Studio Blog

When I began working with Demand Studios in June 2009, my sole responsibility was to review the writer applications coming in each day. Since that time, I’ve approved many writers for Demand Studios.

Unfortunately, I’ve had to reject my fair share of applications as well. I often get emails from potential writers wondering what they can do to avoid this unfortunate fate. The answer isn’t easy because of two factors.

First, resume and writing samples are unpredictable. Applicants with no writing experience and those with 30-plus years in journalism are both potentially acceptable candidates. The nature of writing samples is even more random. Blogs, academic papers, news articles--you name it, I’ve read it.

Also, the process is inevitably subjective. We’d love it if each applicant had a clear-cut journalism or other niche track, but that’s rarely the case. This means that analysis and even conjecture come into play. It may seem unfair at first glance, but boiling applications down to an objective scoring science would mean the inevitable loss of hidden gems.

Does this mean there are no hard-and-fast rules for submitting a winning application? Not at all. In fact, here are some tips from behind the application curtain:

Resume Tips

1. Emphasize your expertise. Ask yourself, “If I’m trying to change the oil in my 1976 Volvo Station Wagon, do I want instructions from a 20-year veteran journalist, or a 20-year veteran mechanic?” Chances are, you’ll listen to the mechanic.

This doesn’t mean we prefer one over the other. It simply means that we look for applicants with writing experience and/or a niche expertise. Be sure to emphasize either of these in your resume--or both if you have them.

2. Treat this like any other job application. Although we receive hundreds of applications every day, each application is thoroughly reviewed by a qualified Application Reviewer. This means you should consider the initial appearance and format of your resume. If you’re creating a resume specifically for Demand Studios, take time to put together a well-formatted resume with clean copy. The extra time will be worth it.

3. Include any and all special interests. Think that the Photoshop class you took in college isn’t worthy of mention? Think again. Mentioning something this small in your Interests/Special Skills section counts hugely in your favor. Remember, we have titles available in a wide variety of subjects. Your one Photoshop class could equal many Demand Studios articles on the subject.

Sample Tips

1. Show what you know. Even if clipping coupons seems mundane and obvious, maybe you’ve learned some little-known facts and insider tips that would be interesting to readers. Don’t be afraid to call upon your vault of seemingly useless information.

2. Think “clear, concise and useful.” We pride ourselves on unique, informative and reliable content. Stay away from exclamation points, too much first-person and colloquialisms.

3. Format matters. Submit samples that lend themselves to the style mentioned in No. 2. Blogs are OK, but only if they demonstrate a clear voice and straightforward style. We also recommend that you avoid prose, poetry, screenplays, journal entries, etc. If you don’t have anything that fits the style we look for, write a 300-word sample in your area of expertise.