, Degrees, etc) to your current business success?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 11

Helpful.	40.5%
Unimportant.	25.0%
Neutral.	17.7%
Essential.	16.8%

232 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (2)] [View this poll]

How often do you get to work directly with the person proofreading your work?

By Jared Tabor - featured on Aug 9

Never	49.5%
Not frequently	18.7%
Sometimes	15.9%
Frequently	6.5%
Other - N/A	6.5%
Always	2.8%

107 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

Have you learned, or started to learn, a new language in recent years to add to your services?

By Jared Tabor - featured on Aug 8

No	58.8%
Yes (please share)	32.9%
No, but I've been thinking about it (which one?)	8.2%

170 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (15)] [View this poll]

What is the biggest warning sign that a new client or agency might be difficult to work with?

By WordAnt - featured on Aug 7

Pushing for unrealistic turnaround times	32.5%
Non-viable industry rates	27.1%
Vague project briefs or missing context files	13.3%
Other (please share)	10.8%
Demanding a free test over 300 words	7.2%
Communicating via multiple channels	6.6%
I don't know	2.4%

166 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (3)] [View this poll]

What annoys you the most?

By Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida - featured on Aug 6

A combination of the above	51.1%
Complex onboarding processes	17.3%
Chasing invoices	9.8%
A client who asks for a quote and vanishes	6.2%
Agencies that operate a pay-when-paid policy	4.0%
Clients who dictate what you should charge	3.6%
Clients asking for unpaid "quick favors"	3.6%
Other - N/A	3.1%
Clients who confuse editing and proofreading	1.3%

225 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (23)] [View this poll]

How much time do you spend fixing tech issues?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 5

You have not voted on this poll.

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[Discuss in forum (5)] [View this poll]

What is your non-negotiable step before hitting "Send" on a final delivery?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 4

You have not voted on this poll.

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[Discuss in forum (5)] [View this poll]

Would you consider a language-related role at an international org such as NATO, the UN, etc?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 3

Yes, definitely!	40.7%
Maybe, depending on the role.	30.4%
No, definitely not.	21.5%
Probably not.	7.4%

135 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (7)] [View this poll]

What is your biggest daily struggle with working independently from home?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 2

Managing chores/personal interactions.	26.7%
Juggling client messages/emails/deep-focus	25.6%
Other (please comment).	22.1%
Hard to step away from work.	16.3%
Missing casual workplace interactions.	9.3%

86 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (1)] [View this poll]

How do you react to post-project edit requests?

By anonymous - featured on Aug 1

Do minor tweaks for free to keep goodwill.	54.5%
Charge my standard hourly or per-word rate.	17.4%
N/A (other).	13.6%
Politely remind them of the original scope.	10.6%
Offer to include it in the next billing cycle	3.8%

132 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (2)] [View this poll]

Are you satisfied with your income as a freelance translator/interpreter?

By Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida - featured on Jul 31

No	65.2%
Yes	29.2%
Other	5.6%

250 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (79)] [View this poll]

What is your biggest frustration with modern Translation Management Systems (TMS) and CAT tools?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 30

Paying fees for minor incremental updates.	25.0%
Laggy platforms and browser-based editors.	21.0%
AI features forced into them.	20.2%
Other (please comment).	17.7%
File format mismatches.	9.7%
Proprietary locks between tools.	6.5%

124 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (17)] [View this poll]

Where are you investing most of your professional development time this year?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 29

N/A (other).	50.4%
Mastering specialized tools.	18.0%
Marketing/cold outreach/negotiation str.	12.9%
Taking medical/legal/technical domain courses	11.5%
Refining transcreation/copywriting/etc...	7.2%

139 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (5)] [View this poll]

How do strict NDAs affect your ability to market your portfolio to potential clients?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 28

No impact.	45.4%
Minor issue.	22.4%
Major hurdle.	20.4%
N/A (other)	9.9%
Showcase personal or public domain projects.	2.0%

152 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (6)] [View this poll]

What is the biggest challenge when transitioning to direct B2B clients these days?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 27

Other (please comment)	32.4%
Eeaching the right decision-makers.	31.1%
Setting appropriate rates.	18.9%
Project management-actual translation balance	10.8%
Managing contract terms.	6.8%

74 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

How quickly do you switch off your "translator brain" on Friday evening?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 26

You have not voted on this poll.

[View results]

[Discuss in forum (7)] [View this poll]

What is the most critical skill required to survive as a modern language professional?

By WordAnt - featured on Jul 25

N/A Other (discuss)	33.6%
Value-Based Pricing Strategy	25.4%
High-Risk Domain Specialization	20.5%
Workflow Automation & Orchestration	10.7%
Client AI Education	9.8%

122 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (8)] [View this poll]

What is the biggest misconception new clients have when approaching freelance translators?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 24

"Google Translate is enough"	26.9%
Instant turnaround.	25.0%
One-size-fits-all rates.	23.1%
N/A (please share).	15.6%
Proofreading is fast.	9.4%

160 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (8)] [View this poll]

Where can human translators offer the most irreplaceable value in the age of AI?

