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An employer who has faced backlash online over a controversial job offer has told AsiaOne why it offers what many consider excruciatingly low compensation for necessary work.
Sky Hoon’s list on job search sites calling out content writers went viral on social media after she posted it earlier this week.
The founder of a startup blog called Vertical Template is currently looking for “passionate” Singaporeans who are willing to be paid $ 7.50 for each article they produce.
“For $ 7.50, you do your research and write about 1,000 words,” the employer wrote.
The job description is full of other oddities, including how Hoon wants someone with no writing experience or qualifications because not having them “is a bonus for writing great personal articles.”
He stated that applicants should not expect a full-time or part-time salary as Vertical Template is a “project / work of its own and not yet profitable.”
In fact, those who want to “get rich” shouldn’t apply for the job at all, the description advises.
What applicants can expect is writing 1000-word articles for various blogs, including Vertical Template, HairQueenie, TorqueGuru, and MartialBelt.
It is also a unique role for Singaporeans, especially those who have time flexibility and can work remotely. In addition to writing in English, other necessary skills include a passion for Italy and a passion for cars.
Disbelief on the internet
The job listing exploded on social media for all the wrong reasons, with screenshots being widely shared, especially among those in the creative industry.
It was amplified by freelance journalist and activist Kirsten Han, who called the $ 7.50 pay “insulting and exploitative.”
https://www.facebook.com/kixes/posts/505239870293
Others couldn’t believe someone offered such a low payment.
Writing for ‘hobby blogs’
Hoon told AsiaOne that he really it is serious about the salary of $ 7.50. There is no typographical error in your ad.
Hoon, an “office worker” in his 30s, owns VerticalTemplate.com and many other sites that he calls “hobby blogs.” He bought the domain after his lease expired, he said, and it was originally a portal for creating website templates for churches.
Since then, the content address has become a resource for freelancers and startups who are new to the industry, which is why there are articles such as “The Best Places to Get Inspired to Write in Singapore” and “The Worst Business Decisions Ever Made. (with examples) “.
“Formal writing is the best for a formal, corporate website,” he told AsiaOne in response to why he is looking for writers with no writing experience. “I think formal writing doesn’t work very well for the hobby blogs that I focus on.”
As for Hoon’s bid of $ 7.50 per item, he bases his compensation on his previous hiring experience in independent service markets like Fiverr.
“Initially, I outsourced my ideas to writers from Fiverr and Upwork who wrote very quickly and cheaper at $ 42 ($ 57) for eight articles, about $ 5.25 per article,” he explained.
“After working with these writers for a year, I thought I should try to post locally and see if locals are interested at a rate that I can keep up.”
Personally, however, Hoon doesn’t think $ 7.50 is an inappropriate payment for someone to write a 1,000-word article, stating that people who need more money should look elsewhere.
“I’m sorry to make someone feel insulted and exploitative [sic]”He said when asked about Han’s post, stating that he is not benefiting from his websites.
Despite the controversial compensation, Hoon said he has received 153 applicants so far, including some from India and Indonesia. But foreign applicants have been turned away because he is only looking for locals for the role.
When asked about his future plans, the employer simply said that he would continue to work on his hobby blogs.
However, on the Vertical Template site, Hoon appears to have big ambitions – he laid out plans for the blog to be completely independent by 2021 and sufficiently funded by 2030.
“By 2050, we have to hand the projects over to the next generation of pioneers who will continue to grow this project and nurture the next generation,” he said.
