Cactus Communications Freelance Copy Editor salaries in India

Likes

Very organised, on-time payments, knowledgeable/skilled co-workers and leads, good pay scale, transparent and well-structured entrance tests

Dislikes

1. The papers we are required to edit are written by people with very limited knowledge of English, making it hard to understand what they were trying to say 2. Available jobs are listed only when a manager assigns the job to a few people. This makes it difficult for new freelancers to get work regularly

Likes

Paid on time

Dislikes

Run away, you are more valuable than this. If that's not enough, keep reading. The pay appears decent but is WAY below minimum wage, explained here: Most jobs only pay 30% of the word count. Their rationale is that a round of editing has already been done. However, you are expected to edit the whole document. Here is a TYPICAL example: A 5000 word document would make you believe that you would make $100 at the $20/1000 word rate. BUT, most jobs of this nature would actually only pay you $30 (30%), even though you are doing $100 worth of work, at least. Furthermore: For each document you edit, you need to provide 1-2 additional documents UNPAID, that often take as long as the edit itself: 1. A letter from the editor (LFTE) - you summarize everything, highlight all the changes you made, you make a recommendations on figures, submission readiness etc. 2. A cover letter. For journal submissions, you write a letter to the journal itself, basically doing the job of the client, summarizing the work, highlighting the importance, etc. IT GETS WORSE: The $20/1000 word rate is only if you hit 60,000 words, which is actually 200,000 words since only ~30% of the document counts. If you don't hit this milestone, you make less $. And to top if off: If you find 1000 mistakes during an edit and happen to miss 2 because your brain was about to explode and you have been realizing that you have a PhD and are working at $5/hour, they will provide you with a rating of < 3/4 (by their definition, bad). The reviewers get paid to find your mistakes, so it is in their best interest to give you a poor rating so they stay relevant. They start you off with 4/4 ratings to make you feel like it's an ok job.

Likes

The Whiteboard is a good platform to work. Good for freshers to learn and gain experience. They respond spontaneously to my queries and take necessary actions when I report an issue. Flexible job.

Dislikes

The pay is very less. Sometimes the work pressure is more with tight deadlines, and sometimes there will be no jobs for 3-4 months.

Likes

I have not found any pros while working with this company except Saturday/Sunday off, and even on those days, many of them are working because they call themselves a client-first organisation.

Dislikes

... beginning their careers, the Cactus Editage DMS team might seem like an option. However, it's advisable to thoroughly research and understand the salary structure, as it tends to be on the lower side for freshers. 3. **Absence of Sales Commissions**: A significant drawback for sales personnel is the lack of commissions or incentives for sales, which are usually a key motivator for achieving and exceeding sales targets. 4. **Demanding Working Hours**: Despite assurances of typical day shifts with flexibility, the reality often involves 12 to 14-hour workdays. This is attributed to catering to clients across the US, UK, and Europe, necessitating extended hours outside the standard workday. 5. **Restricted Client Communication**: Employees find themselves with limited autonomy over client interactions, requiring managerial or project management team approval for all communications. This can hinder direct and efficient client service and relationship building. 6. **Internal Politics**: The project management team's involvement in internal politics can create an uncomfortable work environment. An example cited is the mandatory use of cameras during client calls, failure of which leads to unnecessary managerial escalations and political maneuvering. 7. **Lengthy Notice Period**: The mandatory 90-day notice period is a significant commitment that can deter future employment opportunities. Most companies are reluctant to wait three months, making it challenging for employees to transition to new roles.

Likes

Flexible work hour

Dislikes

... the cut, they have developed a system in which one cannot attain the elusive 3.6 QI rating, and thus there are salary cuts, to such an extent that one gets less than half the amount one had signed up for. Quite the business strategy. You are bonded labour on their payroll. And guess what, they have the freedom to deduct costs due to lost client from your own salary. They do not give any additional pay benefits such as payment for internet charges, electricity costs and infrastructure costs. In short, a for profit organisation with the most conniving minds in their workforce.