| I get the occasional web design lead from my | | | | month these days.I can conceive that a web |
| website. I wanted to find a company I could pass | | | | designer might use a freebie account for some |
| these onto. So I put an ad on a freelance site. It | | | | special purpose, but your own domain name is a basic |
| specified the programming qualifications needed, | | | | advert that goes out in each email you send.6. Bad |
| stated that the successful candidate should have | | | | spelling and grammar.Western civilisation is doomed, if |
| good English, and was for companies only.The replies | | | | using SMS jargon becomes the standard way to |
| I got were enlightening. So much so, I made a list of | | | | write to people. It doesn't impress old frts lik me, fr |
| things applicants did wrong. Here it is.I should point | | | | strtrs :( Especially if you're looking for work where |
| out I was initially prepared to give everyone a fair go. | | | | good spelling and grammar are important.7. |
| After the first twenty-odd emails, my attitude | | | | Front-loading Flash designs.I admit it, I don't like Flash. |
| changed. I was looking for reasons to delete | | | | I especially don't like it when it loads slowly on my |
| applicants. I only needed one successful one; with | | | | broadband connection. I suppose it might impress an |
| 100+ replies it was getting to be a headache, so I | | | | ignorant client, who doesn't know the economic |
| decided a brutal approach was needed.1. Failed to | | | | consequences of having a Flash-heavy site.8. Don't |
| read the spec.Many applicants couldn't write properly | | | | phone the employer up.Unless they say 'canvassing |
| in the English language. Many were individuals only. | | | | will disqualify', 'phoning the employer is a good idea. |
| Result: instant deletion.2. Failed to address the spec's | | | | Why? Because geeks are famously introverted and |
| criteria.Applicants bragged about how great they | | | | tongue-tied, supposedly. So if a web site designer |
| were. Many copy-and-pasted standard marketing guff | | | | can communicate clearly over the telephone, that, |
| about 'solutions' and 'partnerships' into their emails.To | | | | coupled with a good application, puts you streets |
| engage anyone's interest about a proposal you need | | | | ahead of the email-only applicant.No need to jabber. |
| to talk less about yourself and more about the | | | | A polite enquiry to establish contact will do. "Just |
| benefits to *them* of using you. One of the first | | | | checking you've got my CV", that sort of thing.9. |
| things I learnt about applying for jobs is you need to | | | | Keep yourself mysterious.Emails are impersonal. |
| show how you meet the criteria in the job | | | | Anything that can establish you as a human being, a |
| description; see if you can find the employer's | | | | person, a potential ally and friend, is good. It'll make |
| wavelength.3. Lots of jargon.You quickly tune this out. | | | | you more memorable. No need to jump out of a |
| Anyone dealing with web companies probably gets a | | | | giant cake, 'though!However, you have to fulfil all the |
| lot of this. Applicants should talk to the client about | | | | other criteria as well. However great a guy you are, |
| *the client's* site and *their* needs, and avoid | | | | if you're a Unix man and they want Windows, forget |
| techno-babble.Write an application letter. Leave it for | | | | it.10. Leaving unclear phone messages.One chap left a |
| a while, then edit it. Brutally. Short punchy sentences, | | | | phone message, in which he mentioned his site, |
| no guff. Talking convincingly about how you can | | | | twice, but not his 'phone number. His pronunciation |
| make the client money would be an | | | | was bad, so I guess I'll never know how good he |
| attention-getter.4a. 'Coming soon' client-listing | | | | was.11. Too far away.Most replies were from India, |
| pages.You say you've done work for lots of clients, | | | | Ukraine, Romania etc. Anyone who was closer to |
| then put up a 'coming soon' sign on the web page | | | | home (the UK) stood out. I mention it simply as a |
| where your client list is supposed to be. Hmmmm.4b. | | | | winnowing criterion.Also, I needed someone who |
| 'Under construction' pages on your company web | | | | could land contracts from UK residents; good English, |
| site.This looks bad; something you'd see on an | | | | written and oral, was important.12. Give your rates |
| amateur's site. Another reason to bin your | | | | per hour.Forget that. You're not a lawyer. Web |
| application.4c. Only put up pictures of sites you've | | | | design jobs can be clearly defined, in terms of time, |
| done, rather than links to the actual sites.I'd have | | | | work and software required. A definite price can be |
| liked to see some working example sites. Pictures can | | | | agreed on in advance. It's called a contract. |
| be faked, and they don't show background | | | | Otherwise, you leave the client open to escalating |
| programming.4e. No mention of your main web site | | | | bills, and yourself to mission-creep.13. Delay |
| URL.Let us guess where your own site is (if you | | | | applying.The first few applications were more |
| have one). It's more fun! I tried guessing from the | | | | scrutinised. After that, fatigue set in. After one |
| email address. After a while I didn't bother.4f. No | | | | hundred, only an applicant who seems a real prospect |
| hyperlinks at all.Just a short email spiel saying "I am | | | | would be given more than five seconds' scrutiny.T. O' |
| great designer, hire me". Next!5. Using or for your | | | | Donnell ( ) is an ecommerce consultant and |
| email address.A pro designer shouldn't use a freebie | | | | curmudgeon living in London, UK. His latest project is |
| email address service. Basic web hosting costs $5 a | | | | an ebook on conservatories, available at T. |