How to Score a Job With a Web Magazine
I was recently involved with a web magazine that used the Freelance Switch job board to advertise for a few positions. The quality of applicants was fantastic, compared with those some other sources referred.
The positions were ideal for freelancers who wanted some of their work to be regular, without having a ‘job’ and losing the benefits of a freelance career. They involved doing some writing and self-editing two or three times a week, taking up maybe an hour at a time.
We got far more submissions than we had jobs to fill, of course, and I spent most of the week going through applications and sorting the best from the rest.
It wasn’t a particularly fun experience—writing and editing is what I do best—but I did learn a lot about why some freelancers aren’t getting the jobs they apply for. Here are some tips on landing them—a list based on the things that applicants at our magazine impressed us with and annoyed us with. Consider this practical feedback!
Follow Instructions Meticulously
Provide exactly what is asked for. If I asked for writing samples as attachments, I don’t want links, nor do I want them in-text. This is partly because we’ve outlined the process that’s going to make life easier for us, and thus put us in a better mood and more inclined to hire you, and also because we’re testing something very important: your ability to follow instructions.
This goes for both regular gigs and freelance jobs. If your client asks for business cards and you design a collection of greeting cards, what impression is that going to make? It’s the same during the bidding and applying process.
Don’t Provide What’s Not Asked For
Perhaps you think you’re going above and beyond by slipping in a resume or something else that wasn’t asked for, but when I said I wanted three writing samples as attachments, the provided 300-word article edited to test your editing skills and a cover letter, I meant it!
If I ask for a cover letter, I should add, I want a cover letter, a communication that is real and written from one human to another. Not a mechanized list of your accomplishments that has been lifted from your resume and converted to paragraph format.
These are the criteria we’re judging applicants on, not whether you were a member of the high school chess club and worked at McDonalds throughout your college years. Give me what I asked for because the extras won’t be judged as part of your application; you’ll just lose points for not following instructions, and use up some more of my Gmail space.
Ask the Questions You’re Burning to Ask
Of the applicants who succeeded, all of them asked the questions they wanted to ask in their very first email.
You won’t cast a better light on yourself by refraining from asking burning questions until you pass the second round. As a teenager applying for my very first job, a teacher told me not to ask what the pay was like because it would make me look like I was only there for the money. Of course, I was only applying at freakin’ KFC for the money and the managers knew this (it’s not a satisfying career track), and I asked the question, got the answer, and got the job.
Whoever propagated the idea that you shouldn’t ask any questions of the potential employer until you’ve got the job should be shot. After all, they’re grilling you, so you may as well get some back! If there really are employers out there who look at you in a negative light because you had the resolve to ask questions, they’re idiots and you should look for work elsewhere, plain and simple.
People who ask questions without hesitation are typically easier to work with, get things done, and can work around obstacles. Those who don’t ask upfront are typically the type to let problems brew until they’re boiling over the edge of the pot and making a big damn mess on the kitchen floor.
Don’t Prove that You’re Incompetent
It’s funny – you advertise for a writing job, and all of these supposed writers with supposed track records send in their applications. Many people sent in applications and writing samples that had fine grammar and spelling, but the number of people who had grammar that was lifted from a foreign language and the spelling skills of my toddler, who cannot yet say the alphabet, really shocked me.
I mean, c’mon.
If you’re applying for a writing job, proofread your application, or don’t bother applying at all. And if a quick proofread doesn’t pick up 95% of the mistakes, why are you even trying to get a job or client when you don’t have the skills necessary to service them?
Proofreading your work shows me that you know how to self-edit, reducing the workload and stress level of your editors, and that you’re professional and responsible. Forgetting to proofread throws up a red flag and you will not get past my first skim.
Do Act Like a Human
While certain professional standards such as proofreading your own work when applying for a writing job are mandatory in my books, some of the ‘professional’ behavior that is often expected in this society really annoys me. It’s not really your fault if you do this; you’ve been taught that somehow, it’s the right thing to do. What is it that irks me so?
