2023 Applications Open

2023-01-23 by Sowing STAFF | 103 Comments
Greetings! It's that wonderful time of year again when everyone has a fresh opportunity to potentially advance their role on this website. We will once again be looking for talented, self-motivated writers to fill out our team of contributing and staff reviewers. I know there are a lot of new writers this year, so for those unsure of what the delineation in position entails, here is a quick breakdown:

Contributors:
-Access to our shiny new chat space
-Collaborate on occasional group features, but most notably the 2023 User's Top 50 Albums
-Continue to grow & develop your voice as a writer
-Freedom to review whatever you want with a focus on new releases

Staff:
-Access to our shiny new chat space
-Availability of promo/advance album streams/copies
-Your work will be featured on prominent aggregate sites like Metacritic and Album of the Year
-Your own dedicated account on the staff blog
-Frequently coordinate with other members of your team on group features
-"Dib" reviews with your staff peers to ensure widespread coverage of noteworthy new releases

Typically, promotions here are like climbing a ladder -- user applicants get bumped up to contrib, and then qualified contribs get bumped to staff -- but feel free to shoot for the stars if you think you have what it takes to make a truly exceptional leap.

The general hope/expectation at both levels is that you will submit a review [approximately] once a month, although this is very much a moving target given the unpredictability of life and the various outlets for constructive contribution (i.e., you might write for the blog more instead, or conduct band interviews, et al -- this is all encouraged!). Speaking of which, if you bring a unique skill to the table, be sure to highlight that in your application! We are looking for friendly, well-rounded teammates and often that definition exceeds the ability to churn out reviews.

So without further ado, here is the application form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-pQS0cLJzvy9xsy5p2O3VcngZMdtRWsZ5-FJyNvitEPzsZg/viewform?usp=sf_link

You will need to sign-in to a Gmail/Google account in order to submit a response, but please rest assured that we do not collect your email address. If you have any questions or run into difficulty applying, please send me a message in my shoutbox or email me at sowingsputnik@gmail.com.

The deadline to submit your application is Thursday, February 2nd.

Best of luck to all of our applicants!

Tagged:

Comments:Add a Comment 
Sowing
Moderator
January 23rd 2023
43941 Comments


If you have any interest, apply! No reason not to chase the bait ;-)

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
10037 Comments


Good luck frendos, may the light of mx shine upon you

Pangea
January 23rd 2023
10507 Comments


maybe some day i will review enough stuff to apply for these things

good luck to those that do!

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
18852 Comments


GL everybody!

tyman128
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
4493 Comments


Let's gooo everyone, good luck!

OwMySnauze
January 23rd 2023
2522 Comments


I’m here to apply for Emeritus

Toondude10
January 23rd 2023
15184 Comments


I would apply but I've contributed to a grand spanking one review in like...3 years so...

robertsona
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
27375 Comments


LFG

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
60230 Comments


alexa play knife prty by the deftones

StickFeit
January 23rd 2023
2268 Comments


Gonna write my first review this year, so you can practically just give me a spot right now.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
5836 Comments


Nice! That time of year again!

Calc
January 23rd 2023
17333 Comments


I vision boarded this promotion don't fuk me meds.

pizzamachine
January 23rd 2023
27016 Comments


make hay when the sun shines

manosg
Emeritus
January 23rd 2023
12708 Comments


Good luck, everyone!

Flugmorph
January 23rd 2023
33886 Comments


you have been blessed by the visit of a birb. good luck everyone!

DreamAgain
January 23rd 2023
2468 Comments


I have absolutely no qualifications whatsoever but I feel like I deserve something. What can you do for me?

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
60230 Comments


for £31 apiece i'll ghostwrite you enough reviews for you to get that foot stuck in that door

normaloctagon
Contributing Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
3954 Comments


Johnny drives a hard bargain

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
18256 Comments


Seriously good luck to those bold enough to have a go. If you're not bold enough, also good luck - have a go!

normaloctagon
Contributing Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
3954 Comments


have a gno...cchi

someone
Contributing Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
6560 Comments


"-Access to our shiny new chat space"
a telegram group i bet

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
18256 Comments


Free unwanted pasta recipes for all new hands.

someone
Contributing Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
6560 Comments


if i were at least a fraction as prominent and determined at writing as some of the good people here, i'd definitely apply, but maybe i'll get better this year, who knows

Purpl3Spartan
January 23rd 2023
8461 Comments


Good luck scooby gang

Sniff
January 23rd 2023
8039 Comments


Ghost promote me. I've deserved it

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
January 23rd 2023
32015 Comments


Good luck everyone. I'll shoutbox you all the bribe details.

egads
January 24th 2023
150 Comments


how do i apply to be jom

robertsona
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
27375 Comments


you got money for a flight to the galapagos?

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
18256 Comments


-how do i apply to be jom-

how many bitcoins you got?

