Monday, February 4, 2013

Civility in the Age of Freelance



To expand my list of contracts, I've gone through the standard steps of registering with the creative recruiters, meeting with them and getting an idea of the things they look for.  I am at the point, however, where these companies are a liability.  I've never really had anything worthwhile from these shops; a few have done nothing. Nothing, that is, except to have me come in and meet my old contact's replacement and fill out the same old forms again (this will happen at least twice a year as these companies have a staff turnover rate higher a Denny's restaurant.)  But their negligence is starting to cost me.  Two incidents in two weeks has forced me to swear off associating with these companies. 

First, I got an email from one asking if I was interested in a short-term contract (3-6 months).  It was to start mid-Feb and she would put my name to the client.  That was the last I heard, until I emailed last week wondering about the status.  "Oh, I forgot to tell you," she said, "the client went with another candidate :("  I guess if I hadn't contacted her I still wouldn't know the status. 

My favourite example of hackitude happened last Tuesday. I got a call from a creative recruiter and she said that there was a short notice gig for a DM writer on Thursday and Friday writing automotive copy and would I be interested.  I said yes and she told me that I would be briefed over the phone by the agency—I didn't need to go in—and I was given sixteen hours to do the job.  

That was the last time I heard from her and I never heard from the agency.  

I booked the time and cleared the deck for a rush job that never came.  But I guess in this time when a barely noticeable head nod counts as an acknowledgement, I shouldn't expect more than an emoticon.

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