You Get the Gas Face: Predatory Job Posts

Don't Try to Play Me Out (Yo-Yo Voice)

As a freelancer, I often find myself perusing the pages of craigslist.org for gigs. Occasionally, there's something good. However, I often find ads by people who basically want to bend you over without even shaking your hand first (What I look like?)... and they attempt to make it seem like it'll be a good thing for YOU. Here's one that left me especially incensed:

We are looking for talented writers who love to write about fashion (I'm one of those). While working with our company you will network in the fashion industry and contribute by providing your opinion about the latest trends and the latest gossip on celebrities and everything fashion! (Sounds good so far, right?)

Gain the experience necessary necessary by working with an online fashion retailer to work for top industry magazines like: Seventeen, Glamour, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, InStyle, Harper's Bazaar, Hearst Digital Media Teen Network (Seventeen.com, CosmoGirl.com, DonateMyDress.org), O magazine, Reader's Digest, Details magazine, Us magazine, Star magazine, DKNY, CNBC, Philadelphia magazine, Charlotte magazine, KJEE 92.9 Santa Barbara, Nerve.com, The Patriot News, MVOL.com, Urban Zen Foundation, and O'Neill and Associates Public Relations, among others. (Wait, did they say working with them will give you the experience you need to work with ANY of the top mags we see on stands EVERYWHERE? So writing a couple of blog posts for these folks will get me a gig at Harper's Bazaar? Sign me up... ASAP! *Insert eye roll* Methinks they doth name drop too much)

To be considered as a Contributing Writer, please reply with your resume and two writing clips to this posting. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and we are always looking for the best journalists around! (They're looking for the "BEST" journalists around? I think I could be one of those, given the right opportunity. Resume and two writing clips? I got that.)

• Location: Manhattan
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
• Compensation: no pay (Ah-Ha! Therein lies the rub. Ummm... if there's no pay... this is an internship. It should offer college credit. If it's not going to be set up as an internship, there should be some other kind of perks system! Also, you will NOT get the best journalists around... at least not any with experience. Further, this position is for an online fashion retailer, not a well-known website or even a top blog. Not so sure how much weight that byline will carry.)

Don't get me wrong, I know that not EVERY gig will pay... Hell, some really cool gigs don't pay in financial form. However, working toward the branding of an online retailer SHOULD pay (even if it's in product), unless it's an internship. Just felt the need to share. Style stuff coming soon. Until then...


Hugs & High Heels! (Smooches & Stilettos)