Poll: Are you capable of working on two or more projects at the same time? 论题张贴者: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are you capable of working on two or more projects at the same time?".
This poll was originally submitted by Paola Giardina. View the poll results »
| | | | | Yes, I like to | Dec 21, 2017 |
Good question.
So far, I've enjoyed situations in which I was working on two projects at once, sometimes even three. It usually happens when I have a large job with a relaxed deadline, so I can sandwich in smaller jobs.
When I come to an impasse in one job, I switch to the other, and sometimes that relaxes me enough to think of a solution for the first job.
| | | | | I do it all the time | Dec 21, 2017 |
Projects are usually never so big that they demand 100% of my time.
Besides, we can't abandon our regular customers when a big job comes along.
It also helps to have a bit of variety, instead of concentrating on one subject all the time.
Keeps the little grey cells lively.
| | | | Jack Doughty 
英国
Local time: 11:04
Russian俄语译成English英语
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纪念 | It depends on the project | Dec 21, 2017 |
For literary projects, which extend over a long period, I like working this way.
But for difficult technical texts, I only do one at a time.
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Kay Denney
法国
Local time: 12:04
French法语译成English英语
I find I work best when I have one big project, and fit in smaller ones as I go once I have the big one going ahead smoothly.
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It happens quite often when I’m working on a longer project with a comfortable deadline and a regular client comes up with a smaller job. From time to time I do have a few projects with different deadlines all lined up like ducklings in a row…
| | | | | Depends what you mean | Dec 21, 2017 |
Like others, I alternate sometimes between projects.
I even open multiple files in a project in Trados and cross-reference them where appropriate, but I voted no in the poll. One job at a time, that's what my Granny taught me!
She had twins, and she knew where multitasking was unavoidable. She would never have used that term, but she knew that it IS normally quicker to concentrate on the job in hand, then move on to the next - she tried all the variations!
... See more Like others, I alternate sometimes between projects.
I even open multiple files in a project in Trados and cross-reference them where appropriate, but I voted no in the poll. One job at a time, that's what my Granny taught me!
She had twins, and she knew where multitasking was unavoidable. She would never have used that term, but she knew that it IS normally quicker to concentrate on the job in hand, then move on to the next - she tried all the variations!
Most of my jobs are small, so it would be meaningless to work on more than one at a time.
'Give it your full attention!' - I can still hear her.  ▲ Collapse
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I usually have 5 - 6 going. Many projects in the pharmaceutical field are more than translatimg. Right now I am the LVC on 4 projects.
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Mario Freitas
巴西
Local time: 07:04
正式会员 (自2014)
English英语译成Portuguese葡萄牙语
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| Capable = able or willing? | Dec 21, 2017 |
Everyone is 'capable' of working in multiple projects at once. I believe the question is "are you able to do it without harm" or "are you willing to".
I regularly work on multiple projects at once. I always agree on 3000 words per day for large projects, so I have a good margin for other projects. If you don't accept jobs from regular clients, they will surely find another translator, and you don't want that to happen, really. It's a matter of planning and being organized.
| | | | Gitte Hoveds (X)
丹麦
Local time: 12:04
Danish丹麦语译成English英语
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| No, not really | Dec 21, 2017 |
I can only do one thing at a time.
I may have more than one project booked for overlapping deadlines, but I can only work on one of them at a time. I may alternate between them, but with just one head and two typing hands, there is a logical limit to my dexterity.
| | | | | 4 projects at the same time | Dec 21, 2017 |
Even 4 or 5.
| | | | | I've Done It, But Hopefully Never Again | Dec 21, 2017 |
In 2016, I was, all at the same time, translating one historical novel that was almost 900 pages long, an autobiography that was almost 400 pages long, at the same time that I was a full-time graduate student and working on my thesis, which was an almost 200-page literary translation.
I'll never do such a thing again, with perhaps the exception of working on two literary translations at the same time, because I came down with the shingles from all the stress and ended up suffering w... See more In 2016, I was, all at the same time, translating one historical novel that was almost 900 pages long, an autobiography that was almost 400 pages long, at the same time that I was a full-time graduate student and working on my thesis, which was an almost 200-page literary translation.
I'll never do such a thing again, with perhaps the exception of working on two literary translations at the same time, because I came down with the shingles from all the stress and ended up suffering with lingering symptoms from that for about a year.
[Edited at 2017-12-21 18:55 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 06:04
English英语译成Spanish西班牙语
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| Define “at the same time” | Dec 21, 2017 |
I'm glad the discussion is not being degraded into the so-called merits of multitasking. Multitasking is a myth.
I fail to see the utility of the question, though. It'd be like asking a 9-year-old if they can laugh, smile and think of funny things while watching a cartoon or kiddie movie. Of course they can! The topic is so pedestrian as to merit no further serious discussion.
Or maybe we can run a survey among grizzly bears: can they breathe, move all four legs, scan t... See more I'm glad the discussion is not being degraded into the so-called merits of multitasking. Multitasking is a myth.
I fail to see the utility of the question, though. It'd be like asking a 9-year-old if they can laugh, smile and think of funny things while watching a cartoon or kiddie movie. Of course they can! The topic is so pedestrian as to merit no further serious discussion.
Or maybe we can run a survey among grizzly bears: can they breathe, move all four legs, scan the horizon with their eyes and let their nose scan for scents of possible prey all at the same time? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 06:04
English英语译成Spanish西班牙语
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| Voice of Danish reason | Dec 21, 2017 |
Gitte Hovedskov wrote:
I can only do one thing at a time.
I may have more than one project booked for overlapping deadlines, but I can only work on one of them at a time. I may alternate between them, but with just one head and two typing hands, there is a logical limit to my dexterity.
Yes! That's a different and more sensible description of what us translators do: one thing at a time just like every other sane and intelligent human being.
A better question would have been: Are you able to alternate two or more projects simultaneously?
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