Nov 12 2008
With the economy in a downward spiral, people are flocking to the Internet to take advantage of some of the work from your computer opportunities. There are many possibilities for online work from blog writing to affiliate marketing to virtual assistant jobs, yet one must weed through a plethora of scams to find the good opportunities. Process from home jobs are known for being way people scam innocent job seekers out of money, but when you are on the alert for scammers it is much easier to avoid them.
Process at home jobs range from the data entry and type at home jobs to rebate processing. Although many of the jobs seem legitimate at first glance, many of them are not. It seems unfair that hard-working people who are just trying to find ways to make money must deal with these unethical or illegal schemes, but it is much better to know how to spot one than to fall prey to their scams.
One challenge to identifying the scams is that they are often listed right along side the legitimate work opportunities in the help wanted ads online and in newspapers. However, there are a few red flags to watch out for as you determine which job opportunities are worthy of your time and which ones you should kick to the curb.
Avoid opportunities that ask you to send in money upfront. Whether the fee is for training or software or mysterious activation fees, think twice before handing over money to these companies. People searching for jobs in the offline world aren?t expected to pay for work, so why should this be accepted online? The primary problem with this is that many, many people send in money never to hear from the companies again, while others learn that they need to continue paying money in order to journey through the ?hiring? process. Then, once they are finished with the process, they can?t make enough money on the job to make it worth their original investment.
Another important step to take before you move forward with a data entry or process from home job is to thoroughly research the company. If you cannot find a contact name, e-mail or phone number for the company, consider it a major red flag. Even more alarming is being unable to receive a response to your inquiries if you do have the contact information. If it hard to get a response now, imagine how frustrating that will be when you are hoping to get work or compensation.
In addition to checking out the contact information, do online searches for the specific company name to find out if there are negative reports or claims that people have been scammed. There are several online forums where people report fraudulent online businesses that have dishonest and unethical practices.
Finally, if the job opportunity listing seems too good to be true, it probably is. If the company makes promises of outrageous income for little effort, you can be 99% certain that this company is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.
Finding the right work at home job for you can be challenging, but it is possible. By researching each job opportunity and only getting involved with a legitimate business you significantly decrease your chances of being scammed and increase your chances for finding rewarding work that brings in the income you need.
About the Author
To learn more about process at home jobs and work at home jobs visit TheWebReviewer.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 12 2008
The terms “copyediting” and “proofreading” have distinct meanings. Copyediting is the revision right after the draft is finished. It includes correcting spelling, formatting, and grammar mistakes, as well as changing awkward sentences, ensuring that ideas flow well, eliminating ineffective portions of text, etc. Copyediting is a very involved, often lengthy process.
By contrast, proofreading is the final look-through before the creator turns in the document for publication, posting, grading, etc. It still involves correcting, formatting and grammar errors, but it does not usually include much sentence or idea restructuring. Proofreading can also include ensuring the creator of the document placed all photos correctly, hyperlinks work, sources are correct, etc.
What is the average pay rate for freelance proofreading/copyediting?
Both copyediting and proofreading can pay very well if you’re good at what you do and you have adequate experience. Freelance rates are the same for both types of work, assuming proofreading takes less time than copyediting.
For both freelance jobs, it is common to charge by the hour or by the page. A brand new copyeditor or proofreader shouldn’t ask for more than $2/page or $25/hour. Experienced copyeditors and proofreaders may charge up to $15/page or $75/hour or more.
What type of experience do I need to get these jobs?
Most importantly, you should have excellent grammar and spelling skills. You must have a keen eye for detail. Control freaks and perfectionists make great proofreaders and copyeditors because they don’t let one mistake or inconsistency slip by them.
It’s helpful if you have a degree in English or education, so clients will assume you have strong language skills. You’ll also want to develop a strong portfolio of work that you can show to potential clients.
If you don’t have any relevant education or experience, think outside the box. Have you written anything at all? The answer is probably ‘yes.’ Put together some of your best work, such as resumes, reports, short stories, etc.
If you don’t have any of this, then make some! It’s okay for you to make sample documents from scratch ? you’re just trying to give people an idea of how good of a writer you are.
How can I find freelance proofreading/copyediting jobs?
Many individuals, schools, and businesses need copyeditors and proofreaders. Authors generate manuscripts, companies generate reports and presentations, students generate essays? all can and do use copyeditors and proofreaders.
If you’re just getting started, try joining websites like Elance and IFreelance. They’ve got tons of projects waiting for people to bid on them. On sites like this, price is often a factor for the buyers, so if you’re inexperienced and willing to underbid a bit, this is the place for you.
These sites are also good because they help you establish a reputation with buyers. One job could lead to ongoing work with that company or referrals to other businesses.
