Late start today. The daughter starts her new job, so I got up in time to wish her luck. That doesn’t mean I came running to the computer. It means I was able to relax over a cup of tea.
Did some work for a client yesterday – two clients, actually – and sent out two more invoices. I see work dwindling, so I’ve been picking up the marketing pretty hard again. Today will be mostly marketing and working on personal projects.
Today’s This Job, Not That Job is interesting because the job that you shouldn’t take isn’t all that bad. Unlike most jobs that appear in the “before” side of these posts, it’s actually a legitimate offer.
In fact, I had a little trouble finding a “lousy” job today (hence the reason I’m posting late). Either I hit Craig’s List on a good day or things are looking up. Time will tell.
So let’s look at the okay-but-not-great job first:
We operate a real estate blog in the city that focuses on how new development interacts with surrounding neighborhoods and communities. We’re currently looking for freelance writers to help us increase our footprint and improve the quality and quantity of our content. Writers must be available to write at least two posts per week, must be able to snap photos to support content, and must live in the area.
If interested, please email a writing sample that discusses a specific real estate development topic in the city. Some examples of what we’re looking for: a new building being built, a new park, a renovation of an existing building, or a new business opening up. Minimum 200 words. If photos help your story, please feel free to include. We’re looking primarily for outstanding content, but we urge applicants to use their own unique writing voice. Please don’t feel constrained by formal writing rules- our readership is looking for relevant content written with an interesting style, not boilerplate news reporting.
I hesitate to call this a “bad” job because on first blush, it seems fine. The word count is low, the freedom to be yourself is there, and they’re paying. The only caveat I can see is the pay. It’s pretty low. Depending on what topics you’d have to take on, it could be an easy way to make fifty bucks a week or a time waster. It’s the question mark that makes me suggest you pass.
Instead, try something a little more meaty.
Chicago Magazine
We need expose, humor, personal experience think pieces, profiles, spot news, and historical articles. No news or articles about events outside the city or profiles on people who no longer live in the city.
Most articles are 200-6,000 words in length, and pay $100-3,000 and up.
That’s $100 for 200 words. You’ve just quadrupled your money.
Maybe this post is a good reminder to those hanging on to good clients who simply don’t pay enough. It’s okay to walk away from good folks if the job doesn’t fit. It’s not personal. It’s simply you making a sound business decision that protects your earnings.
What clients are you still clinging to?
I'm in a very bad situation right now, due to incorrect information given to me when I agreed to do the job. Unfortunately, I can't walk away until I fulfill the contract, but I won't working here again. In the interim, I have a lot of unpleasantness and unnecessary stress to deal with.
They're paying double my usual rate. It's not worth it.
From my perspective either gig would be good. But your correct, why not go for the higher paying gig. I like the fact you had a difficult time finding a stinker job. Maybe things are looking up.
The real estate job- snapping pictures definitely cuts into your precious hours. You have to drive or get there, take photos, come home, edit them. Yikes! All that and you haven't even started writing.
same thought process for any blog that wants your original pix…or magazine for that matter.
Devon, you're there because you've committed to it, and that's something I value in anyone. I'd do the same – finish the job, wait until the check clears, then forget who they are.
Wade, exactly. Neither job is so awful that either stands out as a scam. It does serve as a reminder, though, to avoid a job that can become an "easy trap."
Allena, I agree. If I were to provide photos, it would be of the free stock variety. If it became a job requirement, the job would be history in a heartbeat.
Even finding the free stock variety of photos takes more time than I want to spend for a $25 post.
Today's been a big query day. I need to find some good new clients so I won't be tempted by the slow-payer. Despite being in a lull right now, I turned down an offer to take on another article for them. Pay me for the One I turned in six weeks ago and then we'll talk.