Should Bloggers Compete for Gigs – You Tell Me

Now before you get all uppity, yes, I know that in the freelance world, it’s all somewhat of a competition. Who sees a gig first, who writes the best resume, who can sell their personal brand the best, and more. The world of writing is largely a competition.

What I’m talking about is this:

Normally you see a job, you apply, you send samples, you mix it up with the potential client, and either you fit, or don’t. Either you get hired, or you don’t. Simple.

In the last month I’ve had at least four potential clients pull a classic competition. You do all the basic stuff, send the resume, send samples, and so on, only to get this email, “Wow, we just can’t decide! We got so many great applications that we think you should all WWF it out!” Ok, not in those exact words…

Still, in those words or not, the potential client sets up some sort of challenge where 50 plus applicants all do some test projects, and may the best man win.

My take:

• I think it’s a little shady.
• I think it’s a fake version of the client saying “Please give us free work.”
• I think it shows that the potential client doesn’t really know what they want (a sure sign of a troublesome client down the line).
• I think – why the hell did I send samples?

So writing is always a competition, that’s fair to say, but do you think that setting up challenges beyond the basic competition of applying is fair, a good idea, or a suck plan that wastes your time?