How to lose work and alienate people

by James

I posted the following job advert on Gumtree recently:

Website Design firm looking for freelance photographers to work with.

You’ll need to be a digital photographer with a creative eye and a strong sense of your own style. Ideally you’ll have an online portfolio or a collection or work that you can send us. It doesn’t matter if you’re an amateur or a professional: what matters is your work.

== How To Apply

Download an application form using this link:

http://sevenoakdesign.co.uk/d/af/photographers.pdf

Print off the application, fill it in and send it to us at the address provided.

[extra info...]

I’d say that about 20% of the applicants have ignored the ‘How To Apply’ section and just emailed me directly. Most direct emails say something like, “I’d like to apply” — to which I reply, great: please read the advert properly and you’ll find out how.

When I’m choosing freelancers to work with, it’s a safe bet that I’m not looking for people who are too much of a rush to read a few paragraphs of a job spec. So, a tip: if you want to look good when applying for a job, read the ad first — all of it!