Comments on: One job listing you should not apply for

By: ashley

ashley — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:52:16 +0000

Hey, I am trying to find an agency that provides all employment services. I heard that International Workplace Consulting Pte Ltd is pretty decent. Anyone knows about it?

By: Alison Moore Smith

Alison Moore Smith — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:31:21 +0000

Sometimes bad examples are the most helpful. I think this is an example of this. Keep up the great work.

By: Free samples aren’t so free « Jennifer Larson, Writer at Large

Free samples aren’t so free « Jennifer Larson, Writer at Large — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:09:20 +0000

[...] June 29, 2009 · Leave a Comment Over at one of my favorite writing websites, The Freelance Writing Jobs Network, there’s a discussion going on about whether writers should respond to job ads that require them to produce a bunch of new (and free) writing samples to be considered for the gigs. Here’s where the discussion got started: One Job Listing You Should Not Apply For. [...]

By: Jennifer L

Jennifer L — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:46:48 +0000

Amy S, I hear you! And I agree: if you have already lots of clips on your blog, that should give a good sense of your experience and writing ability. Why would someone need more?

Sometimes I get grumpy about people asking for new samples because I really do want to know why my existing samples are not adequate. I’ve been a professional writer for more than a dozen years! I really have learned something, and I’ve got hundreds of clips to prove it! Why do I have to provide free work for you on top of it?

Grumble grumble grumble. (I think I need a vacation…)

By: Amy S-Denver, CO

Amy S-Denver, CO — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:40 +0000

Hi Jennifer,
Great Post!
I recently had an interview for a freelance “writer/market researcher” position and had a phone interview in which the client wanted me to send writing samples (this song and dance has happened to me before).
I created a few new writing samples and sent them and never heard back a thing! The client even told me he looked at my blog…if you’ve looked at my blog why on earth would u need to see more writing samples?!?

This is very frustrating to tailor make posts for each application.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:05:47 +0000

@Deb – Thanks for commenting Deb. At a community like this, I can see the perks of allowing readers to choose their own fave blogger. I can also see why some might have been down on it though. It’s kind of lame though if someone is still harboring issues about it – that’s too bad.

By: Deb

Deb — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:40:15 +0000

FWJ Idol was a good idea at the time but I wouldn’t do it again. We thought we would let the community pick their own bloggers. Each week the contenders would posts and each week the community would vote until we came up with a winner. Thought we’re content with our choices, we received a bit of negative feedback. Now, I don’t even accept guest posts very often. I don’t want to take advantage of anyone , and I don’t want others to see us this way either.

One person (and I know absolutely who it is) is following me around everywhere to this day still trolling me about the contest. I wanted to make it like American Idol, which it was, but we received a lot of backlash for it. We did give the bloggers to pull their posts a week after they were posted but only one asked to do this. Our intentions were honorable.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:11:15 +0000

@Brandi – thanks for the info. I caught some of FWJ idol, but didn’t hang out, or vote or anything, so I wasn’t quite sure. Personally, I wouldn’t enter a job contest any more than I would apply for that green gig (too much time spent working for no money) but I do think idol was a little different in that in Deb’s case she was likely trying to let readers have their say about the applicants vs. her making the final decision, which is cool, since who better to know what they want to read. BUT I can’t say for sure, because as noted, I wasn’t involved. Maybe Deb will come over and say something.

By: Brandi

Brandi — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:56:37 +0000

@Jennifer – Deb ran it basically like American Idol works. Lots of people entered. She and Jodee picked 11 or 12 (can’t remember the exact number) of finalists. Each person wrote an entry each week based on a topic or theme Deb picked. The entrants had to communicate with their readers through the comments section, and one person was cut each week based on reader’s votes. So each week you were in you wrote 1 piece for which you received no financial compensation. (To be fair, Deb did agree to take down the posts if people preferred when they were eliminated.)

I’m not down on FWJ Idol. Obviously all of the entrants knew what they were getting into when they signed up. I’m just saying that what this very blog network did (which, in fact, was the beginning of the split into a network from just a single blog) is no different what the green blogger posting does.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:51:25 +0000

Glad we all agree And Cynthia, I agree, this sort of thing does make their site look used, without having to have any real visitors.