I do not want to hire someone who sterilizes the application process by acting like some kind of mechanical robot with no human touch. I know, it’s considered professional to detach from your human nature and emotions, but especially in an online medium, I want to feel some warmth and humanity in your words.
Just because I’ll be paying you money in exchange for services doesn’t mean that we aren’t just two human beings. Let’s act like it, instead of inhabiting some charade in the name of a false sense of professionalism. Call me Joel, not Mr. Falconer, and tell me what you can do, not where you studied and what your five-year-plan is. Then we’ll get on fine.
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“Follow Instructions Meticulously”
I am so glad you listed this first. I can’t even begin to tell you how many applications we simply throw away because an applicant didn’t give us what we asked for.
“Spell checking” Dead on again. Seriously folks, aside from proof-reading your resume yourself, have someone else proof it for you too. And I’m talking about physically using your eyes and not relying on the computer. Computer’s can’t catch errors such as using “too” instead of “to”, etc. One tip I learned from a pro, go over the text line-by-line — but go from left to right, bottom to top. Since your eyes can’t read backwards (at least most can’t) you’re more prone to catch errors. *Hope I spelled everything right*
Hey look. What a perfect example. Everything spelled correctly but I wrote “left to right” when I really meant “right to left”. See. This is what happens when your proof-reader refuses to work late.
I’m sure these points can apply to other jobs as well, not only writing, of course writers will be judged harsher for their writing abilities, but most of those points are things I would probably keep in mind when I look for a job. Thanks for the article.
Thanks for spelling out the obvious
I haven’t seem the bad side of criticism in a while and was a welcomed read. Gets the brain flowing by reminding us that even the smallest of our mistakes and faults cost us dearly.
Thanks for the list. Here’s my most important tip: ASK questions about any writing job you’re given. No, it won’t make you look stupid – it will make you look competent. Repeat, in your own words, what the writing job is – this ensures you’ve got it right. Since some writing jobs’ brief (description) may be just a couple of sentences, this is vital.
If you’re unsure about anything at all, please remember to ask. When you know exactly what the job is, not only can you get it done faster, but you’ll eliminate procrastination, which often stems from uncertainty.
Sam
Fix My Personal Finance
http://fixmypersonalfinance.com/
Nice post, but i think some points can’t be true also for other kinds of freelance jobs, like web development for example.
Joel, I think this post sums up some of the really basic, but important things to keep in mind regarding applying for a writing job online.
I will have to respectfully disagree with you about the “burning questions,” though. Every potential employer will be different, but when I’ve been on the hiring side (of admittedly full-time, non-writing jobs), those questions do mean something. If the person’s only two questions are about pay (depending, of course, on the context and the questions themselves), that might raise red flags for me, especially if I’ve had questions about their enthusiasm or passion.
In other words, as with all communication, I strongly believe that one should rationally take a step back and think about goal and audience. Sometimes, it may be appropriate, important, or just plain helpful to ask those questions ASAP. Other times, it’ll be better to wait until you’ve heard more about the position or opportunity.
Just my two cents, of course.
John, I certainly agree that how, when and what you ask is something that needs to be considered based on all available information. The problem is the prevailing attitude that one shouldn’t ask anything at all. One should, but they should do so tastefully and intelligently too.
I also have to take issue regarding the ‘burning questions.’ Money isn’t the burning question for me; I’m more concerned about the nature of the work. Then I’ll decide if the money makes it worthwhile. I’d hate to think I might have lost the job for not asking the ‘right’ question.
Great post, Joel. So, tell me: are you still hiring?
I actually notice if I say something that seems more human or ask a question in an application it gets the attention of who’s reading. It wakes them up because you know there day dreaming when there skimming through 100′s of applications.
Great post. Especially the part about being human, that’s something I always struggle with in my applications (cultivate drone-like language or actually show how enthusiastic I am about the job? hmmm . . . ) Sometimes employers have to work hard to find good talent, not just the other way around, and your approach to recruitment certainly makes me want to work for you!
