As I wrote earlier in the week, I am fundamentally opposed to companies asking writers to take a writing test for free. But I do not fault a writer at all who decides that it is in their best interest to take the test. The decision for a writer to take or not take the test isn’t a one size fits all answer.  And there are a very few specific cases where doing an unpaid test can be the right decision for an individual writer. Based on the number you who commented on Wednesday, it seems that I am not the only one who is encountering this more and more.

However, before saying yes to this “opportunity”, I think that you should offer the client other options to you spending time unpaid on the test. However, if those five strategies do not work, then you will need to decide what to do.

Here are seven questions to ask yourself when making the decision:

1. How many hours it would take you if you decide to do the writing sample?  Someone asking you to write a 300 word blog post on a topic you are familiar with is vastly different than a 1000 word white paper.
2. What is the amount of income that yow will not be making while you are writing the free sample? If you are currently without any paying work, then that is a point to consider when making a decision. However, if will have to turn down paid work or stay up into the wee hours to do it, then you should strongly consider saying no. Also ask yourself if the quality of your writing be lower the next day because you worked a 12 hour day doing the test?
3. Are they going to use the article after you write it? If the company is going to use your work for publication without paying you, then you should strongly consider saying no on principle, if possible. However, if it is simply a generic writing test that they use for all writers that will not be used for their benefit, then it is a slightly different scenario.
4. How many writers are being asked to take the test?  If 400 people are doing the same test, then your odds of your time being worthwhile are less. But if only the top 4 candidates are being given the test, then there is a high chance that you will get the gig and your time will not be wasted.
5. Are there other red flags? Most of the time I have found that clients who ask for free samples are not used to working with highly experienced writers and usually don’t pay as competitive. Yes, I know that’s a generalization and there are exceptions out there. And I have found that many of these companies don’t understand the value of writers and what we bring to the table. My experience and I know that this is another big generalization, is that clients who ask for a free writing test tend to be on the high maintenance side.
6. What is the future value of getting the gig? Is it going to be a moderately paid project that will last a few weeks? Or is it going to be a very high paying client that will have regular work for months or even years? Also, think about the exposure and name recognition that the client will bring you. If the client is highly respected in your niche and you feel that the name could help you bring additional work down the road, then put a mark in the “pro” column.
7. How likely is it that you will get the gig? Consider what qualifications the brand is looking for and think about the odds of getting the project. If you are a perfect fit for the project, then it may be worth the time if it will bring high value down the road. But if you don’t have most of the skills and qualifications, then the time you spent has a higher likelihood of being wasted.

After weighing all of these factors, make a decision that you think is the best decision for your current business goals. The decision of whether to walk away from a potential gig is tough one. And it is very unique to the specific client as well as your current workload. Your answer this week may be a different one to another situation that comes up next month.

How do you decide if you should do a writing test for free? What has your experience been with this process?