Golden Job

It's all about Job and Career!

Sometimes the freelance writing jobs available are those that no one wants. Or, they are those that new businesses are looking to fill. You will not find postings for the best jobs and employment because many of those jobs go to individuals who already have an established career or a good working relationship with those businesses. For those looking for career advice to find the best freelance writing jobs available, they can find a few things here that will help them get the experience they need or at least get a foot in the door.

The most important aspect of getting the jobs that you want is to present a well written portfolio. Any writer can create pieces of work to show to individuals who want a sample. You do not have to be commissioned to write, you can write just for the sake of filling your portfolio. Just remember to put the best of the best work you have in there.

Secondly, there are many types of freelance writing jobs available. Yes, it is not just the book or prized article that you should look for. Look for vacancies in smaller areas as well. This will help you to develop relationships in the field.

Strive to meet the client’s needs. This will mean that you meet deadlines. It will mean that you offer the best material you can. But, it needs to meet the client’s specified requirements, not necessarily what you think they should be.

Be professional, and build a website. Most businesses these days are centered around their websites. Being professional means presenting yourself in the most appropriate way.

In any case, there can be be many freelance writing jobs available to you once you are in the know. When you learn how to write to your clients needs and meet those needs properly with each and every assignment that you do, employment will be available to you. To find the assignments to start with, you may have to present yourself outright. Simply always do so in a positive, professional manner.

In today’s fast-paced life, many of us take a sabbatical from work for various reasons and some of us unwittingly get into a job hop cycle, while searching for the right job opportunity. Though you may have perfectly understandable reasons, a resume with work gaps or quick job hops sets the alarm bells ringing for a recruiter. So what can you do if you are caught in such a situation. Here are some tips on how best to handle the situation.

Handling Job Hops

Get the reason right: This is not an easy one to handle and most people try to fumble an explanation on how the boss or the company’s attitude forced them to change. This is not a good line to take, even if it is a true one. As reiterated in an earlier article ‘Why did you leave your last job?’, never portray your past company in a negative light, as this reflects poorly on you, and leaves the recruiter wondering if you would be saying the same once you leave them. However if the reasons are something beyond your control eg the financial situation of the company or a merger with layoffs, then honesty is the best policy.

Take action early: If you have a list of job hops in quick succession, it is best to minimize your image as a job hopper at the resume stage itself. For example if you have a history that reads like this:

Mar 2008 – Oct 2008 / Company X

Nov 2009 – Jan 2009 / Company Y

Feb 2009 – Jul 2009 / Company Z

You could possibly leave out the months and mention just the years, reducing it to:

2008 / Company X

2009 / Company Y

Once you reach the interview stage, you need to convince the recruiter of your desire for permanence.

Describe the positives: Describe the learnings from your job-hops and how they are a part of your career building path. Never be defensive or apologetic of the changes. Rather briefly talk about what motivated you to take up the job and what you learnt.

Talk of permanence: Then move on to a job where you stayed for a long stint and talk enthusiastically of that. Draw a similarity between that place and the present in either work profile, company profile, work culture, whatever your research has shown draws maximum parallel with the present company or job, and mention that you are looking for a similar workplace/company/job. This will help convince the recruiter of your long term commitment.

Explaining Work Gaps

Opportunities gained: If you have a gap in your resume – whatever be the reason – a sabbatical or lay-off, be honest about why there is a break. Then don’t in anyway be defensive or say that it was a wrong decision. Take a positive stand – whatever happens is for the best and talk about the opportunities the break provided you. More family time you had been missing out on, time to pursue a long forgotten hobby or just time to chill out and take a break so you can come back fully charged to take on your next career jump.

A conscious decision: Even if you were laid off, let the recruiter know that you have taken a conscious decision to take a longer break, as you wanted to carefully scan all your opportunities before making your next career move. You did not want to take up anything that came your way, even though you were laid off, as you wanted to think through your next career move and take up only what you keenly desire to do and then identify those companies you would want to work in. This shows you as a career conscious individual while reiterating your commitment to the job at hand.

Of course, you could add that with the recession the search has perhaps taken a little longer, but you are convinced that when you take up a job it will be right one and so both you and the company stand to gain.

Finally be convinced of your reasons in your own mind first and have a positive attitude as it will inevitably reflect in your demeanour and language. An interview is, at the end of the day not just about giving the right answers but getting your attitude right.

They may be personal or professional. The personal ones can speak to your stability and character. On the professional side, references should address your qualifications to handle the job. A combination of both types is first prize.

There are six career tips that will help you make sure your references assets work to your advantage in your search for a job.

1. Never take for granted that a reference will be positive. Get approval from each one, no matter how solid you may think the relationship is, so that the referring person can be prepared to speak for you from first hand knowledge. The last thing you want is for a reference to be caught off guard. This contact is best made with a face-to-face meeting.

