Keep in mind that not all contests are created equal, and that winning won't necessarily build your career. Assessing Contests Following are some tips to help you evaluate contests you may be thinking of entering. If it's an organization you don't recognize, be sure to verify its legitimacy. If you can't confirm this to your satisfaction, don't enter. Contrary to popular belief, this is not an automatic sign of a questionable contest.
Many legitimate contests charge a fee to cover processing expenses.
However, entry fees should be appropriate. Anything more should prompt you to do some careful checking. If there's a contest every month, or bunches of contests every quarter, this may just be a moneymaking scheme. A legitimate contest will provide clear rules, including information about contest categories, deadlines, eligibility, format, fees, prizes and the circumstances in which they will or will not be awarded, judging, and rights you may be surrendering. A legitimate contest will always provide this information.