She Strengthens

The Unseen Cost of Job Hunting: A Writer’s Story

As a seasoned copywriter in New York City, I’ve navigated the grueling interview process for full-time writing jobs. It’s no secret that landing a dream job requires perseverance, dedication, and a willingness to prove oneself. However, after eight months of reaching final-round interviews at top companies, I began to question the value of a critical component of the application process: the edit test.

The Edit Test: A Double-Edged Sword

The edit test is designed to give writers a sense of their day-to-day responsibilities and gauge their writing style and critical thinking skills. It’s a valuable tool for employers, but its structure and requirements vary greatly depending on the type of writing involved. I’ve tackled everything from mapping user flows to drafting email campaigns, and even submitting taglines for a subway campaign (because who doesn’t love making commuters laugh?).

The Hidden Financial Burden

Despite understanding the purpose of edit tests, I grew disillusioned with the process. The creative, emotional, and financial toll of repeatedly pouring my heart into unpaid work began to take its toll. I wasn’t just exhausted; I was broke. The financial impact of juggling concurrent interview deadlines and writing tests was staggering. When I finally took a step back to regroup, I decided to crunch the numbers.

The Math Behind Unpaid Labor

I tallied up the companies I’d interviewed with (13 in total) and identified the ones that required edit tests (6). Of those, only two paid me for my writing. Using my baseline freelance rate of $45/hour, I calculated the total hours spent on these projects: 40 hours over eight months. The grand total? A whopping $1,800 – equivalent to a month’s rent.

A Shift in Perspective

Seeing the hard numbers changed everything. I no longer viewed edit tests as a necessary hurdle to employment, but as a vehicle for unpaid labor that resulted in lost wages and existential angst. I realized that the time spent on these tests could have been used to earn actual money through freelancing or simply enjoying life.

A New Chapter

In the end, I didn’t land any of those jobs, but the universe had other plans. I’ve since secured a new role that has more than made up for the lost income. While I’m grateful for my current situation, I won’t soon forget the financial sacrifices I made during that period. As a Scorpio, I’m known for holding grudges – and when I re-enter the competitive interviewing scene, I’ll be demanding fair compensation for my work.

About the Author

Lauryn is a content strategist in NYC, striving to read one book a week in 2019. Follow her on Twitter or get book recommendations via her Instagram story.