Discouraging and a very negative rejection reason.

Hello senior editors,
I had applied for this category
http://dmoz.org/Regional/Asia/India/Business_and_Economy/Shopping/

While becoming an editor I read the instructions and guidelines, I read you have a better chance if you apply for a category without an editor and category having less than 100 sites, I still applied here because I was confident of serving this category well.
I applied to this category and the reviewer denied my application, I would not mind if there would be no reviewer comments, but the reviewer comments were there and what was written was very discouraging and surprising. The reviewer wrote: I am unable to accept your application to edit in
Regional/Asia/India/Business_and_Economy/Shopping at this time. The directory does
not approve new editors for categories as large as this one.

I would request the editor to reconsider my application as this is no reason of rejecting a application, if he finds that my sample urls and descriptions were not fine then he should had rejected my application by giving a appropriate reason in the reviewers section or should had left it blank.

My email address okieokieboy@yahoo.com

Thankyou.

First, I do not know who rejected your application.
Second, while there is no rule that we cannot accept an editor into categories with more than 100 sites, the advice to apply for a smaller category is excellent.
Third, we do not discuss reasons for denying an application.
Fourth, while any rejection can be interpreted as negative and perhaps discouraging, I do not find the feedback you cited as either.

You are welcome to apply again.

>>I would request the editor to reconsider my application as this is no reason of rejecting a application

Actually it is. And you applied for the category knowing that it was likely going to be considered too large so you shouldn't have been surprised that your application was rejected.

I'd do what nea suggested and apply again -- for a smaller category.

Thanks for replying

Hello,
Well discussing is of no use I guess.
But the reason of rejection raises questions realy.

Any way thanks for replying.

I don't see any question. The category was considered too large for a new editor. There are many good reasons for letting new editors play in a small sandbox while they're getting to know us (and we're getting to know them.) You can probably guess a few of them.

At least you were given a reason - I was rejected twice in 24 hours for the same category, both times without giving any reason so I don't know how to improve

If you were to apply for a smaller category and do that for awhile, you would be able to request an additional categories, including the one you are trying for. They don't want to give a new editor a big category and that, to me, is understandable. Good Luck to you!

Believe me, even a category with under 100 sites is a handful for a new editor. The number of options available is mind boggling. It takes time to settle into an editing role. I am nowhere near being fully conversant with editing as I have only been in the role for a couple of days, but I am getting there.

Like you, I originally applied for a category with over 100 sites and was rejected (fortunately very quickly). I now fully understand why. Getting used to the editing system alone is a difficult challenge so why make it more complex by adding more listings into the mix?

Do as the Meta's say, they are just as eager for you to become and editor as you are. They have the experience to guide you every step of the way, and that starts with the application. Follow the guidelines exactly and I am sure you will receive a welcome letter shortly.

Don't forget to be patient, it took 2 months for my application to be approved.

I wish you the best of luck.

Category Size for New Editors

There are good valid reasons why there is a guideline for new editors to start with a category of less than 100 sites -- and it comes from experience.
Actually 100 is a fairly sizable number -- and a category with that number of sites could have plenty of work for someone new.

Besides that, the Shopping categories are prone to a lot more abuse than some others, so the metas involved in the process may look at new apps with a bit more scrutiny. This is mainly for more protection against abuse in the ODP, as well as so the new editor doesn't bite off too much when they first join.

If you are serious about joining, please review the guidelines carefully, and choose a smaller category. After some editing experience and good judgement, it should not be a big hurdle to get that category you first sought.

Also, I would like to add...

The category that I started with had only 8 sites listed, 2 waiting to be reviewed. I now have it up to almost 50 sites. When you first come on, with a smaller category, there is ALOT of work to be done while you're learning. It is a bit overwhelming when you first start. You don't know all the rules off the top of your head. You have to learn as you go. I know am doing a second, even smaller, category as well and getting ready to apply for another smaller category. You have to get your feet wet first, before you can just dive in.

When I was having trouble with getting my application accepted, I wondered whether it would even be worth all the hassle... I can definitely say that I am loving being an editor.

Good luck to you all! I hope that you're able to find a good category and get accepted for it.