There is one sentence that drives me nuts: “This is a pretty easy job for someone who knows what he or she is doing.” That’s the most condescending, insulting statement anyone can make to a writer, and if I could, I would ban it from use in the freelance world.
I’m not sure where the trend of inserting this sentence in a project description began. I do know of one article-spinning guru who wrote a report saying that clients should use this condescending tactic to obtain lower prices, but I can’t say that he began the whole fiasco.
A few thoughts cross my mind each time I read those words. “This is an easy job… writers who know what they are doing.” Who the hell is the client to tell me what’s easy or not? Who says that writers who know what they are doing will have an easy time of the project? If I find the project challenging, does that mean I’m considered to not know what I’m doing? Horseshit. I know exactly what I’m doing.
I don’t need someone who can’t write his or her own work to tell me what’s easy or not. I find it insulting someone would assumes that I don’t know what I’m doing if I find the task a tough one. And hey – if the job were so easy, why isn’t that person doing it instead of hiring someone?
In fact, seeing that “easy job for someone who knows what he or she is doing” warns me right off the job faster than a guy with red underwear in a field full of bulls. The statement shows a complete lack of respect for writers (or any service provider, for that matter. I’ve seen it on graphic design and engineering projects) and gives the impression of an arrogant attitude. I don’t want to work for people like that.
I’ve taken on projects with the “easy job/knows what he or she is doing” sentence in the project description. Each and every time, I went into the project rolling up my sleeves and bracing for trouble: Someone pushing to sell off a kitten knows that cute little bugger is going to grown into a tiger. Sure enough, each time, the “easy job” turned into a project from hell that I kicked myself for taking on or one that ended up costing our business money instead of making it. I won’t comment on how easy to deal with these particular clients were. Take a wild guess.
If you want to know if a project is easy or not, ask me. I’ll be more than willing to answer and to also provide explanation why I feel the job is tough or simple. Also, never assume the job is easy – ever. I don’t tell you your job is easy because it appears to be so. Skilled people may make a job look easy, but appearances can be deceiving. Don’t tell me that I don’t know what I’m doing because a job is challenging, and don’t assume that someone who makes short work of a job is a pro. Fast is good, but too fast usually means a huge hit in quality.
well said. absolutely. I go through the same shit with projects for audio editing and music, etc.
I see this all the time on Elance. I wonder if there’s a blog post somewhere that gives people advice that adding that line makes inexperienced bidders (and, probably, some experienced bidders as well) bid lower than than they would have otherwise. Thanks for giving people the warning that these jobs are most often anything but easy — especially after they’ve convinced you to bid too low!