I am in the middle of applying for a position from an online posting. The job is for a video editor, and one I’m very qualified for. The last line of the qualifications is (and, something that is very unusual to ask for in video editing jobs) “Ability to copyright, proof or create content a huge plus.”
In addition to my video editing experience, I am also a trained writer, with professional writing credits, so I think this is in fact a huge plus for me.
Here’s my question. In that line, asking for the ability to proof, they clearly meant “copywrite” and not “copyright”. I’m not sure if that’s a test or just an honest mistake, but I feel like either way, pointing it out somehow is a good way to demonstrate that I have a skill they are looking for. But, how do I do it without coming across as an ass? My first instincts were to say something in my cover letter like, “I am a trained and experienced writer with professional credits, so when your ad says “ability to copyright, proof or create content a huge plus”, that is something I can bring to the table. My attention to detail helps me to recognize that you meant ‘copywrite’ in that sentence, and not ‘copyright’”.
But I don’t know; I feel like that doesn’t come across very well. Any suggestions?
If I were you, I would just ignore the homophone error (assuming that it really is one, and they didn’t actually mean copyright). I think it’s more likely to antagonize the hiring manager than to endear you to him/her.
There’s pretty much no way they meant copyright. It would be like asking a chef to also handle claims adjusting. Copywriting, while not a standard thing to ask from a video editor, at least makes some sense.
I hear what you’re saying, and certainly appreciate the advice. But I just don’t know how, in a line requesting proofreading abilities, I can ignore a proofreading mistake. It seems like a missed opportunity to me, to literally demonstrate I have a skill they are looking for.
If you get that far, you might be able to mention the error in the interview, perhaps by mentioning that homophone errors are very common now and that this is something that you will be careful about. (For example, many posts on the SDMB seem to think that “paid” should be spelled “payed”.) But if you do mention it, I recommend watching the face of the interviewer to see how they take it.
It is not a test of your proofing skills. If you bring it up in your letter, the ignorant boob who mistyped the job listing will be offended and instantly shitcan your application.
Maybe in the interview, but only if you’re sure every other person in the room knows the difference.
I take “write copy” to mean “write the captions, headers, and any other copy that might appear on the video”, and “create content” meaning the actual video content itself. It’s a slightly unusual request for editors to also create the video content, but it’s becoming more common. So much so that there’s even a cutesy name for it: “Preditor” (producer/editor). I can’t tell for sure from the ad if that’s what they’re looking for here, but it sounds like it might be.
It would be risky to point out the error. jtur88 has handled it deftly.
I have held jobs as a copy chief and as a managing editor, and in both positions I’ve needed to hire copyeditors. If an applicant went out of their way to point out an error in my organization’s recruitment materials, I would probably have considered them a bit of a smart-ass. Not to say I wouldn’t have hired them, but an equally qualified applicant who was more circumspect would probably have gone to the top of the pile.
One thing you learn as an editor is that mistakes will happen no matter what (a recent issue of The Economist had a typo in it, and if it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone). There is no need to embarrass someone after it’s too late to fix the error.
As far as proving that you can proofread well, if they really care they should be administering a test to you. Use that to prove your abilities.
It worked for me once, although it felt like rolling dice when I did it. It was for a job as a proposal writer at a tech company and among the selection criteria were the ability to write copy, proofread and demonstrate attention to detail. I printed out the ad, marked it up thoroughly (Probably 20+ corrections? It was a lot, the paper was covered.) and sent it back with a tactful cover letter. The gamble worked and I got the job.
I appreciate all the responses. I did go jtur88’s route, and the application has been submitted.
I would like to reiterate, and I don’t know if this makes a difference in the answer, but this was NOT for a proofreading job or anything of the sort. It was for a creative job, video editing, and “copywriting and proofing” was just something mentioned that would be a plus, literally the last thing mentioned in the ad. Those qualifications are not critical for the job, which is part of why I thought it might make me stand out a little. To point it out in a creative and lighthearted way, since the job is being creative. But I do understand that there’s no way to know how the hiring manager might take it, and it’s probably best to err on the side of caution. Unless that is something that would have made me stood out from everyone else. But who knows!
Good luck with the job. I would have thought it the perfect opportunity to say, in your cover letter, “if you want some one who pays attention to detail, I will mention that there is a typo in the posting”.
Marginally related anecdote - I wrote some documentation, and sent it off to the technical writer for approval, She sent it back with some nitpicky correction or other. She was/is a friend of mine, and I wrote back saying “Don’t be so anal retentive.”
She sent back a note saying “Anal-retentive should be hyphenated.”
I agree with the approach to respond using the correct spelling but don’t point out the error. Some people would be impressed, some would be pissed. I see that this is all moot at this point. Good luck!
