Through The Looking Glass
Today, I found myself on the other side of the mirror. I don’t mean that I spent time with the Mad Hatter, saw disappearing Cheshire Cats or stole the Queen of Hearts’ tarts – I mean I was the buyer instead of the provider of freelance services.
It was a real eye-opener: as a freelancer, I’d only ever considered the provider side. Like all of us, I thought I knew what the buyers look for, but actually being in the situation was very different.
Here’s a bit of insight gleaned from the experience.
The project itself is for illustrations for an eBook. Firstly, I was as descriptive as I could be in my job description. In retrospect, it was missing some details, like a rough subject of the text and what kind of illustrations I would need. The important things were a low budget and an example of their work so I could see each artist’s style. I don’t care if they’re “established” or not, and I said as much.
I was really just looking for someone who could sketch some felines that wouldn’t look like deformed potatoes (as they do if I draw them myself) and who could do it quickly and cheaply. I didn’t want to underpay them (as I’d hate that myself) so suggested they go for a quick and easy style. I don’t want oil paintings. They’d be my illustrations once done, though the creator will get credit on the eBook (including a bio and web link if they want it).
Within a week, I had 50 bids. Here’s some things I noticed immediately:
- Only about 10% followed the instructions.
- Around half bid at the maximum amount.
- Some bid the maximum, but stated they wanted more.
- Some pasted a standard bid text.
As I read through the bids and tried to trim them down to make my final choice, I became aware of things that were really annoying. So here, for your edification, are some thoughts from a project buyer (albeit one with the mental stability of the aforementioned Hatter):
- Send a sample
When the project asks for a sample, send one. Don’t just point me to your website or give me a URL to your work. Why would I hire someone who can’t be bothered to spend thirty seconds uploading an image from their PC? It may only take half a minute to go and look, but I’ve got hundreds of the things in front of me. Make it easy for me.
- Don’t let questions get in the way
Asking me for samples of the style I want, to contact you for samples or if I can suggest a situation I’d like to see sketched is a good way to miss the opportunity – I want to see your work now, not get into a long conversation over it. Again, I have fifty people to deal with – give me something to look at, then ask the question. If I like what I see, I’ll be in touch anyway.
- Don’t tell me your history
I don’t care if you’ve done lots of this sort of work before. I don’t care if you have a ton of positive feedback. I don’t care if you’re a published fine art specialist. Sure, mention that you’ve done some of the sort of drawing before, but don’t go on and on about it, please. (Yeah, OK, this one’s a very personal thing: I like to evaluate on merit, not on certifications.)
- Don’t give me a massive download
I don’t want a 2Mb BMP sample. Yes, your URL will be of interest to see different styles, but I want to see something now. I don’t want to have to copy/paste a URL by hand. I also don’t want to visit your site and be greeted by a 2Mb Flash interface, especially if you haven’t sent a sample. Too long. Next!
- Don’t beg
Repeated messages telling me how interested you are can be off-putting. On the one hand they show enthusiasm, but on the other they can sound desperate, especially if you lower your bid at the same time.
- Don’t apply if it’s too small for you
Telling me that my budget is too small for your talent is not particularly helpful. I want to work with a person, not an inflated ego, no matter how good it is at drawing.
- Don’t use a template
Don’t paste a standard template into your bid text, especially if there are words missing or it’s badly written. It just makes you look lazy. I don’t need a lot of text: just say you’re interested, a sample is attached and hope to hear from me soon. Page-long texts from fifty people? Ack.
- Don’t demand things
You may have your own business and you may have certain requirements (often the use of escrow rather than a direct payment, as it’s more secure for both parties) – but don’t demand it in your bid. You can mention that you “Prefer escrow”, but saying “Full escrow required” makes you sound like I’m going to have trouble dealing with you.
- Don’t bid low to win
I know it sounds like a contradiction, but I’d rather pay a bit more for someone nice and good than take the one with the tiny bid. As long as it comes out within my budget – or even pushes it a little – I’ll be happy.
Summary
All in all, the thing I noticed the most was that it’s a really long process going through all the bids. Anyone who followed instructions and made it easy for me to evaluate them came out way ahead of the others. So what does all this add up to?
Make it easy for the buyer to see what you can offer.
By the way, the final bid winner was not the cheapest, but was relatively low-priced (especially compared to some of the people who could produce works of art). She won because her sample was a few simple sketches and they made both my partner and I say “Awwwww!”
I realise, of course, that this was a very personal experience, but I’d love to hear your reactions. Do you think my comments are fair? Would you – as a provider – be really peeved by anything in the way I chose who won?
Go on, fish-slap me.
Appendix: Deb Ng just posted a similar review of applications for a blogger job on her site. It makes for good comparative reading. Pop over and peruse.
[Mad Hatter Hat image from StyleHive.]
It’s too bad I didn’t see your ad. I am on the lookout for illustration work for my office. Here are a few samples: http://wordswormink.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-of-adits-art.html
Another source of the work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30472263@N03/sets/72157616378550618/
I have two illustrators working for me currently. If I can get even small jobs it would bode well for my little company. If it’s ‘too late’ but you have something else you’re looking for, or you know someone else looking for illustrators, let me know.
