A few weeks ago I applied for a job at an unnamed website. Applicants were asked to write a crap load of spec articles. I took a stab at these even though I had an archive of exactly this type of stuff in my portfolio. If the editors bothered reading my portfolio, they would’ve known immediately if I wasn’t a match for their voice and style, don’t you think? That’s just plain mean. Not to mention that the weekend that the editor was going to read my submission, a quick Google search revealed that person was actually basking in the sun at an undisclosed location. Aren’t social networks a bitch? It just seems so unprofessional.
Also, if you’re a blog that is known for short blog posts (usually 2 paragraphs or so) in a conversational style, what is the purpose of assigning so many articles? Needless to say, I didn’t even get face time with these people and absolutely no feedback. I’m not trying to attack this company — which is why I’m not naming it — but their behavior was very unprofessional. If a company can’t be bothered to read a candidate’s portfolio, why should said candidate bother writing so many articles for the company? The sad reality is that so many writers and editors are out of work, that they find themselves jumping through hoops to get a job — even at a mediocre company.
So, I’m posting everything that I wrote because someone should be able to enjoy all of my hard work. I’ll going to re-post the articles separately, but here is the list.
1. Reviews of the spring season 3 of my favorite shows (Gossip Girl, Lost, Fringe)
2. Previews of 3 summer movies (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Inglorious Basterds)
3. An idea of a themed movie night and a review of 3 movies that support this theme. (Wong Kar-wai Movie Night with a short review of Days of Being Wild, In the Mood for Love, and 2046)
4. Spotlight an author, director, or band (Stephenie Meyer)
5. CD or MP3 Review (“Kids” – MGMT)
6. Review of the last movie I saw in theaters (Angels & Demons)
7. Pitch 2 ideas for regular features
(Stream of the Week – a guide to shows, clips, or movies that you can stream from sites like Hulu.com or TV.com
Twitography – a feature highlighting the pictures that stars post on their Twitter feed.)8. Fill out a questionnaire (I won’t be posting)
