I’m all about trust. I think it’s important for clients and freelancers to establish trust off the bat. If an employer’s first communication to me mentions he’s worried I might plagiarize, there’s no trust and I’m turned off from working at that job. I hate seeing Copyscape in job ads.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t condone cut and paste jobs. I know employers use CopyScape to nip this in the bud, and I don’t have a problem with that. My problem is when a client announces in a job ad that he’ll be using CopyScape. This is so insulting. If you’re going to use it, use it. You don’t need to tell your freelancers you don’t trust them – before they’re even hired.
I know we need to take measures to prevent content theft and protect our websites, but to establish mistrust from the very beginning sets the tone immediately. It breeds suspicion and low morale and puts freelancers on edge.
I know many employers are going to use CopyScape. If so, can you please do so quietly? We freelancers don’t want to know you have no faith in our ability to write something original.
I agree it seems insulting.. But also I can understand why Employers put that they will be using Copyscape in their ads.. I imagine it might cut down on the would-be writers who practice plagiarism, giving the employer less work to comb through with CopyScape.
Also, it proves to me that the employer is willing to go the extra foot or so just to make sure your work is not only quality, but original.. Giving me good vibes that they might be legit and more likely not to burn me.
But like I said, I do agree that it does seem a bit insulting to writers.
Oh my gosh! I so agree! I’ve thought this too. I was just telling my husband that everytime I see it mentioned I feel like a reprimanded child who hasn’t even been given a chance. It is just assumed that I’m going to do wrong.
I don’t take offense to Copyscape being mentioned in an ad. I don’t see it as a sign that the employer doesn’t trust anyone–it’s simply intended to scare away people planning to plagiarize. Everyone else can ignore it and move on.
I totally agree with Dawne. If I see CopyScape in the ad, I feel more assured. I have applied to writing jobs that have mentioned CopyScape.
If I was in the writing employer’s shoes, then I would do the same.
It is just a precaution.
Deborah,
I agree with you. It is insulting to the writer to see the employer does not trust the writer right from the beginning. It does set a bad tone for any ongoing communication.
It is a shame that employers believe they must use CopyScape anyway (I am okay with them using it). Doesn’t say much for our profession, but I would rather not know up front. If they are going to hire me, they need to know they must trust I will do the best work for them. If they don’t believe that, then don’t hire me.
I don’t have a problem with their mentioning Copyscape. In fact, it has never crossed my mind that it might be insulting.
What I despise–positively loathe–are job posters who say they will not pay unless the job is finished to their satisfaction. It’s the old, “Edit these 750 pages and if I’m not happy with the work you’ve done, I won’t pay you.”
How’s that for a lack of trust? I steer away from people like that, not only because they are clueless but also because they’re probably asking you to edit a reams of undecipherable mishigas.
I am amazed you guys are more concerned about Copyscape than the race to the bottom on price, with ads offering $1 for 400 to 500 words!
Hi Tony, Actually we talk about low wages often at FWJ. The $1 per article discussion comes up all the time. It’s not that we’re more concerned with copyscape, but that copyscape was the topic of this discussion.