Gyromania
January 24th 2023
37006 Comments


Def applying for staff. It’s borderline criminal that I’m not emeritus at this point

Sowing
Moderator
January 24th 2023
43941 Comments


"how do i apply to be jom"

first, you wait for your account to get nuked. once that happens, await further instruction...

Purpl3Spartan
January 24th 2023
8461 Comments


Just curious, is there a typical quota that is preferred in terms of reviews and contributions to the site when applying, or is it generally more of a judgement call based on their recent activity?

Sowing
Moderator
January 24th 2023
43941 Comments


Good question. This was half-answered in the news article: we like writers to aim for a "one review per month" average with obvious exceptions to this rule both for IRL circumstances as well as alternate forms of creativity (if you're a busy blogger, interviewer, etc then you don't have to just sit there churning out reviews). Again, a lot of this is hypothetical and dependent on the situation. In terms of recent activity, one thing I look for is if the writer is currently active vs. perhaps making promises of future activity. While the latter can undoubtedly come true sometimes, I don't like putting the cart before the horse.

There are infinite ways for me to complicate my explanation, but honestly it boils down to writers having a combination of skillful prose and tangible production. One without the other doesn't do us much good (i.e., a user who writes 1-2 exemplary reviews and then stagnates -- or, a user who writes 150 reviews that are all average and sound the same). So, finding that ideal point of intersection is key.

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
18256 Comments


I’d also make a point to consider site behaviour and demeanour. If you’ve spent half of last year on the banned list maybe work on that first.

Sowing
Moderator
January 24th 2023
43941 Comments


That's an excellent point that sometimes I take for granted / neglect to mention. Site demeanor and overall behavior is incredibly important and factors into every decision we make!

Pikazilla
January 24th 2023
29724 Comments


is mx's position open

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
32015 Comments


You really don't want mx's position.

Gyromania
January 24th 2023
37006 Comments


My name is gyro and I’m applying for emeritus. Ty

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
1919 Comments


This is to answer anyone who shoutboxed me: I submitted an app.
There. Compliance.

dedex
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
12775 Comments


lessgoooooo

JesperL
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
5441 Comments


hell yeah good luck everyone!!

Sowing
Moderator
January 24th 2023
43941 Comments


Everyone who has an interest should apply. We rely on applications to know who is interested. We've had cases before where we've wanted to promote someone but they didn't apply so we had to assume they didn't want the role. Put your name in and see what happens; if you don't get it now, we will at least know your intent and can consider you in the future!

someone
Contributing Reviewer
January 24th 2023
6560 Comments


how do ghost promotions work then?

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
60230 Comments


Ghost promos are when someone applies and isn't initially selected, but then a GHOST appears and says something along the lines of "y'all fucked up on that one" and course correction is applied

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
10037 Comments


Where someone with an interest in a post (may have applied previously and unsuccessfully) gets promoted to it outside of of promotion season, usually when they’ve just missed the cut and subsequently demonstrate the quality / improvement that the staff were looking to make the cut and/or more space becomes available for promotions (e.g. lower output than expected from those already in post). So far as I’m aware it’s done v flexibility tho and isn’t restricted to those few reasons - some years there’s a number of ghost bumps, some years there are none.

And/or what Jonny B said

SteakByrnes
January 24th 2023
29706 Comments


How do I apply to be a mod

Odal
Staff Reviewer
January 24th 2023
1969 Comments


Literally all the jokey comments I was going to make have already happened in this thread lol

someone
Contributing Reviewer
January 24th 2023
6560 Comments


we are nothing if not predictable, Odal.

mkmusic1995
Contributing Reviewer
January 24th 2023
1715 Comments


Hmmm...might take a gander at this later :D

pizzamachine
January 24th 2023
27016 Comments


Do it, yolo

ValenDreth
January 24th 2023
79 Comments


I have submitted my application and look forward to being a Staff member. It's about time.

Sowing
Moderator
January 24th 2023
43941 Comments


---how do ghost promotions work then?---

Asleep pretty much nailed it. We don't promise ghost promotions annually, but when someone hustles and clearly deserves it in-between the annual application cycles, then it's been known to occasionally happen.

Toondude10
January 24th 2023
15184 Comments


ah fuck it, sent in a form

Sevengill
January 25th 2023
11927 Comments


I need to write again. Everybody loves a redemption arc, right?

pedro70512
January 25th 2023
4169 Comments


(cont'd) oh hey I CAN still log into this.

Sowing
Moderator
January 25th 2023
43941 Comments


Bumping this for visibility.

Hoping everyone who wants to apply will get the opportunity!

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
January 25th 2023
10037 Comments


If you’re a contrib and haven’t applied for staff, do it!

If you’re a user and haven’t applied for contrib, do it!

If you’re a user and haven’t applied for staff, good.

robertsona
Staff Reviewer
January 25th 2023
27375 Comments


Yeah apply yall! Why not

BitterJalapenoJr
Contributing Reviewer
January 26th 2023
1023 Comments


Nothing to lose...