If, on the other hand, it’s still open, then… The bid depends on the job. ie., is it color? b&w? Personally I’d prefer just to go with what you’re comfortable with the job. I think if you’re up to giving my guys a try, you just need to give a solid description of what you want. I then do a rough sketch of it before sending it off to Adit and Harry.
Cheers,
Steven
Hi Steven. Man, that’s a shame! The job has indeed been picked up by the lady I was hoping would do it – the style she did in quick sketches was exactly what I as looking for. I got her through one of the freelancing sites (specifically GAF): if you don’t have logins there and on the others, I’d suggest you set up!
I have nothing else that needs doing, unfortunately – but at least I know that you’re in that line now! Next time, I won’t have to go off hunting and worrying.
After getting burned from trying some of the leads I found on Deb’s site, I’d decided that I’d had enough of them. If I get some jobs through networking, well, that’s great. But I’m not going to chase jobs down any more. It was both time consuming, and time spent in vain. Meanwhile, I have my regular job to attend to and I have plenty of work for my guys to do at the office.
In any case, it definitely is a different feeling being on the other side of the fence. Being an employer definitely changes perspective.
I think you have some great points though some I disagree with. I do like knowing a candidate’s work history, for example. It tells me they’re qualified and may also give an indication that the person isn’t right for the job. For instance if he can’t keep a gig, I’d like to know that – and the reasons why.
Ditto on the massive download one. Please no .PDF’s and nothing that will make me crash. I don’t own a Mac and need gentle attachments. Better yet, paste in the body of the document.
Hi Deb! Synchronicity – I was just on your post!
Yes, I have to admit that the person’s history is a very individual choice. Like you, I believe in giving everyone a chance: in this case, it’s a one-off payment for pictures rather than writing, so I wasn’t bothered at all. Escrow covers me for losing money or not getting delivery. If it had been a writer, I think I’d have wanted more background or a good sample, but I’d still be less interested. Perhaps I should be more careful!
This is the way I look at the whole experience thing: Wayne Gretzky was overlooked by the Toronto Maple Leafs back at the start of his career because he was too small and wiry. I think the way I am trying to put it is this: don’t judge a book by its cover. But certainly, making the application a pain to read would have to be the kind of thing that would earn an immediate deletion. I’m not sure why Deb’s against PDFs. Maybe you need a new application to read them? I know that since I got Foxit Reader (which goes with Firefox – I hope, for your sake, you’re not clinging to IE) I have found PDFs to be my preferred format. When I download books via Gutenberg I end up converting the txt to pdf via OpenOffice’s Writer.
Can I fish slap you anyway?…It’s not everyday that one is invited to fish slap a Lobster…how about on the back for a job well done? :- )
I don’t care how subjective it is. In fact I reckon it is so useful because it’s subjective.
I appreciate that your article is specific to your position as a Freelancer, but I can’t help wondering if it would be beneficial if more companies did a blurb like yours? There are so many websites with a ‘Jobs’ link on their ‘nav-bars’ that lead to boring ‘procedures’ that are usually agonising to read and ambiguous at best.
Which brings me to what I considered to be most noticeable in your article… it seemed many applicants didn’t actually read the brief properly?
That’s a tough one…how does one improve the likelihood that people will read the breif?
I don’t know about you, and called me a ‘fogie’, but I’m pretty tired of talking to machines and people that talk like machines and language that has been so ‘processed’ it might as well have been written by a machine…I think you eloquently addressed this on one of the ‘Small Business Owner’ blogs recently? – http://mybrc.myobnet.com/2009/04/30/mission-possible/#comments (Comment No: 21).
Procedural descriptions rarely reflect the preferences of the people doing the processing.
I for one would find it very useful if, when applying for a position (Freelance or otherwise), I found an application description like yours. At least I would know I was dealing with a ‘human’ and I would know a lot about what your preferences are (if I actually read the brief that is :- P ). It would save me a lot of time.
Bluddy great post Spike…and great comments from Steven & Deb (I have to fess-up and say I’m with Steven on the ‘PDF thang’…sorry Deb :- P )…
Cheers
Stephen G
Hi Stephen – good to see you again. I think many companies would consider a blurb like this unprofessional – especially the larger ones. They seem to prefer a “business-speak” version which is all hoity-toity.
I was tempted to post the original text of the project, so people could see what I had actually asked, but it made the post incredibly long, so I took it out. It’s also a kind of “secret project” for me at the moment, so there’ll be more news later and I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
As always, you’ve provided another interesting suggestion: should businesses provide a VERY human face in their HR department? How thin is the line between human and unprofessional? That’s one for Paul to write about!
Steven: PDFs are just BIG compared to inline text (especially if they contain graphics and stuff). I don’t mind those as much, personally. And I think the Wayne Gretzky comment is incredibly appropriate – that’s why I am less interested in a person’s past. (Audie Murphy’s another astounding example!)
