Apply to the right platforms (in one evening)
Three applications. One evening. Free.
The three platforms to apply to tonight
Outlier AI (Scale's contractor portal) — largest, easiest entry, $15-$50/hour. Surge AI — smaller, higher pay ceiling, $20-$120/hour. Data Annotation Tech — popular on Reddit, $20-$40/hour, selective. Apply to all three the same evening. Approval takes 1-2 weeks. You want every dice roll going.
What the applications include
All three platforms ask for: 1) A short writing assessment (300-500 words on a topic they choose). 2) A domain-specific test (math, coding, or general reasoning depending on platform). 3) Sample writing — paste 200-300 words on any topic you know well. Total time: ~90 minutes per application. You can complete all three in 4-5 hours.
How to score well on the assessments
Be specific. 'Effective leadership requires good communication' is a fail; 'Effective leadership at a 5-person startup requires daily 15-minute standups and quarterly written 360-reviews' passes. Use first-person where appropriate. Cite specific examples or numbers. Don't try to sound smart — sound clear. If you have a STEM, writing, editing, or coding background, mention it; it unlocks higher pay tiers.
1. How many AI training platforms should you apply to?
Apply to all three platforms tonight
Block 4-5 hours this evening. Sign up at outlier.ai, app.surgehq.ai, and dataannotation.tech. Complete each application. Use the same email and similar writing samples.
Three applications submitted. You'll get response emails over the next 1-3 weeks.
Apply to all three tonight — approvals trickle in over 1-3 weeks, dependency on any one platform is risky.
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