Great post, and interesting comments as well! As a freelance writer who has applied for about a jillion jobs via online postings, I can say that all these points are fair and accurate. I have to admit I was surprised at the “burning question” one, as I’ve been carrying around the notion that it might be unprofessional of me to ask questions right off the bat. But I do see how it might make a job-seeker look like they’re paying attention and showing interest; after all, isn’t that how interviews for non-freelance work end off with? “Now do you have any questions for me about the job…?” I will definitely be slipping the burning questions in now. Thanks!
PS: Michael, there is a punctuation error in your first post (computer’s)
, another thing spell check doesn’t catch.
This is a great article…really interesting read. There is although one thing I disagree with. You say to call you “Joel” and not “Mr. Falconer”. I sometimes find that to be untrue in many occurrences in jobs. I have friends that have told me that they’ve been looked down upon because the person called them by their first name instead of “Mr. so and so”. A lot of people get bugged by something like that and while I think it shouldn’t really matter, I’d personally rather be called by my first name then Mr. but some people think the other way.
So I think in a first interview it would be appropriate and still human to call someone “Mr.” or “Mrs.” to be professional and courteous for those that do get offended and then once you nail the job…then it’s probably safe to go by the first name.
But overall it just depends on the person, first impression to me is everything, my first impression with my boss now was that she wasn’t the type that wanted to be called “Mrs.” so I called her by her first name and I was right, she has respected me more for that I think…so it all comes down to who you’re dealing with.
These points are well taken, but I’m a bit confused, since some of the folks here are commenting on your article as though you were referring to the interview stage. Are you not referring to the initial 1st contact, the application? So, calling you ‘Joel’ in the primary email contact, asking about pay and otherwise doing everything we were taught to do for mainstream job-apps is okay? I suppose one needs to take the cue from the tone of the initial advert. If it has a fairly stuffy or ‘professional’ then one would need to put one’s application into that context. We can only go by the cues given by the advert, and the kind of job we’re applying for. That’s just part of ‘reading’ the client.
Aha, proofread… ‘taught not to do…’ Sigh. Who here hasn’t been guilty of this, thus far
Very good advice!
I especially liked the one about being human. Really, the interview is not about your past achievements or whatever, but about whether or not you’ll fit in with their company culture and whether you’ll be able to produce. You gotta get along with your coworkers and your boss!
And if you can ask a question that stumps the interviewer, then you can be sure that the interviewer will remember you!
Thanks for the post!
Amy
An Origami Paper Florist
http://www.floralorigami.com
Practical tips. I really appreciate the one about “being human.” I really believe one of the reasons I have landed jobs I’ve wanted was because I wasn’t afraid to let my personality show through.
Thanks for the tips and thanks for a great blog!
Thanks a lot for posting this, it really will help me, and I’m sure many others when it comes time to search for a new job. It’s all true, you should be yourself, not some fake person who is ‘perfect’ at everything.
Thanks!
If that has not already landed a project for someone, I don’t know what did!
Great post, jumpin in my seat at 3:24 in the am, fellin motivated!
Goodnight Joel!
lol
I loved your article, It was very informative. I like how you expressed the human touch is important .
I also experienced the backlash of an employer after asking how much money finding out it was minimum wage and given instant option to back out of the job with the quote in so many words as I felt it was said as “Don’t waste my time” if you want more than my Dime” then I waited two weeks for them to call, which he stated it would take. Then received a letter in the mail stating although I had very impressive qualifications they found a more qualified person. I imagined that meant he wasn’t impressed with me asking how much and assumed I wasn’t qualified to accept such a low paying job.
I thought your article was very informative and will follow your interesting tips to get published.
I am not the best at editing but my ideas and writing come from the heart and am one day hoping to overwhelm a publisher with a story that can’t be overlooked and thrown in the trash.
Much competition keeps most good writers at bay.
I believe the truth is in what you say as to believe in self worth and never sail a sinking ship. Patch the holes,get a new sail, Then sail away.