Comments on: I Heard a Rumor…

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:48:48 +0000

This would never occur to me — if I can’t get a job legitimately because I am a skilled writer with relevant clips, then I don’t want the job.

Instead of doing this to each other, we should be banding together to flag down the ads from publishers looking to pay $1 per 500 words or who want us to write “audition articles” with no promise of paid work in the future. You know what they say — “United we stand, divided we fall.”

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:00:27 +0000

This is indeed happening – it happened to a job that I posted, and unfortunately, I have no way of knowing which of my applicants was the offender. Completely ridiculous!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:00:10 +0000

One more possibility – other job posters who are competing for the attention of writers and who are paying nothing or next to nothing might be flagging posts of better opportunites. We, the writers, aren’t the only ones in this business competition. For example, if Ms. X posts she will pay $10 per 200-word article for a new site and Mr. Y is offering only $3, who knows if Mr. Y isn’t the one who is flagging? Without clear evidence, there’s no need to throw fellow writers under the bus.

By: melinda warner

melinda warner — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:59:55 +0000

There’s another side too. I posted what I felt was a legitimate opportunity for someone to write content for my website. It wasn’t long before I received several cover letters from not very good writers and an email from Craigslist telling me the ad was removed. I have no idea why I was flagged because Craigslist doesn’t make that information available. I learned my lesson though. I’m never posting on Craigslist again.

By: the insane writer

the insane writer — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:59:33 +0000

I certainly hope that isn’t true! It’s a shame that writers would stoop that low just to get a job. I always thought competiton was fun. A wonderful challenge! It’s a way to give us a chance to really show off our writing talent. Why waste it by flagging posts to gain a job and never really have the opportunity to show potential employers what you can really do?

By: devon ellington

devon ellington — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:59:06 +0000

I hope that’s not true! I always thought if a job was flagged, it meant a professional recognized it as a scam — a few jobs I looked at once, was leery of, then went back to look at again have been flagged, and I figured that’s why.

I HOPE so-called writers aren’t just being sleazy!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:58:38 +0000

Yes, the competition is fierce. Nonetheless, I would never think of doing something like that. Unfortunately, we may begin to notice more and more flagged ads.
Some writers may read this discussion and wonder, “why didn’t I think of that,” and start flagging legitimate and higher paying job offers.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:58:22 +0000

Actually, I believe it takes flags from separate IP addresses to flag down a CL post.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:58:07 +0000

WARNING about the “Freelance Writer for Jewelery (sic) Newsletter” job with Goldenmine.com:

The same ad was posted a couple of weeks ago, and I sent a resume and a very applicable clip.

Today I was told I had made the final cut. The guy wanted me to send in a “free sample article” on a specific topic so he could judge my writing skills. Uh, no … that’s what my clips are for.

And why is he advertising again? Must be fishing for suckers to provide lots of free content!

By: kristen

kristen — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:57:52 +0000

that is so pathetic!!!