We try our best to ensure opportunities listed through us are legitimate and ethical. We show all previous opportunities held by the organisations and make sure they are transparent with any fees and what you can get in return. However, it is important to always check an opportunity you are applying for, whether on Zealous or anywhere else.
Take a look at the fees
Sometimes an opportunity may ask you to pay a fee to submit, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. It may be that the fees go towards a prize for the winners, or to help support the organisation in what they are doing. It could even be something which supports a charity. However, there may be some red flags to look out for. Are the fees unexpectedly high? Does the organisation state what the fees are going towards? How have you been asked to pay for this fee – is it through a reputable way? Never give out your personal information such as card details if you are unsure.
Lack of information
When setting up an open call, it is important for an organisation to provide as much information as possible. As an applicant, you should be able to know exactly what to submit, when by, what possible rewards you can gain, and who exactly is running the opportunity. There should be some way to validate reputability. Typically, if the opportunity is not legitimate, everything may be kept very vague. It is good to use knowledge of previous opportunities you have been part of as a way of comparison.
Look for previous initiatives
It is first important to note that not every organisation will have run an opportunity before. If they haven’t, it may just mean that they are new or that they have been doing other projects. However, there is something comforting in knowing that an organisation has run an initiative before. Keep an eye out for any mentions from previous winners as they may be able to reassure you that an opportunity is worth applying for.
Spelling and grammar
We all make spelling and grammar errors now and then, and an organisation might do too, but it is important to look out for consistent issues. An organisation will spend a lot of time crafting and checking their opportunity and guidelines. So if you notice many spelling errors, grammatical issues, and problems with spacing, be a bit more weary.
What can I do if I face these issues?
There are a few different things you can do if you spot any of these red flags. Firstly, it does not hurt to reach out to the organisation and ask them these questions – hopefully, most of them will be happy to answer. If they are taking submissions through a listing site or submissions platform, then you could also reach out to them. If you don’t have luck with either of these avenues, then it is also best to do your own research to see if they have any previous opportunities that applicants have been successful in. It can also be good to look at the organisation’s website and social media to see if it is active.
There are also some resources that you can use to check if an opportunity may be a scam. Stop Art Scams promotes how to safely navigate the internet as a creative and to not fall for various scams. Kathleen McMahon, the creator of the blog, has also put together a list of emails to look out for.
But all in all, trust your instincts. If an opportunity feels too good to be true or just does not feel right, then go with your gut.
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