A writing job comes your way. The topic is something you like to write about, and the word count isn’t too bad. But there’s a lot of research involved, and the pay is lower than you’d like. Should you take it? Here are a few reasons why a low paying job may be beneficial.

Adds to Your Curriculum Vitae

You can never have enough writing credits. A solid curriculum vitae shows you are thorough, can meet deadlines, and are publishable. Many publishers want to see that you have written before, so taking on a lower paying job not only adds to your resume, but it can lead to higher paying opportunities. In fact, sometimes it is even worth taking a No Pay job to help increase your presence in the industry. Yes, it is nice to get paid what your worth; but sometimes that has to be sacrificed if it will help you in the future.

Develops Research Experience

Some publishers have specific guidelines to follow in regards to what research materials are acceptable. I am currently working on a low pay nonfiction assignment where primary and secondary sources from within one hundred years from the event are preferred. This is hard! I had to take that into consideration before I accepted this assignment because that meant it would take a lot of work to dig up those materials. This takes up time and energy.

Dividing the number of hours I have spent so far in the research (and I’m not quite finished yet) by the amount I’m getting…well, let’s say I’m making very little. But, the chance to dig deep like this will be a benefit in the long run. I’m learning what works, what doesn’t work, and that I really didn’t have to spend all those hours because some of the things I was looking into were irrelevant to the final article. But I wouldn’t have learned this lesson if I had turned down this assignment.

Can Open Other Doors

The publisher I am working with has national contacts. If they like my work, there could be opportunities to take on bigger assignments that pay better. And, it could expose me to others who like my work as well. This potential sealed the deal for me. I’m not making a whole lot of money, but the addition to my resume, the research experience, and the chance for other offers convinced me to move forward.

 As I’m winding things up, do I feel the job was worth it? Yes! Would I do it over again? Maybe. But if I hadn’t taken this job, I wouldn’t have grown in my skills, and that’s essentially what we as writers need to remember. Experience can move us forward, even if the price is lower than we’d like.

How about you? How have low paying jobs helped you?

Catherine L. Osornio has written inspirational articles for a women’s ministry newsletter, over 200 leveled reader stories for a school’s reading program, fiction and nonfiction articles for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines, The Declaration of Independence from A to Z, Thunder Comes a Rumblin’, Mosquitoes Infect!, Danger on Martin Mountain, plus various work-for-hire projects.A former elementary school librarian, Catherine is passionate about sharing the love of reading. She enjoys cartooning, illustration, and reading kids’ books. Email her at CLOsornio@verizon.net or visit her at www.catherineosornio.com.

Unsplash photo credits: Tolga deniz Aran, Resume Genius, Dana Ward, and Mina Rad.