Now I’m ticked. There are a few places in my online world where I think I’m safe from the crap offers, the low-balling freelance rates (and nonpaying posts), and writers competing to do a thankless job for exposure. Can I vomit now? It’s just creeped in to my LinkedIn experience.
It was a post in the Answers section of the site, but wasn’t a question to be answered – rather, a lousy job that paid nothing veiled as some ultimate opportunity to get recognition nationally. I will say there wasn’t a mob of freelancers lining up to take this “job” that guaranteed exposure to millions. The bottom line of this “huge opportunity” was stated thus:
1. Become a JV partner and write articles for our publication(s) in exchange for massive branding and sales opportunity. Most of our JV writers have products or services they promote and are making excellent revenue from the exposure we provide for them.
2. Become a ‘paid’ freelance writer and get paid by article that is accepted. We do have several writers on board now on a JV basis so we’re only accepting the best-of-best finance writers for freelance work.
First off, this poster doesn’t explain anywhere what the devil “JV” means, but I can only assume nothing good. Junior Varsity? Juicy Vendors? Jacked-up Vagabonds? What?
Of the five people who answered, two were obviously on to this poster and let him/her know that any jobs they do would cost this person real money. But a few actually said, “Yes, I’m interested.” Uh, are you serious?
I expect more from people at LinkedIn. These are serious professionals, or so they portray themselves. They’re beyond taking such offers or even answering to them in any positive way. Yet there were those few who suggested they’d be willing to talk.
Worse is that someone on LinkedIn had the audacity to post such crap. I answered, but to pose questions as to the payment and the poster’s motives in posting a job ad in the Answers section.
Has our industry really gone this far down the toilet? Is it now more common to see this crap than to see legitimate work? Where do people get off thinking they require top payment for their services, but won’t fork over a fair price for the work of others?
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