Once you’re more established, get your own website and make sure it’s search engine optimized so that customers can find you. A dedicated website implies an additional level of credibility that will help you command higher fees.
What’s the best way to respond to an ad?
When you come across an ad you like, respond to the needs and concerns of the client. Read this sample ad to see if you can spot what this client is looking for:
I’ve written a 200-page book. It’s a fiction novel about a boy in Ancient Rome who grows up to be king. The manuscript is ready but I want one last read through before I submit it to publishers. I need mistakes fixed and maybe suggestions for parts that are hard or boring to read. Experienced editors only.
Okay, this ad asks for an experienced editor. Does that mean you shouldn’t bid without a mile-long resume?
It sounds like what the author really wants is someone with an eagle eye to make his manuscript perfect before he sends it out for consideration by publishing houses. If you know you can do it despite a lack of experience, then go ahead and bid.
Emphasize your skills and provide examples of work you did in college or create some new samples. Do your best to include samples that relate to the author’s work ? in this case, fiction pieces, especially those that are historical in nature. Assure the author that you are more than capable of doing the job, and you’ll have yourself a customer!
About the Author
Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance copy editing jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( http://www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 12 2008
Public relations is an involved field of work for freelance writers. Freelance public relations usually entails writing reports, designing presentations, putting together ad campaigns, creating press releases, writing speeches, coaching, informing employees/clients/regulatory agencies about what’s going on at the office, and so on.
In short, if you want to freelance as public relations writer, you need a diverse set of skills. This includes exceptional writing ability, a knack for marketing, superior computer skills (with knowledge of presentation and desktop publishing software), and exceptional customer service.
If you don’t have these skills, you can probably outsource some of your work. However, hiring others to do your job for you will seriously dwindle your profits.
Who offers freelance public relations jobs?
Every publicly traded company needs PR people, including many private businesses. Marketing and communications firms are popular examples. In addition, government and non-profit organizations always seek the services of freelance PR pros. Museums, charities, and hospitals are just a few examples that encompass the endless list of organizations needing someone to handle their public relations.
To find public relations jobs, check out employment sites like workopolis.com and Yahoo! HotJobs. It’s also smart to sign up with websites like workinpr.com that specialize in connecting PR jobseekers with employers.
Don’t forget to check out websites like IFreelance and Guru. These freelance job auction sites allow you to bid on projects that suit your timeline, scope of abilities, and desired income level.
How much money can I make in freelance public relations?
That depends on the PR work that you’re doing. Freelance public relations encompass many “sub-jobs,” and consequently, each client will have different tasks that he or she wants you to oversee. A PR client may hire you to do everything from employee newsletters to nationwide marketing campaigns; or the client may hire you to type, copyedit, and proofread press releases. You and your client will have to agree on the list of expectations.
If you’re a jack-of-all-trades public relations writer, then don’t charge less than $40 an hour. If your client wants you to charge by project (which is more common for large PR campaigns), estimate the number of hours you will need and then multiply it by your hourly rate. As your list of happy PR clients grows, you may want to charge more. Many PR freelancers make $150 an hour and up.
In public relations, it is also common to charge by the day. PR professionals usually charge in the range of $300 to $1000 per day or more.
How do I properly respond to a public relations job ad?
Again, it depends on the work the client wants you to do. It also depends on the company it is. If a kids’ soccer league were looking for a PR freelancer, you’d hope to quote them a far smaller fee than you would an oil and gas company!
To ensure you create the best response possible, follow these guidelines:
1. Identify yourself as an extremely capable and professional PR freelancer.
2. Assure the client that you can handle each of the items he or she listed in the ad.
3. Mention how satisfied your previous clients have been with your work.
It’s obviously much easier to get this complex job with prior experience. However, if you don’t have previous PR clients, remember that any job experience with any required job skill is useful. For example, you may have written website content before. It’s not PR experience technically, but it shows you can handle that aspect of the job.
Sample ad
Below is a sample ad for a public relations freelance writer. What would you include in your response?
We are a mid-sized software company that needs a public relations specialist to add energy to our existing ad campaigns. We want to be well positioned within our market to reach out to new customers and generate more sales. You will rewrite our marketing material, design slideshows, and create two press releases per month about our products.
First, let the advertiser know you’re enthusiastic about this job opportunity. The company is looking for someone to reenergize their marketing efforts, so you should convey yourself as an energetic, dynamic person.
Second, address their task list. If you have relevant experience and satisfied past clients, discuss it here. If not, focus on how solid your skills are.
That’s all there is to it! Getting the client excited about your abilities is the key to success in public relations.