What a great post! You demonstrate the power of combining personal experience with objective commentary and useful advice. This article covers all the bases and is the easiest way to learn new things I’ve seen since THX 1138!
Hi Paul. Thanks for dropping in! Since you’ve been in HR, I would imagine you’ve had your fair share of reeeaaaaally bad applications?
And now I really must try to find a copy of that darned film. Third reference I’ve heard in a week and it’s probably the only George Lucas thing I’ve missed (that’s right, isn’t it? Wasn’t Spielberg?)
Definitely George Lucas. It’s spooky how signs wash up on your doorstep, hey?
I have seen some shocking applications. That may be why I started measuring and refining my job ads scientifically. 23 years later, most of my ads draw just enough of exactly the right people. I’ve even written a manifesto about it called 10 Steps to Perfect Recrutiment Ads.
THX 1138 is a jolly good film. Especially for its time. Saw it by accident when I was nine and have never been quite the same since.
“have never been quite the same since” – I shall avoid the jokes. They’re just too easy.
Is your manifesto available for purchase/loan/tattooing-on-body for folks who are interested?
Ha! Yes it is for sale. It is my first (and therefore flagship) product. 23 years of hard-won expertise, condensed into four pages. Yours for a paltry AUD$10 (about 39 British Pence). The link to my shop (if appropriate in this forum) is: http://www.thefeistyempire.com/shop Many thanks!
Hi Spike…and thanks :- )
Geez, that Paul fella is a bluddy chatter-box isn’t he? ;- P
I reckon it would be really interesting to see your ‘project text’ & then get Paul’s take on it….’Wodyareckon’? :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
Ah, Stephen. You have a talent for backing people into a corner so they can’t escape. You should’ve been a politician (or a TV politics chat-show host – one or the other!).
Here y’go: project text (with a couple of minor edits to preserve surprises for later blog entries):
I need 15 illustrations for a [certain style of document]. They do not need to be incredibly complex: more a stylised cartoon approach. [Short description of main character]. The images are to go around the text on an A5 layout, so they don’t need to be large, either.
I am flexible on deadline and most aspects of the project, including style and use or absence of colour, etc. I don’t mind if you have no feedback or are brand new on site. A sample of existing work (published is fine) or a sketch idea should be provided with your bid, please. Bear in mind my budget is tiny/small, so don’t suggest a style that’s going to take up hours and hours of your time.
Accepted bidder will have full recognition in [final product] (“Illustrations by…” on the cover, short bio and webpage link (if desired) inside) but the work is for outright ownership purchase – no royalties and you can’t re-use it elsewhere (well, not without permission, which basically would mean it’s fine for self-promotion/portfolio!)
Payment would be by PayPal direct (preferably) or I could try to figure out the whole escrow thing if you’re worried about getting burned.
Please feel free to ask questions if I’ve missed anything.
Spike… great post. My writers wish job posters would be as clear as you are. Years ago I was trained as a high tech headhunter. Our job was to get around HR to the hiring authority because job descriptions never ever tell you what the hiring authority needs, can live with, wants, etc.
I recently hired a virtual assistant… actually hired the first one I interviewed on a gut feeling and so far it’s worked well, but as I was training her I realized I hadn’t deconstructed what I wanted enough to get it right the first couple of times. Fortunately she was patient and it’s working like a charm now… not exactly the way I’d do it, but close enough.
Like you, job history doesn’t mean much to me… a little bit maybe to assure me you’ve got a chance of doing it right, but mostly it’s the actual doing that counts.
I know d**n well resumes and credit lists are mostly to give the interviewer something to hold onto during the interview.
Great post.
Thanks
Anne Wayman
Hehe! :- )
Thanks mate…I think? :- P
I’ve gotta go out now…Thanks for putting your project text up…it makes the conversation more chewy….
I’ll pop my 4 Wheel-Drive Dentures in and I’ll be back later on…
Cheers
Stephen G
Anne: Job descriptions are soooo hard to get right. I often see people asking for writers to do them for businesses, because it’s just so easy to miss something that will turn out to be vital. Someone once told me I should be a business analyst (horrible idea, almost as bad as being a manager!) because I can look at things from the other person’s standpoint.
It’s not entirely true – though there are people who can do that, and they’re amazing – as I always miss something. But putting yourself in the other person’s shows and trying to look at things as if with no prior knowledge really makes a difference. It’s sort of like playing Battleships on your own and pretending to not know where the pieces have been placed.
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting.
I Love Elance,
I have been on elance from last 3 years and i have seen many good service providers/companies getting all their projects from elance.
But there are some improvements which can be done in Elance.
The rating system is too strict, and default filters encourage the buyer to see the providers with 5 star rating, which is difficult to maintain as the number of projects in your basket increases.
Also elance fee is also higher, when you do calculation you will find out that 10 to 12 % of the project cost goes to elance
Any ways elance is awesome and the only place where providers can see good quality and big projects.
I will also check guru soon.