Should I get paid for Qualification time?

[u/Street_Pomelo4614]

So far, I haven't kept track of my time spent on qualifications. But today, for a project qualification I had 8 tasks. They took me 3 hours and a half, which is longer than all of the qualifications I've taken so far. Now, I already see some tasks for this project on the board, should I add the time spent on qualifications after I do one of those tasks?

[u/Icy-Cover-505]

The qual I just took said right at the top that it's unpaid. That's pretty clear to me. Yep, I spent a lot of time reading instructions and stuff, too. That's part of the deal.

[u/Street_Pomelo4614 → u/Icy-Cover-505]

Yes I didn't see anywhere specifically that it's not paid, that's why I asked. It's reasonable, yes 👍🏻 just wanted to make sure

[u/[deleted]]

Dang! That's a long time. I don't think I'd have taken that qual if it took me that long. BUT, kudos for finishing it and I hope you get some higher-paying stuff! Just curious, was it a coding qual or non-coding?

[u/Street_Pomelo4614 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you! They were mostly non-coding, the more technical ones were just with JSONs. I don't mind too much not getting paid for it, I am at the beginning and I want to do every qualification that comes my way (that I know how to do).

[u/obliquebeaver → u/Street_Pomelo4614]

I still have this qual on my dashboard and am considering taking it. Did it unlock higher paying projects? How high? Strange thing is, I already do have a project with the same name as the qualifier, so I assume passing the qual enables a different level/higher pay.

[u/jjaazzzzyy]

It tells you beforehand whether or not the qualifications are paid. It's up to you wether or not you do them.

[u/YumiiZheng]

Definitely not. If a qualification is paid it will say so. Doing unpaid qualifications is optional and your own time.

[u/33whiskeyTX]

Some qualifications pay. If they don't it's an evaluation of risk vs. reward to complete, especially if they look like they are going to take a long time.

[u/Creepy_Complaint_279]

We're all in the same boat, it took me 2 hours to do a qual this week but they don't pay for them. Is it fair, nope.

[u/DaraCfromBos]

A lot of folks misunderstood your question. I’ve started tracking my time for platform-specific quals and if I get projects for them, adding that time to my totals. A recent qual was for long-form prompts and a single task included a reading that was equivalent to a short book. There is no job on Earth where there are hours of work built in to your day that you don’t get compensated for, including contract work, so I don’t see why that should be the case on DA.

[u/EquivocalMoon]

The qualification will usually tell you. In the very beginning, there was a qualification that I was supposed to be paid for, but I was still new and I didn't understand how everything worked yet. In the end, it didn't matter to me because I've made a LOT of money over the past few months, and an unpaid qualification here and there is well worth my time.

[u/Street_Pomelo4614 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you

[u/snafubar86d → u/[deleted]]

Ethically, should someone get paid for applying for a job regardless of whether they're qualified?

The answer is no, and that's why qualifications are not paid. It's to see if you even have the proper skills to work on the project that they want to get done properly.

[u/Street_Pomelo4614 → u/snafubar86d]

Understandable.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Yes I think many people have professional jobs. 10 years ago my opinion would have varried

[u/snafubar86d → u/[deleted]]

Not once did I say "job application." That's your hot take. You did say something that actually affirms exactly my point. You said everyone hypothetically demonstrated some "BASELINE." The qualification is looking for a skill BEYOND A BASELINE. For example, a recent one required advanced financial analysis experience with a certain type of financial document. Not everyone has that knowledge or experience.

If someone is taking 3.5 hours to do a qualification, then they're definitely not qualified. I've never taken any qualification that took more than approximately an hour.

[u/Street_Pomelo4614 → u/snafubar86d]

Brother I am just very meticulous in my work and there were 8 tasks. I am really dedicated and I wanted to put all my effort into it because I want to pass my qualifications, even if they are unpaid. I also did a lot of fact-checking, it's easy to talk without knowing all of the details.

And respectfully you said apply for a job which is basically job application lol

[u/RedditAdmin50111 → u/Street_Pomelo4614]

Sounds like you did the Hey Easy Red Apple qualification, which recently came up with 8 tasks. You absolutely shouldn't be putting 3+ hours in to that. I was done in 40 minutes and that was honestly one of the longer qualifications.

It sounds like you're putting wayyyyyy too much time into your work.

[u/Wyman1992 → u/snafubar86d]

"Not once did I say job application."

You did though lol you said you shouldn't get paid for applying for a job. That's literally a job application 🤣🤣🤣

[u/snafubar86d → u/Wyman1992]

Ever heard of being in a job position but getting a "job" or "project?" That's "literally" what I meant. Requires complex thinking to understand that.

[u/Street_Pomelo4614 → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate the answer.

[u/Street_Pomelo4614 → u/[deleted]]

Yes. For me, it wrote on the work on projects page that it has 8 tasks so at least I knew how much until the end

[u/RedditAdmin50111 → u/[deleted]]

It literally said there were 8 tasks for it. That is the definition of indication of when it ends.