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 26th 2023
18256 Comments


Just your approval rating. It will transcend

Sowing
Moderator
January 26th 2023
43941 Comments


Received a handful of additional applications recently.

Still plenty of time to apply.

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
January 27th 2023
1919 Comments


Possibly a stupid question but who does the application get reviewed by? Staffers? Mods/Editors? I’m just curious…

Purpl3Spartan
January 27th 2023
8461 Comments


Maybe 2024 if I hustle this year perhaps

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
January 27th 2023
10037 Comments


@manatea staff/mods

MiloRuggles
Staff Reviewer
January 27th 2023
3022 Comments


by ME and ME ONLY there'll be a paypal link in your shoutbox imminently, you know what to do

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 27th 2023
18256 Comments


I never did get that refund back....

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
January 27th 2023
11967 Comments


Good luck applicants (:

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 27th 2023
18256 Comments


Scuro for staff [123]

combustion07
January 27th 2023
12822 Comments


Excited to see new contributors. Get it sirs and gals

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
January 27th 2023
11967 Comments


Unfortunately Milo wouldn’t accept v-bucks

MiloRuggles
Staff Reviewer
January 27th 2023
3022 Comments


at the very least subscribe to my onlyfans and then we'll talk

someone
Contributing Reviewer
January 27th 2023
6560 Comments


but have the staff applied to be users?

will we accept them among our ranks again?

pizzamachine
January 27th 2023
27016 Comments


Lol

Purpl3Spartan
January 27th 2023
8461 Comments


I don’t need to a apply to sub to Milo’s OF

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
18256 Comments


Where’s the late apps at? Come get a slice of that contributory pie

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
32015 Comments


"but have the staff applied to be users?"

I did last year, and got rejected.

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
60230 Comments


tempted just for the ability to neg my own reviews

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
10699 Comments


— but have the staff applied to be users?

— will we accept them among our ranks again?

Some just questions my liege haha

Sevengill
January 28th 2023
11927 Comments


if I write a new review will it help my candidacy

Koris
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
21105 Comments


^ perhaps, perhaps...

fogza
Contributing Reviewer
January 28th 2023
9729 Comments


New contribs new staff when

Purpl3Spartan
January 28th 2023
8461 Comments


If I write 700 quality reviews in the next 20 mins will you give me mod

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
32015 Comments


ChatGPT has entered the thread.

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
10699 Comments


Down with statistically driven reviewing *luddite rant*

Sevengill
January 28th 2023
11927 Comments


should it be hand-written then

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
10699 Comments


In the absence of a traditional PC, it should be engraved on Greek marble :-P

Sevengill
January 28th 2023
11927 Comments


oh damn I only have Roman wax tablets, we're going old-school then

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
10699 Comments


^^Haha, better yet, the prompt of Plato must be exerted, e.g. reviews should be orally recited *ancestral sarcasm*

Sowing
Moderator
January 28th 2023
43941 Comments


About 5 days remaining on this!

Sinternet
Contributing Reviewer
January 28th 2023
26568 Comments


will perhaps apply next window, you guys usually do this every six months or so right?

Sowing
Moderator
January 28th 2023
43941 Comments


It's typically just annual (Feb/Mar), but there have been the occasional ghost promotions that occur at random.

robertsona
Staff Reviewer
January 28th 2023
27375 Comments


if you didn't apply this time around make sure to write reviews in the interim hehe

good shit y'all keep throwing them in if youre legit

Zac124
January 28th 2023
2606 Comments


fuck it i'm gonna apply

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
January 29th 2023
18256 Comments


if you didn't apply this time around make sure to write reviews And apply this time around anyways

pizzamachine
January 29th 2023
27016 Comments


Get in those app etizers

Bedex
January 29th 2023
3133 Comments


*looks at date of last review* ok not this time round for me folks

Sowing
Moderator
January 30th 2023
43941 Comments


We'll be accepting applications for about 3 more days. If you're considering applying for either position, now is the time to get your form submitted!

brainmelter
Contributing Reviewer
January 31st 2023
8318 Comments


'*looks at date of last review* ok not this time round for me folks'
same

Sowing
Moderator
February 1st 2023
43941 Comments


Last call for applications!

InfernalDeity
Contributing Reviewer
February 1st 2023
596 Comments


Dun Dun Dun!

Koris
Staff Reviewer
February 1st 2023
21105 Comments


boom

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
February 1st 2023
18256 Comments


Do et!

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
February 1st 2023
10037 Comments


If you wanna apply but are on the fence because of recent writing productivity, I’d encourage you to apply anyway. You may not get the post, but you’ll at least put yourself on staff’s radar in terms of who to look out for in the coming months (and could swing yourself a ghost promotion or easy application next year on that basis)



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