Time once again for Free Advice Friday, so named because I just like the alliteration. This time, we had competition for the world’s worst lousy offer of the week, but Sharon Hurley Hall sent what is possibly the worst job of the year.
I give you the job you should avoid at all costs:
We’re looking to add 5 writers to our team – passionate bloggers to help us produce high quality informational content for guest post articles.
Relevant niches:
Digital marketing
Fashion
Health/Fitness
Technology/Software
Lifestyle/TravelWe pay $0.04 per word or $40 for a 1000 word article. Volume of articles will vary depending on number of client orders.
Typically, you will look at our target website’s guest posting guidelines to understand their requirements and draft a compelling article that meets their standards.
The articles need to be written in a conversational tone. They should be both informative and engaging/fun to read.
HOW TO APPLY
*** Only Native English Speaker Can Apply **
- At least two articles you feel are closest to the writing style we like.
- Your answer on why you’re a good fit for this position.
- Average number of article you can comfortably writer per week without sacrificing quality.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO APPLY
*** Only Native English Speaker Can Apply **
At least two articles you feel are closest to the writing style we like.
Your answer on why you’re a good fit for this position.
Did you get past the mention of the pay? If so, I hope it’s because you wanted to see just how much more ridiculous this could get.
It became ridiculous rather fast, didn’t it? Okay, so let’s look at this in detail, just for fun:
We’re looking to add 5 writers to our team – passionate bloggers to help us produce high quality informational content for guest post articles.
Yes, not only did they stress “high quality” they failed to hyphenate it, meaning they’re not all that interested in how high that quality goes (or doesn’t). Oh, and you must be a passionate blogger. I’m passionate — I’m passionate about being paid like a real professional, not thrown these minuscule scraps. But I digress…
We pay $0.04 per word or $40 for a 1000 word article. Volume of articles will vary depending on number of client orders.
Wait. So you’re hiring bloggers to work their asses off for $40, and you’re then reselling to clients? At a marked-up price, I’m sure. So if I can figure out who your clients are, why would I need you? Oh, that’s right — I don’t.
Typically, you will look at our target website’s guest posting guidelines to understand their requirements and draft a compelling article that meets their standards.
Huh. Not the smartest bulbs in the pack, are they? So what stops me from going right to that “target” and soliciting their business out from under you hacks? Oh, wait — nothing. Hmm…
*** Only Native English Speaker Can Apply **
That should be your deal-breaker, writer. When any ad has this caveat (this one has it twice), they’re paying bullshit rates that would appeal only to foreigners from countries where $40 would be pretty damn good in their money. So now you’re no better than a third-world writer. Where does that line item fit on the resume?
- Average number of article you can comfortably writer per week without sacrificing quality.
Look at what they’ve said there. They want to know how many you can write first. Oh don’t think they care about that quality they mention–that was just to save some face.
At least two articles you feel are closest to the writing style we like.
What does this mean exactly? Two articles you’ve already written, or two articles from scratch? No way in hell to the latter! You pay or you don’t get.
Okay, so since you’re seriously not going to go for this (and if you do, I’ll personally come to your house and shake some sense into you), let’s look at other options.
Flare Magazine features the latest fashion and beauty inspiration from the world’s leading designers, makeup artists, tastemakers and icons, plus need-to-know culture news and analysis.
FLARE.com welcome pitches from experienced writers who are familiar with our tone and content. In your pitch, please explain why millennial readers need to know about your idea, and why now. Also include a few published writing samples that best highlight your work. Pays $1/word.
Wow. Look at the raise you just gave yourself simply by looking elsewhere!
Writers, what are some of the worst “offers” you’ve seen?
4 responses to “Free Advice Friday: This Job Not That Job”
My favorite part of your entire post: “Wait. So you’re hiring bloggers to work their asses off for $40, and you’re then reselling to clients? At a marked-up price, I’m sure. So if I can figure out who your clients are, why would I need you? Oh, that’s right — I don’t.”
The people behind this job ad think they’re smart enough to rip off unsuspecting writers. The joke’s on them. They weren’t even smart enough to write a “high quality” job description—and they also explained exactly how a potential applicant can circumvent them entirely.
Precisely, Paula. It baffles me why anyone would think we writers need someone to underpay us AND find the work for us. The only time a middle person is acceptable (to me) is when you’re providing content for a legitimate marketing firm that’s paying you a competitive rate to write for their clients. In most cases, the clients know you exist, too. Imagine that! LOL
If you read my blog last week, you remember when I fought with that company where the potential clients refused to read my sample scripts — which were in the style & tone of what they were looking for — and demanded I write spec scripts for their product before they would consider me. Then, they wanted to talk to me on the phone (for which I bill), not about their concepts, but about why I should work for them for free. I accepted another script writing gig at my regular rate that was turned around in three days, with the only drama in the script instead.
Oh, I did read that, Devon. I love that you pushed back. There is no instance in which we writers need to provide free samples when our existing ones will do. That’s a client who has no idea what to look for in a writer. And that makes it their issue to resolve, not ours.