Oh My: bastards, cheats, and scoundrels

I return from the funeral, and my finances are…non-existent. In my moment of desperation, I send out a barrage of cover letters trying to convince advertising firms that dramatic writing is a applicable skill in the real world. This is when I encounter a barrage of employers, who look for employees like one might look for a lampshade on overstock.com, the cheaper the better.

I encountered a particularly nasty breed of employer at a boutique advertising firm that is completely fictional of course, the fictitious Jorden Andersen Adverts in a totally made-up locale in downtown Manhattan.

I arrived for my interview dripping wet because it is a gift that I possess. I bring the rain with each interview I attend. If I have an interview, it rains, sleets, and generally precipitates, so my hair is always nice and frizzy and my make-up is nothing more than a fond memory.

Well, an hour later I walk out of that interview feeling good. An hour long interview for a freelance advertising gig with potential to become full-time is promising. My cover letter stood out among the 350 other applications, which was all owed to my careful skimming of the firm’s websites and case-studies, which emphasized a few key points about advertising which quickly made my key-points about advertising in my cover letter.

Jorden had interviewed me himself, so I was well liked by the big boss man. We parted on the terms that I was to email him a few more ideas on the project that I would be working on, and he would email me with freelance work etc. I email him a few ideas, careful not to tap myself out.

He replies after some prodding on my part by asking for my hourly rate and a few more ideas. I email my rate, but hold off on the free ideas since he has not agreed to any terms of compensation.

Well, that was the last word I heard from this guy. Why would he bother to pay me any money when he can choose from a stack of 350 ambitious university students who will cough up free idea after free idea in hopes of obtaining a paycheck and a new adornment for the ol’ resume.

The most essential lesson one can learn in the business of Seeking is to never under value the work you have done and will do in the future.

I propose this mantra to all Seekers for two reasons: the first reason is that if you find a place that wants you to work for them happily humming and eating sushi in the company cafeteria rather than sneaking out to prostitute yourself in a myriad of cheap and meaningless interviews held in the nearby Starbucks or better known as the public restroom of America, then ask for the pay you deserve or you will condemn your chances of California rolls five times a week.

The Second reason is a defense mechanism against the low-ballers like Jorden Andersen, who will be more than happy to take you up on a bargain rate deal of free for your creativity and hard work.

Don’t believe me? Last time I checked, the position is still available Perhaps one of you will be the lucky winner…