ok so let me explain things before I post the funny stuff. If you didn’t know, I run Developer Hut and I have been hiring writers to do paid posts for the company.
My process to hire writers is to post on niche related forums about the job and then having people email my jobs email. After they email me I briefly look over there info and then send them a “training process” email. That email goes more into details on what there job will consist of. It also explains to them that they must do 25 blog comments, 15 increase blog comments, and 15 yahoo answers as a “training phase”. If they complete the training phase and there works looks good I usually hire them.
Well, one day I realized that some random person on a forum posted a reply on one of my paid forum posts (I have to pay $10 to post in the hiring section). You can read what she said below, but basically she dosen’t like the fact that I have a “training process” where the writers must do 35 free blog comments for me.
I do get about 30-40 people emailing me everyday about writing jobs. I post at least 3-5 different posts a week on different job sites or forums within that niche. I dont have the time to look over peoples work samples, and even if I did look over there work samples, why would that help me?
The actual writing part of the blog comments aren’t a problem with people, its the process to find the blog posts that are related to the customer niche. I need to make sure people understand that process before I spend my time (its kinda valuable to me) on training someone.
So where am I getting at? Well, the smart person below dosen’t think my process is the correct one, so I am asking you, what do you think I should change or add to make the process better? I asked the smart person and she said said something about “indian counties” and didn’t seem to want to help me out any.
Post from smart person on forum:
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Let’s look at this…
“After you email us you will start a training process which requires you writing 25 blog comments, 25 increase blog comments, and 15 yahoo answers at which you will not be paid for.”
You seriously have to be joking. That in itself is extortion. You could ask for writing samples or even better… if they have a yahoo answers account, you can see how they write by asking to see links to answers they have provided. But personally, I would never do something for free to prove to you that I can do the job. Heck in the real world…they give you three months probation period and you still get paid regardless and if they don’t like you afterwards, then they tell you to go.
So ethically…this is just trying to get free comments. How do I know this? Because you stated exact numbers… the fact you want 25, 25 and 15. I mean I would have to be the world’s biggest idiot to fall for that.
I myself have a yahoo answers account and if I wanted to do a job like this, I would simply link to all the answers I have done.
But as it stands… people would have to be real desperate for this crap.
PM sent from me to the smart person:
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Hello,
“That in itself is extortion” <-- that got me and my mates a good chuckle thank you.
I get over 50 people applying for the job daily. I post on numbours forums throughout this niche. The blog comments, and yahoo answers are all done for a website that was specifically set up for this. Duh!!!
First of all, who cares what you think.
Second, this training process weeds out the weak ones. If you are too good to do 25 blog comments then you dont have to do them. Pretty simple really? I think so, how the **** would i have time to look over 50 peoples samples everyday?
Hey how about this, you can use your overwelling knowledge and let me know that answer. Till then this is the process.
Oh and please look up the meaning of "extortion" and stop posting your BS on other peoples paid threads.
People can make decisions by themselves you know? if they dont want the job, then they dont have to take it. You silly goose...
Another reply from smart person:
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his made me laugh… “overwelling knowledge ”
Overwelling knowledge? It seems you must have meant ‘overwhelming’!
Point one: I can spell unlike you, second you must be a kid, and thirdly, no person with any decency in their right mind would do so many posts just to get accepted. Now that made me laugh ten times more. Go to any decent writer forum and tell them that and then let me know their responses. Only idiots from indian countries that are desperate for a bit of money will apply for your job.
Enjoy it while you can.
My final reply (I couldn’t help it)
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“Only idiots from indian countries that are desperate for a bit of money will apply for your job.”.
Indian countries?? hahahah
What are “indian countries”? I am overwelling in the need to know thanks!
End of smart persons convo
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So as you can read, apparently only people from indian counties will only do this training process?
The process is actually working pretty good so far, like I said in the Pm above, it kinda weeds people out. I get about 30 people emailing me a day for a job, after I send out the training phase email I get about 5 replys to that, and then maybe 1 or 2 people actually goes though the training process. Most of the people who do the training process will become a writer. So I took 30 emails and broke it down to 2-3 people without much work. Then I can focus my time into those 2-3 people instead of 30…
But I guess that is extortion… haha
Conclusion: After writing all of that I feel that I should be paying the writers for that work. I will update my process so that all writers will be paid for there training phase on the first payment. The problem is that I wont be able to pay every single person that applies to the job and then dosen’t do any of customers work. But I will figure out that later, I want to hear what you guys all think!
