Being a college student — that is to say, being utterly broke to the point of considering things like prostitution and black market organ trafficking to raise a little textbook ching — I’ve fallen prey to the lure that is Craigslist.

I’ve browsed the gamut, fooling myself. Receptionist? Baby-sitter? Sure, I’ve got tons of HTML experience and I just LOVE those drooling, crying little babies!

Nah. I target most of my half-hearted searches toward the “writing gigs” and the “writing/editing jobs.”

And my findings?

Well.

For the most part, the jobs are legitimate. They just happen to frequently require experience with grant-writing, knowledge of finance, being fluent in Arabic, or, for good measure, owning a car. Now, the gigs tend be closer to home and closer to my admitted range of skill.

Unfortunately they also tend to be ridiculous.

For example and I quote.

“The problem is that I am asking if you can do this out the kindness of your heart and if i get it published you will have the satifaction of knowing that you have helped someone off the unemployment rolls.”

“ In addition I do sing so I can reference the song and make it hot!!! ”

Here’s my personal favorite:

“I need somebody to write my resume from scratch”

No compensation. No reason. Nay, not even a period at the end of the sentence.

Oh, Craigslist. I thought you were better than that.

Publishing Industry, Technology