Comments on: Tippyleaf Tea Update

By: becky

becky — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:21:41 +0000

James, Thanks for letting us know here that you’ve found someone. I hope it works out well for both of you!

By: Zoe "Digital Midge" Marlowe

Zoe "Digital Midge" Marlowe — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:22:11 +0000

This has certainly been one of the most interesting and lively discussions here on this forum! Maybe we all needed a moment to wake up and smell the coffee (or tea?).

By: Mille

Mille — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:06:49 +0000

@James…

“as it happens not one of the thousands of applicants bought tea from us.”

How do you know that unless you were monitoring hits vs. sales?

“it never crossed my mind”

Methinks the lady doth…

By: Erika K

Erika K — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:37:09 +0000

James –

Thank you again for offering a look inside the mind of a hiring employer. Congratulations on finding your new writer! Hopefully, you will find that your hiring process worked for you and you have a much better fit for your blog.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:34:52 +0000

Thank you James for your graceful response.

By: Erika K

Erika K — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:30:37 +0000

Could we just not assume the worst about James, please? He took a lot of time to even come here and offer insight.

This is how rumors and gossip start. Assumption, conjecture, 3rd party information, etc.

Please, let’s not be in the 6th grade here.

By: Englebert

Englebert — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:26:28 +0000

This man needs to make up his mind already! It reminds me of the person who has been married eight times … gosh, don’t you think perhaps there is something wrong with you and not the suitor?

Focus on the work James. Look at the clips. Cover lettters, etc., they are all overrated sir! Results do not lie. I’m SHOCKED by the bad advice he’s given this board!

By: James MacAonghus

James MacAonghus — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:12:20 +0000

Thank you Deb for the update post. I have found someone now, they start in April. I put the job ad on three websites, but job ads always take a life of their own and appear on places I’ve never heard of for months after the job closes, I don’t have much control over that.

I don’t feel the need to answer comments critical of myself, but I do wish to answer the suggestion that I have used Deb’s great website for nefarious purposes: it never crossed my mind to use FWJ to drive traffic; additionally we don’t really sell to the US; and as it happens not one of the thousands of applicants bought tea from us.

I have always tried to be respectful of this community, and remain a keen reader. I apologise to anyone that I have offended, while bearing in mind that the nature of my interaction here centres around rejecting people (for this job), and that blogs are generally much more critical places than real life. In general though, the vast majority of you have been welcoming, so thank you.

By: Jodee

Jodee — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:59:26 +0000

Since James took the time to comment here about what he wants to see in an application and the job hasn’t been filled yet, this is an opportunity for people who think they could have presented themselves better to re-apply.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:30:18 +0000

As far as people who don’t hire us, remember the words of Groucho Marx: “I wouldn’t want to be the member of a club whose standards were low enough to accept me.” (may not be an exact quote)

By: Jenn Hollowell

Jenn Hollowell — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:04:03 +0000

It actually doesn’t surprise me that he hasn’t chosen a writer yet. If it were me, I would be completely overwhelmed by the initial response, and the even more overwhelmed by all the “so, did you find a writer yet” type emails. He’s probably STILL sifting through all the yes, no, and maybes. It’s a lot of work and, if you already have a lot on your plate, it’s difficult to find time (and energy) to get to such a hefty task.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:47:25 +0000

finally a man who makes up his mind

Oh, great… another woman with stereotypical replies about males.

Seriously, ladies, this isn’t a female only site, please show some respect.

By: Englebert

Englebert — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:46:59 +0000

I have read this thread with interest.

Personally, I question anyone who would put stock into what this James character says. He’s obviously a bufoon who is only trying to drive traffic to his Web site. Is this the type of person we want to work for?

I have too many other clients to serve than to waste my ability on the likes of him. Let him thumb his nose at others and keep him off of this great Freelance Writing site. I’m not sure why he has been allowed to express his views here. It seems many here agree!

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:06:33 +0000

@Jaqueline,

While I agree it’s good to be wary and look out for scams and people who play games, I don’t think we need to point fingers at people just because they don’t hire us.

You very well could be right, I just like to believe the majority of people who are looking for writers are fair and decent.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:59:41 +0000

I made a similar comment about site traffic right after the 2nd post about James and his feedback for us (a few weeks ago). We’re writers and I’m sure many of us fit the demographic for tea drinkers. It’s legitimate that the question of driving site traffic is brought up.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:12:02 +0000

@Zoe – That was speculation and I (personally) don’t believe it to be true. Not everyone plays games on the Internet. Some people are just selective about who they hire. James has a site he cares a lot about catering to a niche in which he’s passionate. I don’t think he’s driving traffic to his site, I think he’s looking for someone to trust his site to. I went through the same thing with this blog before I found Jodee.

By: Zoe "Digital Midge" Marlowe

Zoe "Digital Midge" Marlowe — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:19:15 +0000

Sorry Deb, if my above post was ‘over the top’ on ‘spanking’ James for his slightly negative-sounding laundry list of ‘requirements’ for his tea blog, but I was a bit upset because on another blog, and also thru an email I received from a writer pal in Oregon, it was mentioned that James is not looking for a blogger, just for site traffic. Some people are really tea’d off about that apparently!(pardon the witty tea pun there…)

I personally don’t care about his blog, I’m busy trying to find ‘real’ writing jobs that actually do exist out here somewhere…

Thanks

By: Scribette

Scribette — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:43:50 +0000

Anne – your comment does make sense. (but as mentioned … to each his (or her) own I guess!)

Maybe he is taking so long because the writers he likes are not in his pay range?

I have no idea actually (I didn’t apply for this job) … but I do wish him well in his search.

By: Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs

Laurel - Freelance Marketing Jobs — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:32:24 +0000

There’s nothing wrong with being selective especially if it results in the right fit. James obviously knows what he’s looking for. I respect that and appreciate his feedback posted by Deb.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:48:41 +0000

I think the guy is a man (finally a man who makes up his mind) that knows what he wants and is not going to settle for anything less.

I like the bluntness and to the point communication.

By: Brandi

Brandi — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:02:19 +0000

The biggest suggestion I would have for James is to seek out other places to post the ad. He posted them in many places that have similar audiences. He may be hitting up mostly the same writers at all of the spots, and looking for other places could give him different types of writers.

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:10:28 +0000

I know someone else mentioned that they’ve wondered if some of these ads are placed strictly to boost traffic. I came across one of those a few weeks ago. After sending my resume, the woman emailed me back saying I was a perfect fit. She then said to get started, she would appreciate it if I would really look over her site and offer two suggestions on what I could do to improve it with my writing. I did and never heard another word from her. Shortly after that, I saw her post the same ad in a few different places. It’s a perfect way to gain traffic.

By: Janet

Janet — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:38:59 +0000

I thought James’s ad was great, and I thought his feedback was great. I actually tried to apply, but got bounced due to the spam filter. Now that I know the gig’s still open, I’ll try e-mailing him again. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the one to land it! : )

By: Kate Malone

Kate Malone — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:44:53 +0000

Agreed Anne. I wish James had been honest and told us how many places he placed his ad. He made it seem like we all came from FWJ and we’re all the ones he didn’t like. I didn’t see him offering feedback anywhere else.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:39:26 +0000

I think Anne just hit the nail on the head.

Yes, feedback from potential employers is very valuable. I would like to hear more of it, though I do stand by what I said about my impression of James and his comments.