[Ipg-smz] New Job Question: Trial Period to Full Time Staffer

[Tara Calishain]

"It's a financial risk (on my part) vs. reputational risk (on their part).
In the end, I can comfortably say no and move along, but it would be a
shame. It's not every day that a full-time writing position in journalism
falls in your lap..."

It didn't. They're holding it above your lap with a promise to maybe drop
it if you sacrifice your current livelihood.

On Thu, Oct 31, 2019 at 10:29 AM Liam Kelly via Ipg-smz <
ipg-smz at netpress.org> wrote:

> I totally agree with both you and Ellen. I think they expect me to bear
> all the risk, which is a little unfair considering how difficult it already
> is for journalists/writers these days. On the other hand, I understand how
> it can be risky for a publication to bring on writers who could be
> perceived as *shill*s or biased or something along those lines.
>
> I could technically make up the lost freelance work, but I'd be
> churning out a lot of articles with a "make-more-money" objective in mind
> rather than an "investigate-take-your-time-be-a-good-journalist" objective.
>
> It's a financial risk (on my part) vs. reputational risk (on their part).
> In the end, I can comfortably say no and move along, but it would be a
> shame. It's not every day that a full-time writing position in journalism
> falls in your lap...
>
> On Thu, Oct 31, 2019 at 3:19 PM Mitch Wagner <mitch at mitchwagner.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Seems like they want it both ways -- they want the benefit of having you
>> full-time without offering you full-time benefits.
>>
>> Sounds like this full-time gig might be a bad place to work. They're
>> making unreasonable conditions from the start.
>>
>> Can you afford to say nope, you'll continue writing for your other
>> freelance contacts until you come on full time, knowing that the full-time
>> gig might vanish because of it?
>>
>> Alternately, do they pay enough freelance that you can afford to let your
>> other freelance gigs fall away?
>>
>> I have freelanced twice and both times this experience concluded when I
>> was hired full-time by one of my freelance gigs. In both cases, there was a
>> transition period after we agreed I'd come on full-time, but before I was
>> actually hired. In both cases, I continued with all my freelance
>> assignments  until I actually came on staff.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Mitch Wagner <http://mitchwagner.com/about/>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 31, 2019 at 7:13 AM Liam Kelly via Ipg-smz <
>> ipg-smz at netpress.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I've been speaking with a crypto/blockchain publication this week about
>>> coming on board to help with their coverage. I will be paid on a per
>>> article basis during a one month "trial period," after which, if all goes
>>> well, I'll be offered a full-time position.
>>>
>>> Now, I also write copy for some crypto/blockchain companies at current.
>>> One company is a startup in the space, whereas the other is a PR firm that
>>> represents other crypto companies (among other subjects).
>>>
>>> The editor has stated that I need to stop writing for these companies
>>> before beginning the trial period. I understand his reasoning (i.e.
>>> conflict of interest), but it seems risky.
>>>
>>> What happens if I cut ties with a chunk of high paying work only to see
>>> the full-time staff position get passed on to someone else? I should add
>>> that the staff position will likely make up for the loss of marketing work
>>> financially, and I have no problem dropping the latter once I've signed a
>>> contract to work full-time for this publication.
>>>
>>> It is indeed tricky, and I thought members of the group would have some
>>> good ideas/counter-proposals. What's a win-win for all parties in this
>>> situation?
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>> Liam
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ipg-smz mailing list
>>> Ipg-smz at netpress.org
>>> http://netpress.org/mailman/listinfo/ipg-smz_netpress.org
>>>
>> --
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