Oh and making fun of my spelling is no big deal to me, I am overwelling use to it. That and being call “warass”…
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I don’t that you should pay them. It is just like an interview. I don’t pay for someone to come to an interview.
I would possibly reduce the # of comments they have to do but I wouldn’t pay them.
Secondly, don’t even respond to that person. You own the business, you write the checks and at the end of the day she is getting one. Nuff said.
The only reason I replied was because I was pissed off about her posting that on my paid post. I didn’t realize she did that for over a week, which was hurting my company’s image. Which pissed me off.
But I normally dont reply to ppl like that.
Yeah, I think you are in the right path. No need to pay them in the training phase, if you are giving them a good pay rate while they are doing thet job.
Reply from annoying smart lady:
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The funny part is your little post is comparative to some little idiot going to an interview and the prospective employer (not having hired him of course) turns around and say, “Sorry, in order for me to hire you or consider you for any vacancy I would like you to work this week for me. After then I will review your application and see if you are worthy.”
The little idiot happily goes to work for a week and that prospective employer gets things done. Doesn’t matter if the quality isn’t the same as someone with high standards. You are still requesting that the people do something for YOUR business for free.
So no, it’s not the same thing as an interview. You are not asking writers to link to their work and show how they write. Which in my opinion is the same as an interview. In the end you are just some dumbass that exploits people for free work.
Have fun!
Don’t try and justify yourself. It will only make yourself look more like an idiot!
Someone please tell me why she is still talking. Make her stop please.
Is there a way to have a moderator block her from posting on your listing? Just ignore her it is a waste of time and energy.
Jon,
I would keep screening the way you are screening. If people, like her are too lazy or self righteous to show some work and work ethic up front then why would you want them. She is a perfect example of 99% of the people on the web. They use it as an escape from reality. She is probably surfing the web waiting for Obama to make her life better, since she voted for him, while she complains about someone who is actually doing something. Also, who ever said life is fair? Why does she think it should not cost something to get something? In fact, maybe employers should charge people for interviews, sounds like a profit center and yes, businesses are operated to make money either for their owners or shareholders. If you don’t like that, move to China. I know a guy that charges prospective renters an application fee for his rental properties. He does it to make money, it works.
Thanks for the input guys, thats funny about the apt app fee! How much does he charge for that anyways?
He charges $50 per application and gets hundreds on some rentals.
As far as charging for interviews, yeah, I was just ranting but in a supply and demand world, I could see it happening. It would probably cut down on fraudulent resumes and lying. It would also cover some overhead for the people doing the interviewing. I bet there are quite a few people out there today who would pay to interview and while yes, business often do need employees (not always), employees also need businesses and I think there are a lot of employees that exploit the businesses where they work.
Hey Jon,
The screening process you have is a good one; however, it has its weaknesses. I don’t agree with Eric because charging for an interview is the stupidest thing in the world, but that’s because I don’t believe in exploiting people.
In the business world, an employee is a necessity to an employer just as much as an employer is a necessity to an employee. Therefore, I think that the interview is a necessity. Besides, that’s what a freaking resume is for. The employer readers it over and then decides whether or not to entertain an interview.
Now, on to your screening process. Here’s how you make it so that it works out in your benefit. “If I hire you, you will be compensated for these comments and all of that.” It makes it so that those that are actually good are not just throwing away work. It also means that you get some people who are good, but don’t do anything for free to apply for the gig.
I don’t believe in getting anything for free in this world whether it is an employer or employee. But hey…That’s just me.
I appreciate your input too. I agree that I should pay the writers for the amount of work they did during the training phase. Like I said, most of the ones that do the training phase usually get hired, so its a win-win.
I think the number of posts they need to do is excessive. That’s a lot of stuff just for a chance to do something menial. I’m sure the pay is just barely enough to get people interested.
>25 blog comments, 15 increase blog comments, and 15 yahoo answers
Getting a job at Goldman Sachs, sometimes requires over 20+ interviews with different people. Imagining getting a job at McDonalds requiring 10 interviews.
Anyways… my IMO.
Well doing 25 blog comments is a little different then going to 10 interviews, but I get your point and thanks for the suggestion
Don’t worry about this so much. You are the boss of the job, you pay the salary, so you also make the rules of the job for workers. If they like it, they will work, if not, they can search for another.
I mean if i physically went to a job and trained id be mad as hell if i wasnt getting paid.
I would pay the people for those comments once they begin completing real orders and include it with their next paycheck. If they dont complete orders after training, screw em, they wasted your time.
I mean how much money are we even talking here?
how much would you pay a writer for 25 blog comments, 15 increase blog comments, and 15 yahoo answers?