Evergreen Times

It starts off with what looks to be a genuine work opportunity. There’s quite a lengthy skills test to complete. After a couple of weeks, you get an email saying that you’re hired – except that you aren’t. It turns out you’re now an approved member of IAPWE – the Professional Association of Writers and Editors. It sounds impressive, except for the fact that this isn’t what you set out to do. So, what comes next? Nothing much, really. Here’s what you need to know.

The Recruitment System is Questionable

One of my top complaints about IAPWE is its recruitment system. They really make the whole application process look like one you’d complete for paid work. And supposing you pass the aptitude test, this is what you receive as a response:

“Thank you for submitting your application for our content writer position.We have reviewed your application and we are delighted to offer you the position. The rate of pay for this position will be $10 per 100 words, which comes out to approximately $40 per hour (based on the average time it takes our writers to complete a 400 word article). Upon accepting this position, you will be provided with next steps for joining the portal where you can accept assignments based on your availability. Please note that if we do not hear back from you within the next 5 days, we will being reaching out to other applicants to fill this position.“

It looks exciting despite the stylistic gaffe of using the word “position” four times within 100 words or so. There’s just one problem. It isn’t a job offer.

If you pay to join the platform, there’s a list of “assignments,” but there’s no way to “take” them. I watched that list for several days, and it didn’t change. Unless it’s being done on a “contest” basis, in which anyone can write and only one submission will be accepted, it’s just smoke and mirrors.

Supposing it is done on a contest basis, that isn’t included in the “offer.” The offer is $10 per 100 words. It doesn’t say “$10 per 100 words if you are willing to compete with however many other freelancers attempt our projects.“

This is not a job. It’s not even an opportunity to get projects – unless I’m missing something. I submitted a question about this and received no answer.

Here it is: “Hi! I’d like to confirm whether any projects will specifically be allocated to me as they are in typical “you’re hired” relationships or whether I have just signed up for a jobs platform with monthly charges. Do let me know, please!“

Seems like a reasonable question. Too bad it didn’t get an answer.

Daily Mail With Job Opportunities

I was ready to cancel my subscription based on the shoddy “jobs platform.” But there’s a daily mail with “curated” content writing and editing opportunities. Turns out there are problems with that too.

Most of the advertised posts are full-time roles not suited to freelancers. Those that are good for remote workers seem to be highly competitive. I submitted several perfectly passable trials only to be told that my submission wouldn’t be considered because the required number of people had already been hired, or that the recruiters had been inundated with responses and mine wouldn’t be considered.

That’s not great to hear when you just spent an hour researching and writing what you hope is going to be a killer submission.

But what’s this? I’m accepted here, and here and here! Oh dear! Turns out that these are just more paid freelance writing platforms, and most of them look like junk “opportunities” for anyone who is already an established freelance writer.

One of them wanted a “free sample.” I’m not opposed to that, but a 3k word count on a free sample that qualifies me to bid on projects at rates lower than my usual one is pushing it. It’s a full day’s work. I’m ready to bet that the platform uses your “sample” work, takes the money from its client, and then tells you “Oh sorry. Your submission wasn’t accepted.” Yeah right.

Come to think of it, maybe that’s what IAPWE’s jobs board does too. And to think I was so excited about hearing from Melissa Coleman herself!

So, Who is This Melissa Anyway?

One would think that Melissa, as the founder or coordinator of a group with a weighty acronym, would be right out there. You’d see her lauded in numerous publications, and her works would be regarded as something out of the ordinary.

There’s certainly an author named Melissa Coleman, but she says nothing about IAPWE and probably has nothing to do with it. Instead, all we find online are testimonials for IAPWE members. Which, on the basis of having passed the proficiency tests are, at least, something. But what that “something” is becomes difficult to pin down. Most of my former clients would write testimonials for me, and the fact that I’ve actually done work for them seems far more significant than a thumbs up from IAPWE.

I hate to say this, but I believe that IAPWE’s Melissa Coleman is a fictional construct who rakes in money from memberships and doesn’t offer much, if anything, in return. I certainly never landed a project based on my IAPWE membership.

I Didn’t Like it From the Start

Anybody who asks you to pay money to make money is probably a scammer or somewhat shady at the very least. I knew this when I took my paid IAPWE membership, and nothing I saw in the months I retained it offered evidence to the contrary.

The jobs list was interesting, but unproductive – the sort of thing anyone can scrape together if they search “help wanted” ads for writers. In short, it wasn’t helpful, and I cancelled my subscription without a qualm. It’s not a lot of money, but with enough people paying their “dues,” it’s probably quite a good money spinner for “Melissa.”

Should you join? Absolutely not! But if you want to test it out, feel free to give it a try. Do get back to me if it proved worthwhile. I have yet to find anyone who did!