When is it acceptable to mention clients’ names?

Here’s a question that freelancers often ask; it’s come up in some recent classes that I taught, including my sessions at the recent American Translators Association conference. 

When is it OK to mention clients’ names?

We all want to do this. Putting clients’ names on your LinkedIn profile, website, resume/CV increases your credibility, shows the type of work that you do, and it can be impressive, depending on who you’ve worked for. 

But as freelancers, we have to be careful when we do this, particularly if we’ve worked for the clients through agencies. 

In my opinion, there are three situations when it’s definitely OK to mention a client’s name:

1. You worked for them as an employee, not a freelancer, and your employment contract does not prohibit you from mentioning their name. Believe it or not I’ve talked to a couple of people in our professions who have this situation: they worked for a big translation company, and their contract specifies that they cannot post the company’s name publicly (i.e. on LinkedIn), they can only use it in the context of applying for another job. 
2. You have their written permission to use their name, including specifics (on LinkedIn, on your website, etc.).
3. The fact that you work for them is public information. Examples: you’re a certified court interpreter and your name appears on a public roster, or you translated a book directly for a publisher, and your name is on the book. 

These are the rules I follow for myself. I never mention a client by name, other than in these three situations. 

When is it maybe/sort of OK to mention clients’ names?

This sounds like a weird way to put it, but here’s what I mean: 

Lots of freelancers work for huge tech companies through agencies. If you say on LinkedIn or your website that you worked for Microsoft as a subcontractor, is that really a problem? I see a lot of people doing this: “Here’s a list of companies that I’ve worked for as a subcontractor.” And these companies are so big that honestly, there’s no way to trace that information back to a specific agency or business relationship. 

Lots of conference interpreters work at public events where people could see them. Most big diplomatic facilities like the U.N. have public tours, right? You could run into someone you know in the hallway, and you’re wearing a badge that says “Interpreter.”

I see the reasoning, but I still don’t do this, and I think that many clients want you to avoid it. Example: Last year, I interpreted for a big, high-profile corporate event in a very recognizable city. This was through an interpreting company, and they told the interpreters ahead of time, you need to stay under the radar the entire time you’re there. No photos with any recognizable elements of the conference or any of the client’s employees or speakers. Their reasoning: the end client is the interpreting company’s client, not your client. You’re there only because the interpreting company sent you there. And they’re not wrong! I’ve also had direct clients tell me that they never let any freelancer use their name, end of story. It’s always safest to ask for written permission. 

When is it not OK to mention clients’ names?

Basically any other situation:

• You work for the client as a freelancer, not an employee
• You don’t have their written permission to use their name 
• This isn’t a publicly disclosed relationship (you’re not on a roster of people who work for them, your name isn’t on any of their materials)

Otherwise, you need to ask. If you’re not up for that or if they say no, just remove the client’s name and identifying details. “A major American software company.” “A large international manufacturing conglomerate.” 

I hope this is helpful! Have a great week!