Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 09:02:31 ECT Reply-To: "Neva J. Smith" Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Neva J. Smith" Subject: Re: Charging for abstracting In-Reply-To: <9308131653.AA19611@emx.cc.utexas.edu> ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- To: Robert L. Hadden, and other readers: The discussion of charges for abstracting has created quite a mental discussion on the "rules committee" in my head. One side agrees completely with Robert Hadden's comments (included at the end). I spend a great deal of my time obtaining and maintaining my professional skills, and it is a disservice to the information profession to undervalue them. I have, in fact turned down work offered at about 25% of an entry level professional salary. Another voice reminds me that the days between freelance jobs don't bring in the necessary income, and further reminds me that I was *not* awarded a particular job because another degreed, trained information professional quoted a price less than half the going rate for that work in our area. I upheld professional standards, but had to scramble for my income that month. Another information professional took the job at the 25% of professional salary and now has a regular income - quite a trick in my area. In spite of what one sees published, the job market is not improving- many have taken work for much less than appropriate so that the bills can be paid, and many others are no longer counted, though they are still looking for work, because their unemployment insurance has expired. In this environment, one may take work at less than the appropriate professional rate so that your skills are kept up, and to keep your name in the professional pool. Any such work may be considered an investment toward future jobs at a better rate. Each one of us has to make decisions within our own context. --- Another "rule of thumb" --- An independent (freelance) professional has to include the cost of rent (office space), materials, memberships/subscriptions, insurance, *self-employment taxes* and other taxes, etc. as well as salary. When these costs are considered, the guideline is charge 3 times the amount you wish to make. (One third of your income goes directly out in regular taxes and self-employment taxes add 6-8% above that). The discussion about charges has been very thought provoking, I hope others will add their thoughts. Regards, Neva J. Smith DataSmiths Information Services njsmith@emx.cc.utexas.edu On Fri, 13 Aug 1993, Robert Lee Hadden, US Geological Survey Library wrote: > ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- > > Don't _undercharge_! When all else fails, you are doing > something above and beyond your regular job, so you should charge > more. One rule of thumb is to calculate your hourly wage, and > multiply by 1.5, or in your case of $15.00 per hour, charge > $22.50 per hour. > Don't be defensive about being slow or careful. If the agency > feels you are to slow, they will tell you. There is no reason to > tell them first. As long as you are doing a good and professional > job, there is no reason to be defensive or need to explain. > If they cannot afford your rates, then you can negotiate. But > _NEVER_ take less than your salary. If they cannot pay you what you > are worth in your regular job, then give it up or do it for free > or ask they donate your compensation to charity. But don't undercut > the other indexers by willing to accept less than you are worth. > If the job is worth doing, then it is worth fair compensation. If > it isn't worth the cost of doing it, then it shouldn't be done to > begin with. > Good luck! > > lee hadden > usgs library > > ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- > Help, please! I need some advice. I'm about to put together > a proposal for a freelance job I've been asked to take on. The job > is with a professional association, which wants me to write > abstracts for about 300 scholarly articles and books. These > abstracts will eventually be searched online free-text, so I know > I'll have to word them carefully. > My questions are: 1) How much do I charge for this > abstracting work? Should I charge per hour? or per abstract? I > haven't done abstracting in years, and when I did in the past I was > rather slow, because I took pains to make sure they accurately > represented the original work. (Quality was key to me, but not to > my boss, who wanted quantity, and quick-&-dirty was fine with > her...) I had originally mentioned a rate of $15/hr. to the > project coordinator, but I only based that on my present salary. > I worry that I will overcharge *because* I take a long time with > each abstract. 2) How should I calculate the length of time an > average abstract should take me? Incidentally, is a book harder > to abstract than an article, generally? > I have to get this proposal written this week. Any advice > anyone can give me would be very much appreciated. Thanks in > advance to all who reply. > > Yours abstractly, > Vicki Hendricks ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1993 10:36:40 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Jean Dartnall Subject: Re: Charging for abstracting In-Reply-To: <199308161307.AA06797@jculib.jcu.edu.au> ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- The points made in this thread about the difference between what one "ought" to be paid and the lesser amount one is sometimes offered but needs, remind me of a trick I used once or twice when I was free lancing. If you decide to take a job at a rate less than is appropriate, send in an invoice with the real cost of the work with the amount you have 'discounted' the price noted and deducted below. It's even better if you can think of a reason why you have discounted - some sort of special offer. This way at least employers become familiar with the real cost of the job even if they aren't paying it. You can gain some good will and still get what work is going without creating a dangerous precedent. Jean Dartnall Information Services Librarian James Cook University Townsville Queensland lbjad@jculib.jcu.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1993 11:10:44 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "L. Pilar Wyman" <71344.3467@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Books without indexes ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Charlotte, et al: I recently wrote in about having once written to a publisher complaining about the lack of an index in a reference book I had purchased. WELL, I just got off the phone with the Managing Editor of said publisher: not only did he get and keep my letter, but it looks like I'll be indexing for him in the very near future. He appreciated my letter very much, and pointed out that I probably now get duplicate copies of their catalogue as I ordered a book from them on a slightly different version of my name... All is not lost; there is hope for publishers yet! Fair winds, L. Pilar Wyman Wyman Indexing 71344.3467@compuserve.com PilarW@aol.com (410) 867-1436 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 08:55:01 ECT Reply-To: ab190@freenet.carleton.ca Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Richard W. Woodley" Subject: INDEXING SOFTWARE ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- The April 1993 Issue of the Indexer carries a book review of a book that reviews 10 indexing programs. The book is "A guide to indexing software" by Linda K. Fetters and is published by the American Society of Indexers. -- ********* Richard W. Woodley (ab190@freenet.carleton.ca) ********** * Indexer-Analyst, House of Commons Index & Reference Service * * Secretary, Bridlewood Residents Hydro Line Committee * ************* "Communicate Globally - Act Locally" **************** =========================================================================