Don’t you hate when you spend time crafting a killer query sure to attract attention only to find out the employer failed to fill you in on the most critical details? Like last week, I spent some quality writing time answering an ad that passed my BS Litmus Test (or BLT). The test parameters:
1. Must contain a hint or a direct statement of the going rate (or ask me to state mine).
2. Must not contain phrases like “an easy job for the right person”, “perfect for college grads or stay-at-home moms”, “we are a new company destined for greatness and a great place for you to showcase your work!” and other phrases that indicate they’re not going to pay squat.
3. Must not require a PhD or Masters degree in order to apply to write blog posts (seriously, are you asking too much of us here?).
4. Must sound like a legitimate job offer, not a “we need writers” call for numerous underpaid helpers.
5. Must state the job description fairly clearly (not hint at what it may or may not be).
So last week I answered a carefully vetted advertisement. The ad stated business writing. It stated also the ongoing work factor and stated enough info to pass my test.
Then I get the email – “Can you give me examples of your writing from XYZ industry?” I paused. Huh? Did I read that ad incorrectly? I went back over it (when I send out a query to an ad, I always paste that ad at the bottom of my query so I know what I’m looking for later). Nope, no mention of this industry anywhere in the ad. No hint of it. In fact, many wouldn’t consider this trade writing, but consumer writing. So of course what I’d sent wasn’t going to fit.
I hate that. Wasted my time and makes me think this would be a bad match. If this person is that unclear from the start, how’s that going to translate in the day-to-day dealings? Mind you, if I get another response I’ll press forward. I don’t write people off too quickly, and there’s always the chance I can impress upon them a clearer communication style. But at this stage, I’m annoyed that I couldn’t provide what they needed because they didn’t clearly indicate what that was. If you’re keeping such general info a secret, uh, why?
It’s why I’m less and less inclined to answer ads. Seriously. The minute few who do have a real purpose beyond getting free labor out of you aren’t worth the struggle of weeding through the crap to get to them. And in more cases than I care to think about, they turn into wastes of time for both sides.
What wastes your time these days?
Mostly the ads. They're writing them more carefully, so they can do bait-and-switch once you've responded.
Next!
That BLT check is worth adopting. thanx for that.
Like you, I've become extremely skeptical of ads, which is a bummer because they have previously netted some good work. Between ridiculously low-paying gigs and situations like the one you just experienced, it's really frustrating. Thanks again for sharing your experience!
when I send out a query to an ad, I always paste that ad at the bottom of my query so I know what I'm looking for later
Lori, I do that too. All too often, I get some random response back that gives absolutely no indication of which job they are, so I've discovered that pasting the ad into my original email is absolutely necessary if I'm going to avoid the "which job was this?" questions.
Exactly, Katharine. I didn't invent the idea. I may have even adopted it from you! 🙂 It just makes sense, and frankly, the employers don't seem to notice or care. It keeps THEM on track, too.
Same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Applied to be an expat blogger and then was told after the fact they only wanted people living in South America. Well ok, then SAY that in your ad and stop wasting my time!
Exactly, Chantal! Isn't that nuts? I try to look on those jobs as proof that going forward with them would've been difficult. If they skip important details so easily, what will they skip in our project and how many rewrites before they remember it all?
I monitor something like eleventy-seven job boards, and have yet to make a dollar off of any ad. (I probably could have made "a dollar," but as a loyal Words on the Page reader I'm holding out for something less insulting.)
Lori, would you mind sharing which job boards you've found to be the best of the lot? I'm not quite ready to abandon all of them, but I definitely want to abandon some of them — life is too short.