By WordAnt - featured on Jul 23

Hyper-localization & Regional Slang	33.1%
Artistic & Literary Invisibility	25.2%
Other (please comment)	24.4%
Advanced Source Content Optimization	9.4%
Intellectual Property & Data Bias Auditing	7.9%

127 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (11)] [View this poll]

How did you end up in your current specialization?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 22

I work across many different fields.	37.4%
A random job came in, and I stuck with it.	24.6%
I worked in the industry before translating.	24.1%
N/A (please share).	7.7%
I researched and studied a high-paying field.	6.2%

195 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

What do you do the moment a client misses a payment deadline?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 21

Wait a week before following up.	58.2%
Send a polite reminder on day one.	31.5%
Other (please comment).	9.4%
Freeze all active projects for them.	0.9%
Instantly charge a late interest fee.	0.0%

213 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (5)] [View this poll]

How does the summer business slump affect you?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 20

My workload stays steady.	27.3%
It triggers financial anxiety.	26.4%
I enjoy the slower pace to recharge.	21.5%
N/A (please comment).	14.0%
use the time for learning/admin.	10.7%

121 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (3)] [View this poll]

Can you relax vacationing where your source language is spoken?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 19

I enjoy the trip without analyzing everything	53.5%
It boosts my passion.	23.3%
Not applicable.	11.6%
My brain goes into overdrive.	7.0%
Other (please share).	4.7%

86 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (7)] [View this poll]

How do you do your final translation proofreading?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 18

Segment-by-segment in the editor.	46.8%
Reading it exported (PDF/Word).	29.2%
Printed out physically.	15.6%
Other (please share).	7.1%
Using text-to-speech software.	1.3%

154 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (5)] [View this poll]

What is your policy on accepting post-editing work?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 17

It is a standard part of my workflow now.

0.0%

0 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (2)] [View this poll]

I know at least 1 colleague who has transitioned out of the industry in the last year (not retired).

By Jared Tabor - featured on Jul 16

True, more than one	34.1%
False	31.8%
True	29.1%
False, in fact I know of more coming in	5.0%

179 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (5)] [View this poll]

In 2026 so far, my overall income from language services is...

By Jared Tabor - featured on Jul 15

Down compared to last year	49.4%
About the same as last year	26.7%
Up over last year	17.7%
I am not keeping track	6.2%

243 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (14)] [View this poll]

How much do you set aside, or usually spend, per year, for hardware related to your work?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 14

Nothing, usually	44.1%
Less than 50 USD	16.4%
50 - 150 USD	12.8%
150 - 250 USD	9.7%
250 - 500 USD	7.7%
500 - 1,000 USD	7.2%
More than 1,000 USD	2.1%

195 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (5)] [View this poll]

How do you feel about working remotely while traveling?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 13

You have not voted on this poll.

[View results]

[Discuss in forum (8)] [View this poll]

What is your go-to read while on summer vacation?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 12

Thrillers, sci-fi, or bestsellers.	33.0%
I leave the text behind, I need a break!	28.2%
Other (please share)	25.2%
Memoirs, history or self-help books.	8.7%
Catching up on magazines.	4.9%

103 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (3)] [View this poll]

Have you planned out where you want to go professionally in the next few years, albeit mentally?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 11

Something along the lines of "just keep going"	39.1%
No	31.5%
Yes	29.3%

184 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (6)] [View this poll]

What is your style for a summer vacation out-of-office email?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 10

I state I will have zero access to until xx.	30.3%
I say I will check messages "periodically."	30.3%
N/A (other).	18.4%
I let messages pile up.	13.2%
I share my number only for urgent clients.	7.9%

152 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (6)] [View this poll]

What is your policy on taking on volunteer translation/interpreting work?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 9

Keep my skills only for paid work.	26.2%
Only during slow periods.	24.9%
Help loved ones, but not organizations.	21.3%
N/A (please share).	15.6%
Consistently dedicate time to it.	12.0%

225 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (6)] [View this poll]

When reading for fun, what format gives your mind the best reset?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 7

Physical print.	80.1%
E-reader.	9.0%
Phone/Tablet.	5.9%
Audiobooks.	2.7%
Other (please comment)	2.3%

221 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

How do you feel about companies using free, crowdsourced translations?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 6

Profitable corporations shouldn't.	32.6%
OK if it’s for open-source or non-profit jobs	25.2%
Indifferent.	21.5%
Other (please share).	12.6%
A low-stakes way for beginners to get exp.	8.1%

135 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (6)] [View this poll]

Has professional translating/editing ruined how you read for pleasure?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 5

No.	52.1%
Only with badly-written texts.	25.6%
Yes.	14.0%
I prefer audiobooks/podcasts.	5.8%
Other (please comment).	2.5%

121 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

Do you experience anxiety when you aren't checking your project alerts?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 4

Sometimes.	40.9%
Never.	31.1%
Yes.	17.1%
N/A (please comment)	11.0%

164 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

How do you satisfy your need for professional community as a freelancer?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 3

I don't seek it.	57.2%
Online forums.	21.9%
Local meetups.	10.0%
Other (please share).	8.0%
Co-working.	3.0%

201 vote(s). You have voted on this poll.

[Discuss in forum (4)] [View this poll]

How do you combat the physical and eye strain of prolonged screen time?

By anonymous - featured on Jul 2

I physically get up and stretch periodically.	39.7%
I don't do enough.	23.9%
Some of the above.	17.7%
I wear blue-light blocking glasses.	12.0%
I adjust my screen.	3.3%
All of the above.	1.9%
I use the 20-20-20 rule.	1.4%