Posted by Luke | Posted in Philadelphia, The Job Hunt | Posted on 27-03-2011
In an effort to meet that special internet someone I always spend at least 2 hours a day planting the seeds for multiple missed connections. I try to fit in at least 4-5 solid connections per day and employ the following tactics:
- Disguising my bicycle as a fixed gear and doing laps around Rittenhouse Square. Prolonged uncomfortable eye contact is key here…
- Putting on my old Jncos and wallet chain and then taking the R5 to the end of the line and back. Unlike the park I let my clothing and accessories do the work and only look out the window.
- Wearing medical scrubs and walking a puppy through college campuses. Bonus points if you cover yourself in blood.
- Writing in a vigorously in a Moleskine as I repeatedly scoff at and page through a Nietzsche novel.
Well good news everyone! My hard work has finally paid off and I have been blessed with a missed connection. While I have to admit it raises more questions than answers (new arrival?!) it’s pretty clear it’s for me. The real Luke.
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mis/2271974552.html
The search for jobs these days is tough…
Not only are the number of applicants per positions just skyrocketing, but I’m just getting fatter and fatter.
Luckily for me though a “dream” internship appears at MediaMarketingGuru.com. 24 bucks an hour, I can work from home, and apparently this company has some excellent clients. Now normally I would block out any exact names or email addresses to “protect the innocent” but other than my own, there is no innocence here.
After drafting an excellent cover letter I was happy to get back the e-mail below:
Dear Luke Marchie,
The internship application is due Thursday, February 3rd at 11:59 pm EST. The sooner you complete the application, the higher are your chances of securing this internship.
If you have any questions, then please fill out the application to the best of your ability. Once you are done filling out the application, please e-mail it back to us.
About The Internship
Marketing Media Guru is looking to hire a team of interns by first week of February. Interns can work on their own schedule from home, but are required to complete 15-20 hours of work per week. Interns will be compensated $21 per hour for the work that they perform up to 20 hours per week, and $24 per hour for every additional hour. As an intern, you will be trained to perform web development and online marketing tasks, and will be required to use that knowledge to create and market websites for clients. The day to day tasks will be assigned to you by your Project Manager and will vary significantly based on a client that you are working with.
Marketing Media Guru Application
Estimated Completion Time: 30 minutes
1. Full Name:
2. Cell Phone:
3. E-Mail:
4. Graduation Year:
5. Are you an American Citizen or a Permanent Resident?
6. Where are you from? (Country, State, etc.):
7. In 50 words or less, tell us a little about yourself (hobbies, interests, quirks, etc.):
8. Why are you interested in Marketing?
9. What do you hope to accomplish with your internship at our company? (50 words or less):
10. What do you believe are your biggest strengths and why?
11. What other Marketing internships are you considering?
Prior to the beginning of the internship, we want you to get acquainted with software that you are going to use during the program. This step in the process also helps us evaluate candidates that are serious about this position. Below you will find software that we want you to get familiar with:
12. Homestead Website Builder. This is one of the ways that we are going to teach you how to develop websites for small businesses. Use this link to sign up for Homestead Website Builder account (It’s very important to use this link, so that we can track you). The sign up is for a free 30 day trial, so do not worry, you will not be charged anything. If you are not accepted in to the program, you may cancel your subscription prior to the expiration of the free trial. If you can’t click the link, then follow this url: http://bit.ly/hp8wss
Please list your login here:
13. TollFree. You will need to have a separate business phone number to work with with clients. Use this link to sign up for TollFree account (It’s very important to use this link, so that we can track you). Sign up for a toll free phone number and use 30-day free trial plan, so that you will not get charged anything. Again if you are not accepted into the program, you may cancel prior to the end of the free trial. If you can’t click the link, then follow this url: http://bit.ly/gZ4gbD
Please list your phone number here:
14. My1Voice. You will need to have a separate number to work with team members. Your collegues and your project manager will contact you on this phone line couple of times a day, so it’s important that you get acquainted with the software. Use this link to sign up for My1Voice (It’s very important to use this link, so that we can track you). The sign up is for a free 30 day trial. If you can’t click the link, then follow this url: http://bit.ly/hUx9EX.
