I, Helen Eby, am an independent contractor. I have an assumed business name and a website. What does that mean? I do all my own work. With peer review for accuracy. In my invoices, the money designated for services provided by my partner in the review/translation team goes straight to my colleague as soon as [...]
A new group in Oregon: Oregon Interpreters in Action (OIA) email : interpretersinaction@gmail.com In Oregon, medical interpreters have shown the Legislature that their working conditions necessitate having a way to discuss working conditions. Oregon Interpreters in Action the group of independent contractors who are medical interpreters have those discussions. Check their meeting schedule and get [...]
Conference season has started! I went to Chicago for the EFA2019 conference. I had been to the previous EFA conference in New York in 2016. What did I find at EFA2019? Discussions in the hallways Though a conference has sessions, the attendees are what makes a conference what it is. I love the personal discussions [...]
Opportunity cost is a key concept in business. When a product is late to market, the company has paid an opportunity cost. When a person takes a job that pays less than another, there is an opportunity cost. When I work with a client 40 hours a week as a contractor and disregard all the [...]
I just got a letter: Re: Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification Confirmation Certification No.: 11670 Why did I file for this? I certainly procrastinated for many years, because most of the interpreters I know are women, so it seemed redundant. Then I realized that I was running at a disadvantage if I didn’t file. I [...]
These links are mostly from conversations in the Editorial Freelancers Association. Happy surfing! On the Basics: Tips for Getting Started in Editing or Freelancing On the Basics: So You Want to be a Freelancer On the Basics: So you Want to be an Editor (or Proofreader) EditTools: Duplicate References – A Preview When Is the Right Time [...]
To serve you well, I have to keep all issues in context. This paper, Overwork in America, covers some important concepts. The following paragraphs explain how I intend to apply what I gleaned from this article. As a freelancer, I am responsible for determining my schedule. I have to take care of my health. In [...]
I just finished working as a team with a client. It’s been awesome to help Tuality launch their website in Spanish! Check it out! When we started working, we went over this worksheet. We have been faithful to those principles in every project we have done together. Here is the Spanish site. Here is the [...]
Interpreters need business skills to manage their client base and so they can also be marketable as administrative staff in a language company. Here is a tentative list of computer-based skills interpreters should acquire: How to invoice – Word has an invoicing template! How to follow instructions on a company’s invoicing practices. How to track [...]
The first things the provider notices are your timeliness and your appearance. Arrival time: Check in with the provider on time, but… Never check in early to any appointment. Go elsewhere until 10 min. before the appointment and then check in. Hospitals/clinics do not want to pay for checked in time earlier than 10 min. [...]
