This is an installment in a series of riveting pre-hiring, screening, and response communications, mostly tailored to the SEO world. They’re mainly for my future use, but some people (and Google) seem to like them too. And why wouldn’t they? This is exciting stuff! /s
If you’re reading this after initial publication, please note that while some details below aren’t accurate, the gist is.
Here’s what I sent to the finalists from a large field of writers
Hi,
You made it through multiple cuts in my screening process. I’ve whittled the applicant pool down considerably, and you’re still standing!
I’ll blab about some of the concerns and challenges ahead.
Time #1: Syncing Time Zones
Some of you are likely nowhere near the Pacific Time Zone. (UTC-7 and UTC-8 depending on the time of year.)
The one or two of you I end up hiring will schedule a few screen-sharing Google Meet sessions with me. I do those between 10am and 4pm PT. So, if you’re in the UK, that window starts at around dinnertime, and if you’re in the Philippines, in the middle of the night.
I don’t frequently meet with writers once we’ve met minds, but the onboarding process requires at least a couple of real-time chats. Sometimes more. Tell me where you are?
Time #2: Time is of the Essence
While I’m a stickler for the technical aspects of writing, some brands don’t want or empower us to produce god-tier content. Some brands do have stringent voice requirements, but there’s still an expectation of expediency. For all accounts, there’s varying balance between quantity and quality.
If you’re not a reasonably speedy writer, tell me now. I don’t pay by the word.
E.g., if you can’t quickly learn how to knock out a decent meta title and description in 2-3 minutes tops, or a great set of metas in <5, that’s a problem.
Time #3: Time for a Musical Interlude
I’m fascinated by time. I wrote a song about time back when people were worrying about y2k. To save time, I borrowed its first lyrical lines from a song I’d written 8 years earlier.
I also wrote a 400-word time travel story in 2022 for a microfiction contest. I did not win, but I don’t think it was a waste of time!
Save some time and skip the interlude? (You are neither encouraged nor required to listen to or comment on either.)
Time #4: Give a little bit of your time to me (early on)
If we get to a point where I send you a first assignment, I always add something like, “ASAP, please show me what 2-3 hours of you poking at this looks like. Touch at least a few different parts of the work order. I’ll give you technical and formatting feedback, and we can discuss and smooth any bumps.”
And if those first few hours don’t elicit a, “Wow! This is great! Keep going! You rock!” (It happens!) …I’ll need another 2-3 hours from you without delay.
If you can’t make time to test the waters within a few days of receiving a first assignment, or if you aren’t good with deadlines, please bow out now.
Time #5: Only so much time to go around
After I fill current staffing holes, I likely won’t quickly manufacture more demand. I only take on a few new clients each year.
I used to allow writers to work up to a dozen accounts, but I won’t do that anymore. I got stung when past prolific writers burned out inelegantly and left me in the lurch.
If you want one account, or if you want to work your way up to six accounts, whatever’s clever. But I’m not interested in being anybody’s full-time job. Moonlighting encouraged. Let me be your side hustle?
Time #6 – Time is Money
In the US I pay by Zelle (direct to your account) or have my bank send you a check via USPS. If you’re outside of the US, I pay by Wise.com. I’m not open to using other forms of payment so if that’s a deal breaker, please let me know now.
Time #7 – Timeline for next steps
You’ve read that SEO writer onboarding piece, right? You’ve also probably read the SEO writer rejection letter. I’ll make the last tough decisions and get back to you with the news ASAP.
Thanks for your time!
-Dan
P.S. Pedantic applicant screening data from 2024 is below.
How’d I whittle from 16 to 3 applicants?
I punted it to the super-team of my wife, sister, mother, and my star-staff-writer. I’m not sure what it’s called, but there’s a bias we all develop when exposed to the same material over and over again. I was suffering from it! Should we call it the “fresh eyes bias”? I think familiarity bias or repetition bias is probably more accurate. We get desensitized by re-analyzing the same signals.
The two people earning a perfect score from my first round of screening made it through. And somebody with a 50% made it through too.
They’re from three different countries.
I’m stoked to work with one or all of them.
I hope they like me 😉
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Dan Dreifort consults on SEO and UX. If he sent you here, that probably means he’s slogging through yet another round of hiring. When will it end? You know the old saying: death, taxes, and HR. Amirite? Two of the three hires from more than a year ago are still with me. One had to resign when a loved one fell ill 😦 Here’s to happy hiring and good health. ❤
Dan Dreifort 