| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: The project manager can make or break my relationship with an agency/client. Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "The project manager can make or break my relationship with an agency/client.".
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| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 01:41
Spanish to English
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I don't really work with agencies, but I usually get on fine with my contacts (who may may not be project managers, I've never asked and they have never introduced themselves as such) in the one or two agencies with which I do very occasionally collaborate. I've always assumed they were secretarial or admin staff, but they could have been the owners of the company for all I know.
| | | | | Agree, but... | Jan 13, 2023 |
I’ve been working with the same customers and the same PMs for a long time, some are friendlier than others but all are professional. Most of our communication is limited to: “Are you available?”, “When will you deliver”? “Thanks!”. I had a few problems with an agency (conflicting emails, late POs, etc.), but we stopped working together when they also started paying late. I do not like stressful situations and in my everyday life I tend to react by being extra polite in order to de... See more I’ve been working with the same customers and the same PMs for a long time, some are friendlier than others but all are professional. Most of our communication is limited to: “Are you available?”, “When will you deliver”? “Thanks!”. I had a few problems with an agency (conflicting emails, late POs, etc.), but we stopped working together when they also started paying late. I do not like stressful situations and in my everyday life I tend to react by being extra polite in order to defuse the tension and put the other person in his/her place.
P.S. None of my direct clients have PMs… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 01:41
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
| Well, yes but no ... | Jan 13, 2023 |
Theoretically, that's true. But a PM has zero interest in breaking such relationships if they are happy with the translators they work with (quality, timely delivery, acceptable rates, availability, reactivity ...). So if a PM ditches a translator, he or she has probably a good reason to do so.
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I have lost clients in the past when a PM leaves. I have also gained clients when the same PM starts somewhere else.
But those were boutique agencies.
The big multinationals are all systems and no personality.
| | | | Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 01:41
French to English
Yeah. There's an agency I've decided that I will no longer work for. The PM is unpleasant, never bothers to specify the wordcount or even the subject matter when she offers me a job, so I have to open up the file (not always possible if I'm out and about). And if there's a mistake in my bill, she just puts it to one side and pretends not to have received it rather than pointing out the mistake.
I don't think there are any other PMs in that agency, but whatever, I'm not interested in worki... See more Yeah. There's an agency I've decided that I will no longer work for. The PM is unpleasant, never bothers to specify the wordcount or even the subject matter when she offers me a job, so I have to open up the file (not always possible if I'm out and about). And if there's a mistake in my bill, she just puts it to one side and pretends not to have received it rather than pointing out the mistake.
I don't think there are any other PMs in that agency, but whatever, I'm not interested in working for her any more. ▲ Collapse
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Actually, several PMs already made/broke my relationship with their agency. I have started working for one agency just because they hired a PM I knew well from his previous job (and our previous cooperation was great). And I dropped one agency, when their PM started answering my questions by sending links to letmegooglethat.com
[Edited at 2023-01-13 12:26 GMT]
| | | | Nikolay Novitskiy
Russian Federation
Local time: 04:41
Member (2018)
English to Russian
It's always a plus when you have good relationships with your PMs. It's simple: don't miss deadlines, do your job well and follow the instructions. When a PM asks you a favor, give it. Both of you will benefit from this cooperation.
From the other hand, don't be shy to ask your PMs do THEIR job. An irresponsible PM is a real disaster, and you should never tolerate unproffessionalism from their side. I had to argue with PMs and even report their actions to management, and it was allw... See more It's always a plus when you have good relationships with your PMs. It's simple: don't miss deadlines, do your job well and follow the instructions. When a PM asks you a favor, give it. Both of you will benefit from this cooperation.
From the other hand, don't be shy to ask your PMs do THEIR job. An irresponsible PM is a real disaster, and you should never tolerate unproffessionalism from their side. I had to argue with PMs and even report their actions to management, and it was allways worth doing. Just don't forget to discuss the situation with your PM when the conflict is resolved, so both of you could continue working together. ▲ Collapse
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 02:41
Member
English to Turkish
| Not sure what's meant by this question | Jan 14, 2023 |
If you ask what happens when a PM you regularly work with leaves the agency, I'd say it don't bear thinking. It happened to me before. I almost stopped receiving any work from an agency that I regularly worked with in the past at a very good per word rate right after a PM I was friendly with left the job (actually she moved to another position within the agency that didn't involve project management).
If you ask whether you would you stop working with an agency if the PM was a complete idi... See more If you ask what happens when a PM you regularly work with leaves the agency, I'd say it don't bear thinking. It happened to me before. I almost stopped receiving any work from an agency that I regularly worked with in the past at a very good per word rate right after a PM I was friendly with left the job (actually she moved to another position within the agency that didn't involve project management).
If you ask whether you would you stop working with an agency if the PM was a complete idiot. That depends. The first-come-first-serve type agencies with 60+ day payment terms tend to have a high turnover of PMs, some of them are bound to be knobheads. I usually avoid those types of agencies and they avoid me due to my per word rate (which is not high compared to the Western European colleagues btw).
I remember getting into a heated argument with an Argentinian PM, she threatened to 'fire' me, and she did... That agency was charging you 15 USD for Payoneer payments (on top of what Payooner is fleecing you). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Empty post | Metin Demirel
Türkiye
Local time: 02:41
Member (2018)
Italian to Turkish
+ ...
Wasn't a PM at an agency, but I once lost a direct client because of a content manager who couldn't keep their pronouns straight. I gently reminded them that I am to be addressed in the second person plural, as do most sane individuals here in Turkey in business. But she ignored my request. So, I responded in kind by ignoring their emails like they were spam.
| | | | Michael Newton
United States
Local time: 19:41
Japanese to English
+ ...
| project manager | Jan 15, 2023 |
I remember a taxi driver in Montreal. I got in and he said: "Ou est-ce que tu vas, toi?" I said: "Nulle part" and got out.
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I work with international agencies and about 10 of those are quite regular, and I must say that all the PMs are delightful and professional.
Only once in a rare while I run into an unpleasant PM and mostly that's from a new client. Then I decline work from this person next time.
But I might give the agency one more chance.
Btw: I have encountered more unpleasant staff in the accounts depts.
| | | | Sadek_A
Local time: 03:41
English to Arabic
+ ...
Definitely. In the sense that in a wink of any eye, I would simply blacklist the agency/client for good over the slightest bad behavior by a PM or just any PoC. And, I kid you not, I have done so in the past, without the least hesitation.
I am the real money maker in this business, PM and/or PoC are just an expendable middle link who can be easily done without (we, translators, do without them all the time in case of direct clients; not to mention that agency/client themselves are g... See more Definitely. In the sense that in a wink of any eye, I would simply blacklist the agency/client for good over the slightest bad behavior by a PM or just any PoC. And, I kid you not, I have done so in the past, without the least hesitation.
I am the real money maker in this business, PM and/or PoC are just an expendable middle link who can be easily done without (we, translators, do without them all the time in case of direct clients; not to mention that agency/client themselves are going through them like they go through...what?...snacks!), I come at the top of this food chain and I would therefore not accept any mischiefs/wrongdoings by them. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Edward Potter
Spain
Local time: 01:41
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Ice Scream wrote:
I have lost clients in the past when a PM leaves. I have also gained clients when the same PM starts somewhere else.
But those were boutique agencies.
The big multinationals are all systems and no personality.
I've been pulled over to new agencies by PMs who leave my regular agency customers. Those were always boutique agencies.
We all know about the big multinationals. One day there will be pressure on them to get a clue.
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