About the Author
Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance public relations jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( http://www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 12 2008
Corporates struggle, when recruiting middle level professionals (midpros). It is a challenge to match the aspirations of the mid career professionals with what the corporates expect of them. Only a just match leads to satisfaction of both. The midpro is then committed, knowing the relationship is highly productive and this results in the midpro’s longevity in the company.
Here are 4 important things corporates must do in order to find the right mid level professionals:
1) Balance: Capabilities Of The Midpro With The Expectations Of Corporates
When choosing middle level professionals, corporates must try to match the capabilities a midpro possesses, with what it actually requires, to get the job done. A mismatch is troublesome to both parties concerned. It is necessary that the corporates measure the potential of the midpro. For this, it should test the functional expertise of the midpro. Additionally, a measure of the skills and knowledge the midpro possesses, is essential to judging the midpro. Besides the person?s personal and professional aspirations must be understood.
2) Recognize: The Midpro’s Personal Preferences
It is necessary to know the mind of the middle level professional the corporate plans to hire. This will eliminate candidates who are unsure and suffer from low self esteem. Additionally, the midpro should enjoy a comfortable position in health, wealth and in family life. The midpro’s areas of interest should also be ascertained. This is critical as the midpro might be looking for ways to explore his or her interests, while seeking career development. If the midpro appears purpose driven, then he will possess the qualities necessary to succeed.
3) Understand: The Midpro’s Professional Preferences
A midpro, with some years of experience behind him, would naturally aspire for professional recognition. The corporate should gauge how much the midpro expects to achieve, by working with the company. The midpro’s achievements should be appreciated. The corporate should be able to estimate the learning abilities of the midpro. It is also necessary to check if the midpro is willing to adapt to changes. A willingness to learn will improve the efficiency of the midpro. Otherwise, at a later stage, the corporate would have difficulty in accommodating the midpro at higher efficiency levels. There is a chance that the midpro might also be looking for meaningful opportunities.
4) Gauge: The Midpro’s Career Aspirations
The corporates can also check if the midpro has explored the depths of his or her profession. The corporate should be able to provide the midpro with opportunities to apply the skills learnt over the years, to other areas of the industry. It should also provide interesting challenges to the midpro to expand the scope of his abilities. Besides this, the midpro should be given opportunities to acquire newer capabilities. This is important to maintain excitement in the job.
It is difficult to achieve the right match between what the corporates expect, with what a midpro desires. But this task can be made simpler by applying the above recommendations, meticulously. Such a match will result in a longer and more fruitful relationship between the corpoarte and the midpro.
About the Author
KS Rajasekar is the Chief Knowled at MidCareers.com. For more tips, please visit Career Tools. Midcareers.com is India’s First Exclusive ‘MidPros-focussed Placement and Career Enrichment Services Agency’.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 11 2008
Unless you have your own profitable business that serves your needs, you need to have a job to maintain your desired living and life style. But day by day, the population is increasing, creating more competitors for you. Additionally, jobs are no longer as secure as they used to earlier; companies are now laying off employees left right and centre. Employers now have a greater choice today and that too at better bargains! So how do you land your prize job at your desired expectations? Here are some tips to help you:
1. Prospecting: First of all, you have to decide if you really want to work for a particular company. Just because they have a vacancy for your chosen job and just because they propose to pay you doesn?t mean you apply. It is important that you check out for any problems that you may envisage during your association with them. Check out their website(s), analyze their growth and performance, google their name and see if you come across something undesirable. You may get a higher pay now but if they?re in trouble, you?ll soon find yourself on the road, hunting for your next job.
2. Sending your resume: Once you have concluded that they are a good prospect you would like to work with, send your resume with a covering letter. Ensure that you adhere to their preferred mode of accepting resumes. If they want it faxed, don?t email them. If they?re expecting a telephonic interview, don?t walk in. If you have any doubts, ask first.
3. Interview preparation: This is like an exam - You can never over prepare. The more prepared you are, the less chances of making mistakes. Absorb as much information as you can about the company, the staff, their products and services, etc. If you have done your homework, your potential employers will like your attitude and will be more interested. Keep a well organized file with you that contain certificates, achievement proofs, letters of recommendations, etc. Maintain proper grooming habits. Get a good night?s sleep on the previous night, you don?t want to yawn and give the wrong signals. If required, create some sample questions and ask your family member, friend, or a professional to interview you. Take their unbiased opinions on your sample interview and improve on the points you think necessary.
