Poll: How do strict NDAs affect your ability to market your portfolio to potential clients?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jul 27

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do strict NDAs affect your ability to market your portfolio to potential clients?".

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naveed malik don
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Португалия
Local time: 12:15
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No impact Jul 27

Curiously enough, none of my regulars has asked me to sign a NDA and those that do are usually one-offs or appear once in a blue moon. Anyway, if a NDA contains a clause I don’t agree with I’ll cross it or ask the client to change it or I will refuse to sign it. Take it or leave it!

Thayenga
Jennifer Levey
Philip Lees
 
Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Нидерланды
Local time: 13:15
English to Dutch
+ ...
Minor impact Jul 27

Sometimes a new or potantial new cliant asks me to list current or previous clients.
Because I have signed NDAs with many of my clients, I routinely explain that I cannot give them any names. This is always accepted.


Christine Andersen
Maria Laura Curzi
Philip Lees
 
Josephine Cassar
Josephine Cassar  Identity Verified
Мальта
Local time: 13:15
Member (2012)
English to Maltese
+ ...
Some inpact Jul 27

I faced some impact as when a new agency contacted me asking if I wanted to work with them for a tender, they asked for some references from other agencies I had worked for. An agency I had worked with for a long time refused, because it said this agency was a competitor for the tender.

 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Дания
Local time: 13:15
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
No problem Jul 27

I never ask clients to give references to other clients - or reveal who I work for to potential competitors. It is none of their business!

I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, and later became a Chartered Linguist. On each occasion I asked for two references, because the Institute is not directly connected with clients, so colleagues and clients were happy to give them.

For portfolio purposes I find something from the public domain, or ask a client if
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I never ask clients to give references to other clients - or reveal who I work for to potential competitors. It is none of their business!

I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, and later became a Chartered Linguist. On each occasion I asked for two references, because the Institute is not directly connected with clients, so colleagues and clients were happy to give them.

For portfolio purposes I find something from the public domain, or ask a client if I may use a translation from their public information. Confidential material should not be shown in a portfolio anyway!
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Angie Garbarino
Maria Laura Curzi
Philip Lees
 
Omotola O.
Omotola O.
Біріккен Корольдік
Local time: 12:15
Italian to English
+ ...
The Portfolio Dilemma Jul 27

Strict NDAs often prevent you from showcasing your best work. When you cannot name the client, display the source text, or share the final product, your visible portfolio looks sparse. This makes it challenging to prove your expertise to high-value prospects who demand concrete proof of your capabilities.

 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Нидерланды
Local time: 13:15
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
No more than standard confidentiality 09:53

All translation jobs and client relationships are subject to confidentiality, even if you haven't signed an NDA. So you always have to be very careful when choosing to reveal information to other parties about your clients or their texts. This is especially true if your portfolio is publicly accessible (somewhat less so if your portfolio is going to be sent to a specific person who specifically requested it and is aware of what confidentiality means).

There are ways around it. Yo
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All translation jobs and client relationships are subject to confidentiality, even if you haven't signed an NDA. So you always have to be very careful when choosing to reveal information to other parties about your clients or their texts. This is especially true if your portfolio is publicly accessible (somewhat less so if your portfolio is going to be sent to a specific person who specifically requested it and is aware of what confidentiality means).

There are ways around it. You can be general without mentioning a client specifically. Or if the text that you translated is about a large multinational, then you're safer. Time can also be an issue that affects confidentiality, so sometimes it is more acceptable to mention something if significant time has passed after you have done the translation. If something has been published and is/was generally available to the public, you can generally include it in your portfolio as well.
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Poll: How do strict NDAs affect your ability to market your portfolio to potential clients?






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