Please list your business number here:
15. Please add any additional comments here:
The final decision will be made by Saturday, February 5th. If we will have any additional questions, then our HR manager will conduct a phone interview with you.
Most Sincerely,
Lauren Crowell
Human Resources Manager
Marketing Media Guru
(866) 950-2578
SEEMS PRETTY LEGIT NO?!
While trying my hardest to ignore the fact I had to use my credit card 3 times to start (and then immediately cancel) these free trials I filled out the application with the usual zest and vigor I apply to every facet of my life. Oh yeah and I included this at the end:
15. Please add any additional comments here:
As I’m sure you’ve heard before the 3 free trials I need to sign up for makes this application seem a little “scammy”.
While I understand my credit card is not being charged this is the first time I’ve had to use it three times during a job application.
But…on the other hand I understand the need to ween out applications who will just be wasting your time.
Thanks very much and hope to hear back from you!
Now imagine my delight when my job application was not only read, but SO well written I was allowed to progress to round 2. Now what could possibly be worse than signing up for 3 free trials in order to get a job?
HOW ABOUT CLICKING THROUGH 5 ADDITIONAL ADS IN ORDER TO “SEE HOW WELL YOU CAN ANALYZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LANDING PAGES”.
At this point I was still blinded by “$24 dollars an hour” and so when I received the e-mail below I decided to look a little deeper into these folks.
Dear Luke Marchie,
We have reviewed numerous applications and would like to test your advertisement evaluation skills before we officially accept you. If you are interested, then please complete this part of the process by Saturday, February 5th 11:59 pm EST. If you are accepted into the program, then you will be notified on Monday, February 7th. The sooner you fill out the application, the higher are your chances of securing the position you have applied for.
If you have any questions, then please fill out the application to the best of your ability. Once you are done filling out the application, please e-mail it back to us.
Media Marketing Guru Additional Evaluation
Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes
Below you will find a case that will test your ability to think outside the box and come up with creative online advertising concepts on the spot. We want you to focus on the landing page and 2nd of the advertisement after you fill out the initial information; we do not encourage you to participate or fill out any surveys. We just want to test your ability to analyze these ads, in order to do that you will need to look at the first page, fill out your e-mail, fill out contact information where needed and look at the follow up page.
Consumer Electronics, Products, Gift Cards and Trips Ads:
-
Bidz.com – Please click here to see the ad.
-
Disney World – Please click here to see the ad.
-
Free iPhone 4 and iPad – Please click here to see the ad.
-
Uggs Boots – Please click here to see the ad
-
Color Macbook Pro – Please click here to see the ad
Ads Questions:
1. Out of all advertisements that you analyzed above, which one do you find to have the most appealing landing page (first page that you see when you go to the website)?
2. Which ads did you think were more effective, the ones that required you to fill out a form or the ones that simply asked for your e-mail?
3. Which ads did you think had the best 2nd pages?
4. Which ad did you like the most out of all that you saw?
5. How can you improve the best advertisement that you saw? (be creative)
If we will have any additional questions, then our HR manager will conduct a phone interview with you.
Most Sincerely,
Lauren Crawford
Human Resources Manager
Media Marketing Guru
Now…
Many marketing positions I’ve applied for send you to other sites to see how well you can analyze landing pages and the such. After seeing the electronic crap they are having me analyze (with each link sending me to a site with multiple pop-ups, pop-unders, and 10+ surveys) I did some quick googling and found a couple people sharing my ideas:
http://jobscamz.blogspot.com/
http://www.wahm.com/forum/archive/t-551508.html
My final response (and I’m awaiting a phone call):
Hello Lauren!
So while the first e-mail seemed halfway on the scammy side this is much further into that territory. It appears your company has found a nice little niche driving desperate job seekers to affiliate sites under the guise of “a job application”.
I did analyze those pages and would be happy to send my thoughts over (they all suck) but please give me a call at 908-451-9052 during business hours (EST) so I can rest assured this isn’t a scam.
If it is, your boss is a genius and I would still be happy to work for you…
Thanks very much.
Luke Marchie
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