AM I A DIVA?
For much of my career, I worked as a journalist. I worked fairly steadily with only a few interludes in which I had to hustle for free-lance gigs. Five years ago, I got sidetracked into television. I enjoy producing and writing shows, particularly if they fall into the documentary realm, as opposed to reality. Unfortunately, over the past few years I've been employed in fits and starts, as TV gigs typically last three months, followed by a period of hustling and waiting for the phone to ring.
Now that I'm a responsible adult with a mortgage and private school hanging over my head, I need something steady. So I've been exploring positions sort of back in the world of publishing. I've been interviewing mainly for internet jobs that involve the skills I've developed both as a journalist and as a television producer.
Funny, though. In the old days, I don't remember having to jump through the sorts of hoops that I'm being asked to jump for these new media companies. Even when I first got into television and was asked to write a sample script I was compensated for my time. But here are some examples of things I've been asked to do -- gratis -- before I'd be considered for some positions.
Company A:
1. What changes would you make to the content on the existing blog, if any?
2. Assuming you can create features for the homepage, as well as articles to live within the news section, what would an example of a proposed bi-weekly editorial calendar look like (3 months worth)? Please include
titles and descriptions for your proposed features.
3. Please write three blog entries that you think would be relevant to the audience, in the voice that you think would be most appropriate for/appealing to the audience.
4. Please write 3 alternative show descriptions ...
5. Please include any other links to or attachments of writing samples that
you feel come closest to representing the voice you would look to implement
on XXXX.
Company B:
3 Capsules (Profiling 3 places in LA, 1 restaurant, 1 nightclub/bar, 1 boutique).
II. Things You Should Know (write-ups) (2 that are either Food, Nightlife, Art, or Shopping Related)
III. (3) Weekly Features that will be interesting, illuminating and generate buzz. Fill out one for Something New: Something Classic and Create 2 more sections of your own. Creating new weekly features are a good opportunity to get creative!
In both cases, I declined to do these assignments, figuring if my experience didn't speak for itself, then perhaps they were barking up the wrong tree. I certainly am eager to land somewhere, but am I being unreasonable for not taking the time to do this work? Am I just a bitter, arrogant, out-of-touch old sod? And here's one more question: If i had done it, should I have asked for a nondisclosure from the companies to ensure that they wouldn't steal my work?
Trader Joe's management is starting to look better and better.
For much of my career, I worked as a journalist. I worked fairly steadily with only a few interludes in which I had to hustle for free-lance gigs. Five years ago, I got sidetracked into television. I enjoy producing and writing shows, particularly if they fall into the documentary realm, as opposed to reality. Unfortunately, over the past few years I've been employed in fits and starts, as TV gigs typically last three months, followed by a period of hustling and waiting for the phone to ring.
Now that I'm a responsible adult with a mortgage and private school hanging over my head, I need something steady. So I've been exploring positions sort of back in the world of publishing. I've been interviewing mainly for internet jobs that involve the skills I've developed both as a journalist and as a television producer.
Funny, though. In the old days, I don't remember having to jump through the sorts of hoops that I'm being asked to jump for these new media companies. Even when I first got into television and was asked to write a sample script I was compensated for my time. But here are some examples of things I've been asked to do -- gratis -- before I'd be considered for some positions.
Company A:
1. What changes would you make to the content on the existing blog, if any?
2. Assuming you can create features for the homepage, as well as articles to live within the news section, what would an example of a proposed bi-weekly editorial calendar look like (3 months worth)? Please include
titles and descriptions for your proposed features.
3. Please write three blog entries that you think would be relevant to the audience, in the voice that you think would be most appropriate for/appealing to the audience.
4. Please write 3 alternative show descriptions ...
5. Please include any other links to or attachments of writing samples that
you feel come closest to representing the voice you would look to implement
on XXXX.
Company B:
3 Capsules (Profiling 3 places in LA, 1 restaurant, 1 nightclub/bar, 1 boutique).
II. Things You Should Know (write-ups) (2 that are either Food, Nightlife, Art, or Shopping Related)
III. (3) Weekly Features that will be interesting, illuminating and generate buzz. Fill out one for Something New: Something Classic and Create 2 more sections of your own. Creating new weekly features are a good opportunity to get creative!
In both cases, I declined to do these assignments, figuring if my experience didn't speak for itself, then perhaps they were barking up the wrong tree. I certainly am eager to land somewhere, but am I being unreasonable for not taking the time to do this work? Am I just a bitter, arrogant, out-of-touch old sod? And here's one more question: If i had done it, should I have asked for a nondisclosure from the companies to ensure that they wouldn't steal my work?
Trader Joe's management is starting to look better and better.
posted by Erik Himmelsbach at 6:09 PM
1 Comments:
that's lame... get your ass paid before you lift a finger! money up front and have them sign a non-disclosure! and if they can't read your resume to see your more than qualified without jumping through hoops... F ______ them!
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