Paolo (writer)

Why did you decide to apply and work with us?

At first glance at the job post, I got interested because of the workload (mainly content writing) because I am a seasoned writer. However, what really caught my attention was the topics that I was going to write about – foxes! I myself am a fur parent and I’d love to research, write, and share my knowledge with other parents worldwide. On top of that, I also get to expand my understanding of foxes and become a better writer on this topic.

Did the job meet or exceed your expectations (and in what way)?

Yes, it did! First, Young Publisher are very detailed when it comes to their feedback. Through these, I became better at writing articles that needed fewer and fewer edits over time. They also respected my boundaries by asking me my preferred method of communication. I usually am more comfortable communicating through email and after I told the team that, they didn’t push to communicate in any other way – which was admirable of them.

The effort I exerted for this company is well-compensated in my opinion. Young Publisher really know how to balance workload and compensation and appreciate good work when they see it.

What are the most valuable things you’ve learned since you started?

Forums, Quora, and Reddit are all excellent sources of real-life information. Most of the things I read on there can easily be backed by research or articles from reputable sources. These websites help me write better and connect to our readers more.

Young Publisher also emphasizes the importance of being data and science-backed when we write our articles. Something that I appreciate because then I knew that their goal really is to help our readers and not just aim for clicks and views.

How did this job help you develop your skills?

Writing a long-form article daily can be stressful but it became easier with the help of Young Publisher. Over time, I was able to create pieces that are well-researched within a day. This is a skill that I only dreamt of before. Young Publisher’s keen attention to detail and well-structured feedback on my articles really helped a lot.

How would you describe the work environment? 

Laid-back and founded in trust. I understand the challenges that come with managing a team miles away from your location. And so trust has to be the number 1 priority. And despite this, Young Publisher never became micromanagers who would hover over my working time and production. As long as work is done within the day at the highest quality we can give, they’ll be okay with it.

What do you like best about this job? 

Weekdays and holidays off! I can’t exaggerate how many companies out there are trying to squeeze every minute of their employees just for “productivity.” Young Publisher doesn’t do this. Here, we’re free to work on our own time and still be able to enjoy our lives outside work. They recognize that writing is like art and an excellent article can’t be written by an unhappy mind.

What would you improve and why?

On the work process, none. I’m happy with how things are and don’t see anything I’d like to change soon. However, on our website, I did see an article that has a typo. The title is “7x Why Chihuahuas Are So Aggressive + 19 Tips To Stop It”

There might also be other articles that have these kinds of typos. Just a little worried it can affect SEO. Probably not, but it would be best if we didn’t have these.

Is there anything you miss and if so, what is it? 

None, so far.

Which is your favorite part of the work process?

The use of email and Notion Workboard. Through email, we get to update Young Publisher about our workday. But importantly, there’s a section where we can voice our concerns. It makes me feel like I work WITH someone, not FOR someone. There’s a huge difference.

Notion is also a simple yet useful tool in tracking our progress.

What do you think are the most important abilities for this job? 

People skills, being open to positive criticism, and research skills. Now I know the workload is writing and I don’t talk to people on a daily basis, but having good people skills can help achieve Young Publisher’s writing style. We produce conversational, informal, and entertaining content and if writers do not know how to converse and connect to people in real life, it might affect how they write given the required tone of the articles.

If you ever start getting bored, what new challenge would you be up for?

Definitely an editor. Maybe in the future, I’ll manage a few writers. But I don’t think my skills in writing articles in “Young Publisher style” are enough. Maybe in a year or so.

I’d also like to learn how to manage a website and upload articles (something the VAs do). And have a mini-workshop on how to properly do SEO. Young Publisher obviously know what they’re doing. If they’re open to sharing some of their knowledge, that’d be great.