I recently acted as sub contract writer for my buddy’s agency – he had his agreements and professional engagement docs in place, but he (therefore also I) was screwed for the balance of that really excellent work.

I wrote off the anger and the loss, as I was not the prime. They overturned 4 drafts because they didn’t know what features of the very technical product they wanted to highlight. A moving target, despite weekly reviews, and my voluminous on-line portfolio of past work.

There will always be crappy, low class business that will impugn your work product, break contract clauses, and generally weasel out of paying the bill. Spec is just one way that an industry overburdened by amateur writers and analysts deals with the competitive labor surplus.

We were engaged to create a web site for a large financial institution. The work included everything–a total re-working of their internet presence.

Part of the gig was, of course, design. We asked several designers to submit their work, given parameters that matched the clients’ needs.

This is much like what advertsing agencies are asked to do every day; in order to pitch their work, they SHOW THEIR WORK. In a creative situation, this is (all but) necessary.

My point: yes, a lot of time being asked for spec work can mean you’re getting scammed. But not always.

Jeff Yablon
President & CEO
Virtual VIP

However, they paid each and every candidate for their work.

That way they get a no obligation way to see if you are any good. You get paid for the work done and you get an opportunity to see if the people in question are worth working for — and if they pay their invoices on time.