Trying to freelance…
Ok, so I’m new at this freelancing caper. So after yet another day of procrastination I decided to jump and register myself on a couple of freelancer sites, you know the one’s which promise you can make money using your skills, talents, etc, etc?
Well the process sounded simple enough, but quickly I started to feel a little lost (hence the picture above, lost at sea). After asking me to pay them to set-up a profile I was a little dubious. Ok, so it’s only 0.33cents, but that alone made me wonder how much the pay rate was.
Good question. I’m talking next to nothing. Scrolling through the various jobs which claimed they were my “skills matched” adverts, there was a litany of typos, spelling mistakes and offers to work for $1 USD. Um no thanks.
Or how about the ad that asks “I want a writer to write about any topic I want”, pay rate $15USD. Great. Is this a permanent gig? Am I writing a 30,000 word novel? The cheeky part of me wants to respond just to see what the next steps are…it seems as though there’s a veil of secrecy or perhaps I am the only one not invited to this party. Where are the instructions, the rules, who’s in the know (I can safely say — definitely not me!).
What I can’t understand for the life of me is how these sites can get away with this unprofessional treatment of people? I mean you are put through the ringer, asked to complete tests, etc and then all they can offer you are seemingly unsolicited adverts that honestly sound dodgy and not the sort of thing I want to put my professional name to.
As I scrolled through the numerous adverts and other freelancers profiles I was shocked. To me they all need a writer to edit and spellcheck their work, mind you I’m not the world’s best speller and grammar (of the English language variety) sends shivers up my spine, but I like to think I’d take the time to complete the post to the best of my abilities.
The sites tell you the bare minimum. For example, “I’m looking for a content writer”. Um ok, and….surely you can’t be expected to respond to something which quite frankly appears the person is lazy, disinterested and expecting you to do everything. Imagine working with this person or organization. I might be judging but you’d think it would be like attempting to get blood out of a stone. Tell me something, anything, maybe the topic might be a good start.
Please don’t tell me I’m alone in this? I am without paid work at the moment (thanks COVID) and trying to catch a break. I’m not interested in the type of terrifying options at my fingertips on some of those horrifying freelance sites. Who are they and what do they do? I mean you wouldn’t walk into a real life job interview and not be told the company and address? Why is online work different? What are the standards and why are we putting up with this poor form?
For now I’m going to keep my crash helmet on and forge ahead, even if it means I’m eating oats for the rest of my life and am forced to sell my clothes to make extra cash.
