For potential employers:The Etiquette of posting a job offer.

[Qitsune]

Just as there are things that are considered bad form from artists, there are things to keep in mind when posting a job offer.

Many artists have been burned in the past and are now skeptical about some job offers. If you make your add clear and upfront, you will attract more submissions.

Here are a few pointers:

-If you are expecting to pay in installments, to give stuff (such as copies of books) as part of the payment or have any special form of payment (eg. you only use paypal) in mind when posting the offer, please mention it since not all artists are interested in these kinds of deals.

-If you intend to pay in percentage of profits but your product is not yet sold, this counts as a non-paying job because the artist has no way of knowing they will get paid and how much.

-Indicating the range you are willing to pay, or indicate if you are on tight budget when asking for quotes is considered good form.

-A contest, no matter how cool you think it is, is not a paying job offer. Accordingly, if you decide to post it, put it in the non-paying jobs and indicate clearly that it's a contest.

-Asking artists to do part of your assets as an art test is poorly received by artists just as asking upfront that all submissions contain an art test even before having seen the artist's portfolio.

*edited for typos*

[Hyver]

good words Q!

addage: - State clearly wether the job is a telecommuting or local position - saves all parties a lot of time and effort

[atlsouthpaw]

Great information for the potential employers! I have another suggestion coming from my position as a potential 'hired-gun' to posting companies, as well as future consideration material for the moderators of conceptart.org.

It seems as though there are a *ton* of video game companies and headhunters are using Conceptart.org as a source for filling staff positions. This is admittedly a fantastic opportunity to find top notch artists for their *staff* positions and I certainly wish them great luck in these endeavors.
Having said that, (and I think I speak for a great number of members here), that I would appreciate these types of *staff only* positions in a separate section of the employment forum, as a lot of artists (including myself) on this site are interested *only in freelance off-site* opportunities. Maybe a *freelance only* section for those interested in self employment, and *staff only* for those considering a position within a company.

This would make ConceptArt.org's "employment" forum much more efficient and enjoyable for artists (and headhunters) peruse.

Just a thought.....

Craig

[Hyver]

i wouldn't go as far as creating yat another subforum.. chances are the mods would have to move stuff around all day even more ;)
besides, it's not like this section is being flooded on a daily basis.

that said, i do agree to making it clear in the first post, as stated above

[atlsouthpaw]

I see your point Hyver. This would make moderation difficult.

good words Q!

addage: - State clearly wether the job is a telecommuting or local position - saves all parties a lot of time and effort

If the prospective companies/clients could do this, it would be greatly appreciated by the artists.

Thanks!

Craig

[Qitsune]

We are always thankful to employers who post to say they found an artist for the job. That way the other applicants have their answer even if the employer didn't mail them back. We know sometimes they get flooded and can't answer personally to every application.

[seeeker]

I woud like to suggest a requirement that employers indicate the location of the position, whether or not it is telecommuting, etc. There are always many opportunities of interest on here, but if I see one then find out at the bottom or after visiting a website that it's in Shanghai, or Buenos Aires, or San Francisco (me in UK) - then I move on.

It's a waste of time and a hassle to have to fish around for the location just to see if it's worth pursuing. Seems like a natural addendum to a posting, like this:

"Environment Concept Designer - LONDON"
or
"Artist/Collaborator for comicboook - CHICAGO"

Some of them already do this though, and it helps.
Cheers