I get the occasional web design lead from my website. I wanted to find a company I could pass these onto. So I put an ad on a freelance site. It specified the programming qualifications needed, stated that the successful candidate should have good English, and was for companies only.
The replies I got were enlightening. So much so, I made a list of things applicants did wrong. Here it is.
I should point out I was initially prepared to give everyone a fair go. After the first twenty-odd emails, my attitude changed. I was looking for reasons to delete applicants. I only needed one successful one; with 100+ replies it was getting to be a headache, so I decided a brutal approach was needed.
1. Failed to read the spec.
Many applicants couldn't write properly in the English language. Many were individuals only. Result: instant deletion.
2. Failed to address the spec's criteria.
Applicants bragged about how great they were. Many copy-and-pasted standard marketing guff about 'solutions' and 'partnerships' into their emails.
To engage anyone's interest about a proposal you need to talk less about yourself and more about the benefits to *them* of using you. One of the first things I learnt about applying for jobs is you need to show how you meet the criteria in the job description; see if you can find the employer's wavelength.
3. Lots of jargon.
You quickly tune this out. Anyone dealing with web companies probably gets a lot of this. Applicants should talk to the client about *the client's* site and *their* needs, and avoid techno-babble.
Write an application letter. Leave it for a while, then edit it. Brutally. Short punchy sentences, no guff. Talking convincingly about how you can make the client money would be an attention-getter.
4a. 'Coming soon' client-listing pages.
You say you've done work for lots of clients, then put up a 'coming soon' sign on the web page where your client list is supposed to be. Hmmmm.
4b. 'Under construction' pages on your company web site.
This looks bad; something you'd see on an amateur's site. Another reason to bin your application.
4c. Only put up pictures of sites you've done, rather than links to the actual sites.
I'd have liked to see some working example sites. Pictures can be faked, and they don't show background programming.
4e. No mention of your main web site URL.
Let us guess where your own site is (if you have one). It's more fun! I tried guessing from the email address. After a while I didn't bother.
4f. No hyperlinks at all.
Just a short email spiel saying "I am great designer, hire me". Next!
5. Using Yahoo.com or Hotmail.com for your email address.
A pro designer shouldn't use a freebie email address service. Basic web hosting costs $5 a month these days.
I can conceive that a web designer might use a freebie account for some special purpose, but your own domain name is a basic advert that goes out in each email you send.
6. Bad spelling and grammar.
Western civilisation is doomed, if using SMS jargon becomes the standard way to write to people. It doesn't impress old frts lik me, fr strtrs :( Especially if you're looking for work where good spelling and grammar are important.
7. Front-loading Flash designs.
I admit it, I don't like Flash. I especially don't like it when it loads slowly on my broadband connection. I suppose it might impress an ignorant client, who doesn't know the economic consequences of having a Flash-heavy site.
8. Don't phone the employer up.
Unless they say 'canvassing will disqualify', 'phoning the employer is a good idea. Why? Because geeks are famously introverted and tongue-tied, supposedly. So if a web site designer can communicate clearly over the telephone, that, coupled with a good application, puts you streets ahead of the email-only applicant.
No need to jabber. A polite enquiry to establish contact will do. "Just checking you've got my CV", that sort of thing.
9. Keep yourself mysterious.
Emails are impersonal. Anything that can establish you as a human being, a person, a potential ally and friend, is good. It'll make you more memorable. No need to jump out of a giant cake, 'though!
However, you have to fulfil all the other criteria as well. However great a guy you are, if you're a Unix man and they want Windows, forget it.
10. Leaving unclear phone messages.
One chap left a phone message, in which he mentioned his site, twice, but not his 'phone number. His pronunciation was bad, so I guess I'll never know how good he was.
11. Too far away.
Most replies were from India, Ukraine, Romania etc. Anyone who was closer to home (the UK) stood out. I mention it simply as a winnowing criterion.
Also, I needed someone who could land contracts from UK residents; good English, written and oral, was important.
12. Give your rates per hour.
Forget that. You're not a lawyer. Web design jobs can be clearly defined, in terms of time, work and software required. A definite price can be agreed on in advance. It's called a contract. Otherwise, you leave the client open to escalating bills, and yourself to mission-creep.
