This is a killer opportunity! At another time in my life, I'd jump at it.
Matt, I'd encourage you to pay a higher wage -- while $15/hour is obviously better than minimum wage in most states, it still restricts this opportunity to people who can supplement with another job or other means. Given your areas of expertise, I know this is not new information, but consider it a vote for more in any case.
It's a little subtle, but I don't think this requires a degree:
"A successful candidate *might* be a recent graduate or someone on a post-pandemic gap year, or a well-organized full-time student with a good grasp of her schedule and real capacity to do things" (emphasis mine) ... "There are no particular skills or experience necessary beyond familiarity with the Slow Boring product and enthusiasm for the kind of work that is happening here"
Yes he's not requiring it. And someone on a gap year would I guess not have attended university / college. But all that talk about graduates and students is strongly implying that he's looking for *the kind of person* who does.
Considering the job is core liberal arts skills: researching and writing, this is a rare case where being good at school directly translates to the job skills. Considering schools are likely selecting on similar criteria, you could probably limit the search to high GPA liberal arts majors at elite liberal arts colleges and narrow your pool to someone acceptable with low search effort. That will likely limit economic diversity, but let's be honest: I imagine this substance audience is but that diverse in education and class.
Generally I like hiring under-credentialed high performers, but when the job is reasonably proxied by school just hire the gunner.
I can't say that lowballing your prospective employees is a good way of endearing consumers to your brand. I get that the first year isn't up yet and the Substack spigots have yet to turn on the money flood, but you can do better than literally below your local minimum wage.
I like the idea of responsibility to the comments section. One reason I like subscribing here is that there are many thoughtful subject matter experts contributing their perspectives and expertise in the comments. I trust them, even if I don’t always agree with them. It really adds value, in my view. I’ve managed to memorize who are the other scientists/engineers, and who’s the cop, who’s the teacher…. But I’d love it if the SMEs could be highlighted somehow. Not sure if substack can do that but maybe the internet can.
2014 - Drill bit in front of water well being drilled in almond orchard. After three years of severe drought and groundwater depletion, a record number of well drilling permits have been granted, Tulare County, San Joaquin Valley, California, USA
15 an hour is pretty good for an entry level job in most of the country. I’m a fan of a college degree or equivalent experience/training. This is a fairly academic job though so finding relevant experience outside of the collegiate world is probably more difficult.
i can add humour to your writing for a mere $69 per hour
This is a killer opportunity! At another time in my life, I'd jump at it.
Matt, I'd encourage you to pay a higher wage -- while $15/hour is obviously better than minimum wage in most states, it still restricts this opportunity to people who can supplement with another job or other means. Given your areas of expertise, I know this is not new information, but consider it a vote for more in any case.
Would recommend the job!
Also, if any candidate wants to talk abt my experience, feel free to reach out to Marc.22@dartmouth.edu
Do we need to send applications from our Slow Boring email? Realized I sent mine from my Gmail account, rather than my .edu account.
Bro this isn't even DC minimum wage ($15.20 now)
15 is pretty close to the typical wage for an undergraduate TA which is the position that this best approximates so I think the wage is fine.
How would a TA position possibly best approximate this real world researcher position by a small but successful media company?
I mean Research Assistant not Teaching Assistant. The skills and duties are pretty similar to my experience as an econ Research assistant in college.
It is literally the lowest amount of money he believes that a company should be allowed to pay anyone, by law.
You should specifically expand your search to those without college degrees. Credentialing is bad. And might cause you to lose talent.
Also. I’m assuming it’s remote?
You should purposely find someone from a non-standard background. Military experience. Or from a non-cool school.
It's a little subtle, but I don't think this requires a degree:
"A successful candidate *might* be a recent graduate or someone on a post-pandemic gap year, or a well-organized full-time student with a good grasp of her schedule and real capacity to do things" (emphasis mine) ... "There are no particular skills or experience necessary beyond familiarity with the Slow Boring product and enthusiasm for the kind of work that is happening here"
Yes he's not requiring it. And someone on a gap year would I guess not have attended university / college. But all that talk about graduates and students is strongly implying that he's looking for *the kind of person* who does.
Considering the job is core liberal arts skills: researching and writing, this is a rare case where being good at school directly translates to the job skills. Considering schools are likely selecting on similar criteria, you could probably limit the search to high GPA liberal arts majors at elite liberal arts colleges and narrow your pool to someone acceptable with low search effort. That will likely limit economic diversity, but let's be honest: I imagine this substance audience is but that diverse in education and class.
Generally I like hiring under-credentialed high performers, but when the job is reasonably proxied by school just hire the gunner.
“…just hire the gunner.”
I, too, have a strong preference for hiring combat vets.
Maybe I skimmed too rapidly, but I don't think he's requiring a degree.
I can't say that lowballing your prospective employees is a good way of endearing consumers to your brand. I get that the first year isn't up yet and the Substack spigots have yet to turn on the money flood, but you can do better than literally below your local minimum wage.
Is this open to high school students? I would love to apply next summer/next year, my senior year of high school.
Slow Boring is both my favorite publication and one that is "fairly obscure," basically a dream job!
I like the idea of responsibility to the comments section. One reason I like subscribing here is that there are many thoughtful subject matter experts contributing their perspectives and expertise in the comments. I trust them, even if I don’t always agree with them. It really adds value, in my view. I’ve managed to memorize who are the other scientists/engineers, and who’s the cop, who’s the teacher…. But I’d love it if the SMEs could be highlighted somehow. Not sure if substack can do that but maybe the internet can.
Sigh, intern, not internet.
Nice accompanying photo.
for the curious:
2014 - Drill bit in front of water well being drilled in almond orchard. After three years of severe drought and groundwater depletion, a record number of well drilling permits have been granted, Tulare County, San Joaquin Valley, California, USA
15 an hour is pretty good for an entry level job in most of the country. I’m a fan of a college degree or equivalent experience/training. This is a fairly academic job though so finding relevant experience outside of the collegiate world is probably more difficult.