2. Bring the potential reference up to speed on your job status. Detail the history of your career. Explain the reasons you are looking for a new position. Explain your career goals.

3. Describe in detail the job you are seeking. Ask for career advice, as well as any leads to job opportunities. Never forget, everybody likes to be ask for advice.

4. After you secure their assurance of a positive reference, send them a copy of your resume and cover letter. Request their comments. This is a good way to get them involved in your search.

5. Keep references involved in your job search. Request that they notify you when they receive calls from prospective employers. Get their take on the degree of interest the interviewers have in your application and the status of the search.

6. The follow-up is an extremely important part of the process. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and challenges of a new job so you forget to thank those who provided references. That’s a big mistake. Send “thank you” notes for their agreeing to serve as a reference. Keep them posted on the progress of your job search. After you get the job, keep your references posted on the progress you make on your career path.

Never burn your bridges. Remember you may need these references in the future.

There are many people who are given the skills in phrasing and styling certain ideas in line with the aim of giving emphasis and highlight to the importance of a statement. These people appear to be natural with this skill. They are able to do this just by thinking of the appropriate words or combination of such for them to express what is vital in the set of information given. If you are like these people given that interesting skill, professional resume writing might be fit for you.

It is really challenging to venture in to professional writing as a career. It is challenging in the sense that there are a lot of choices over the Internet offering online services on well organized and highly professional kind of resume. The most recommended technique here is to develop or come up with a market niche or the kind of market wherein you will specialize on one field according to the needs of your chosen target market. As trivial as it may sound, professional resume writing is a kind of job which requires excellent ability on the research on resumes and interviewing. More so, it is strongly recommended for you to take formal classes on writing geared in giving you the basics and techniques in business writing and professional resume writing. This kind of writing course is offered online or within a university.

The next step would be is acquiring the business information that is related to resume writing and then writing this out for your target market. In enticing your target market, you may opt to offer then discount in their first time of availing your service. You may also opt offering some other features like a free upgrading of the resume or giving them the option to have a free personal session in obtaining information. These could be some of the ways for you to attract your prospective clients. Another key in ensuring that you will attract you target market is to post sample resumes that you did that may be helpful for the market.

It is also worth remembering to avoid making resumes that you do not have any background of. This will provide a possibility of having negative feedbacks from your market. You might not also reach the expectations of your clients. Choosing a profession that you have knowledge of will definitely help you in establishing a career in your preferred profession. Targeting particular professions that you want to establish your reputation with is an important thing and will also help you garner more clients through the feedbacks of your clients even through word of mouth.

Lastly, in venturing in professional resume writing, you will need some basic supplies like a high speed or laser printer, a lot of quality paper for the printing of hard copies, some resume or word processing software, telephone, basic office supplies, and an internet connection. If you happen to have personal meetings with your clients as part of the services that you offer, you may also need your own office for your profession. Professional resume writing is a good career for those people who have the right skills in writing resumes, follow up and cover letter. This may work as a part time, full time, or as a self-employment career.

You have finally calmed down from the helter skelter of your graduation and the party afterwards. Your relatives are asking you what you are going to do now that you have graduated and you are still waiting to hear back from a couple of job interviews.

Although you are not totally sure that you have given an employer the best impression you are confident that you will have the job of your dreams. Your friends and relatives want to give you career advice but much of it seems unrealistic.

Now is not the time to worry that something is wrong or that you have done something wrong. When you begin your first career search it can be a bit daunting and a little scary but this is because you are acquiring a new skill that you didn’t know you had.

To get you started on that job search here are a few tips:

Tip 1: You don’t have to do this alone. When you are looking for your first job it is a good idea to talk to as many people as you can about the jobs they have open and how your skills meet their openings. Do some job interviews but also do information interviews where you are just looking for information. This can gain you more career advice than you ever imagined.

Tip 2: Dress like you already have the job. Students who dress for success and wear the clothes for the job they want will always come out on top. You want to dress in the way you imagine the top level job you want will require. Present yourself in the best light by dressing professionally no matter what the job you are interviewing for and someone will notice.

Tip 3: Get experience if you don’t get your job right away. If you don’t find the job the first time, look for ways to get experience. Hopefully you found a career that you liked in college and you are leaving with some experience. If this is not the truth, then now is the time to get the experience you need for the job that you want. Take a part-time job in the field or do some volunteer work.

Tip 4: Check with your recruiting office for career advice. Most colleges have recruiting offices and they help their students get jobs. Check out the job boards because these will be jobs that are friendly to new graduates. Ask your recruiting office about opportunities for paid internships because these can be a way to get started in your chosen profession quickly.

Tip 5: Be flexible – This is probably the best career advice we can give you because first jobs are usually made for those people who will step into a lesser job in order to get to the job they want. Don’t be afraid to do this and keep your eyes and ears open for more opportunity. The final career advice we have for you is to be as relaxed as possible when you go in for the interview.