13. Delay applying.
The first few applications were more scrutinised. After that, fatigue set in. After one hundred, only an applicant who seems a real prospect would be given more than five seconds' scrutiny.
T. O' Donnell ( http://www.tigertom.com ) is an ecommerce consultant and curmudgeon living in London, UK. His latest project is an ebook on conservatories, available at http://www.ttconservatories.co.uk T. O' Donnell freeware may be downloaded at http://www.ttfreeware.co.uk
A well designed web site is great to have, but... Read More
These days, it seems that everyone has a website. Unfortunately,... Read More
Web advertising has taken many forms, including those that appear... Read More
When building your website you might not have a large... Read More
My site is working fine. The links work. Content is... Read More
So you're on the computer, as usual. Your eyes are... Read More
An attractive and user-friendly Web site is crucial to attracting... Read More
Learning how to convert visitors to your web site into... Read More
Web Design is a very subjective process. Your idea of... Read More
Do you remember playing with the jack-in-the-box toy as a... Read More
Probably you know someone who has created a web site... Read More
The title tags of your web pages are more important... Read More
If you are going to be placing ads on your... Read More
In today's age of fast food and high-speed Internet, a... Read More
Hello, how is your website doing?Are sales flowing in?If you... Read More
You spend time and money promoting your website; but what... Read More
Any kid, and their grandmother too, can make a webpage.... Read More
Your web site has been up for a few months... Read More
The "Wow" factor that accompanied the introduction of streaming media... Read More
Why your site should be developed with CSS and semantic... Read More
The Questions You Should Be Asking ? The Answers You... Read More
QUESTION: We promote our web site in all our... Read More
ASP.NET is a new programming framework from Microsoft for developing... Read More
**How Colors are Used in web design:**Demarcates screen elements into... Read More
Ever wonder how HTML color codes are put together? For... Read More
Not too long ago while looking for businesses that do... Read More
The icons in an application are the soul of the... Read More
Creating your own website can be fun and easy, as... Read More
Whether you're hiring a designer who has created 10 sites... Read More
The ability to create simple, attractive and functional web pages... Read More
Do know your audienceIt's important to know your audience. If... Read More
Regardless whether you manage a small business, charitable organization, or... Read More
A client asked me, at what point do you change... Read More
My mother used to take me along when she visited... Read More
If there's one thing that I've learnt so far, it's... Read More
We've all surfed the web and seen some awful web... Read More
The title tags of your web pages are more important... Read More
When you're self-employed, choosing a website designer is a crucial... Read More
STEP 1:Do your homeworkPlan and think about your content. Think... Read More
What Will My Site Do?This is the first of eight... Read More
This article is the result of a conversation I had... Read More
In my web surfing adventures, I've found a few site... Read More
Before you start worrying about marketing your website on the... Read More
"Oh, my eyes, my eyes! What an eye sore. Quick,... Read More
It starts off simply; a few HTML pages, a few... Read More
What colors do you have at your website?Can they make... Read More
When JV Media Design was formed, the year was 1995... Read More
A web site builder can be a real life saver... Read More
One of the most popular methods of traffic generation is... Read More
Many web site designers don't design their sites for the... Read More
Every action has a beginning phase where you launch your... Read More
We all want high impact graphics for our Web sites... Read More
First off, I am a designer. Now you're thinking, here's... Read More
Whether you're giving a critical sales presentation to a client,... Read More
It seems more and more webmasters are using CSS for... Read More
Whether you're hiring a designer who has created 10 sites... Read More
This article gives free tips on how to find a... Read More
In learning webpage design, I encountered many problems that took... Read More
10 Basic Things Your Website Should Have ...__ all short... Read More
When it comes to marketing your website, you should really... Read More
Where does a person start when setting up a website?... Read More
I'm not a professional web site designer and openly admit... Read More
Want to see an excellently constructed website? As a writer... Read More
I see a lot of mistakes, but here are the... Read More
Do you have a website? If so, you need an... Read More
Any kid, and their grandmother too, can make a webpage.... Read More
Web Design |