4. Attending the interview: Be appropriately dressed for your interview. Maintain a neat and clean look; don?t be punky or hip. Be very punctual ? preferably 10 minutes before your appointment. Smile at people as much as possible. Keep your cell phone switched off just before you enter the employer?s premises and throw away your chewing gum if you have one in your mouth. Don?t sulk or act impatient when waiting for your call ? some employers will purposely keep you waiting to gauge your reactions. Once you?re called, enter the door and take permission to come in, greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, a smile and preferably with his first name, if you know it. Remain standing until you?re asked to be seated.
5. During the interview: Avoid fidgeting while speaking ? it shows lack of confidence. Keep a subtle warm smile on your face. Don?t answer simple questions with nods, head shakes, or shrugging your shoulders, use words. Don?t ever cross your arms ? it gives a defensive attitude. Don?t distract your interviewer by using too much gestures or interrupting when he is speaking. Accept any refreshment offered; but don?t ask for one, with the exception of water. If you carry your own bottle, take permission before drinking. Maintain eye contact at all times. Speak as clearly and firmly as possible, with confidence and authority. This will guide them how you will fit in with their co-workers. Don?t ever lie, the risk of being caught is not worth. Be alert and act genuinely interested throughout the interview, but don?t try to be over enthusiastic. Refer to the interviewer?s name as often as you can, without making it obvious. Finally, remember that you?re there to sell yourself. A knowledgeable, friendly and positive attitude has a greater chance of closing the sale, so market yourself in the best way possible. Don?t show your need or desperation even if you are, tell him why you deserve the job and why they should select you over others. However, don?t play hard to get, this is not a dating environment! And don?t let your jaw drop, for whatever reasons, under any circumstances! Finally, don?t ever excuse yourself in the middle of an interview, even if you have to use the bathroom.
6. Ending the interview: Once the hard part is over, you still need to give a good end. Once you have been indicated that there is nothing more left, smile again, thank him for taking the time to see you, and offer another firm handshake. Then politely ask when you might expect to hear from them about their decision.
Resume preparation tips:
1. Highlight the qualifications, work experience and other education that best represents the type of work you?re applying for.
2. Include your accomplishments that accentuate your proposed job.
3. Keep your summary easy and brief.
4. Never write your resume in a narrative format.
5. Do not hide or exclude vital information necessary for your resume.
6. If you have huge gaps in your employment history, be prepared to give an explanation if asked.
7. Don?t use pictures or graphics in your resume, use a decent font and normal border.
8. Your resume should be short and sweet, to the point, without ignoring important points and without stretching points unnecessarily. Don?t stretch it over 2 pages, it will land in the dustbin.
9. Your work history should be in a descending order ? current job on top, then the one before that, so on and so forth.
10. Carefully check all grammatical and spelling errors and correct them, if you?re serious about your work.
About the Author
Nirjara Rustom moderates the Career and Employment Tips Section of http://www.bharatbhasha.com at http://www.bharatbhasha.com/careers.php - here we cover this subject in much more detail.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 10 2008
More than half of CVs have spelling and grammar mistakes. Is yours one of them?
Spelling mistakes on professional CVs are one of employers? top gripes. A recent survey even showed that 54 per cent of employers found misspelled words on CVs to be their biggest irritation. The poll also showed that 17 per cent of employers were put off by a bad layout and 16 per cent said they disliked CVs that were too long.
The latest research commissioned by the Spelling Society also showed that around half of British adults are unable to spell many commonly used words including embarrassed, liaison and millennium.
On a day-to-day basis, spelling mistakes such as these may not have a significant impact on a person?s life. However, when it comes to compiling a professional CV, it is wise to remember that an employer?s opinion of a candidate is solely reliant on the information presented in their CV and covering letter.
The CV is therefore the one document that should be categorically free of errors. Simple spelling mistakes can give the impression that either the candidate is sloppy, poorly educated or lacking in attention to detail. Any one of these traits is likely to have a negative impact in the workplace, so it is reasonable for employers to take the issue seriously.
A professional CV should comprise of an accurate summary of experience, skills and achievements, laid out clearly on the page. It should be tailored to the job you are applying for and it should be checked through very thoroughly for spelling errors.
There are certain words which prove more likely to trip up job applicants in their tracks. Look carefully through these words, which are very commonly misspelled in CVs (here they are spelled correctly).
Do you spell these words incorrectly on your CV?
Accommodation, benefit, career, challenging, commitment, communication, confidence, consistent, currently, calendar, curriculum, correspondence, definite, environment, employment, experience, fulfilment, independent, indispensable, management, marvellous, opportunity, professional, privileged, received, separate, unnecessary.
All of the words above are easy to spell incorrectly and need to be given extra attention when you compile your professional CV. Take particular care when you use them and, if you are using a CV template, copy the text into Word and use the spell checking tool to pick up any obvious spelling errors.
Even with a spell checking tool, which would help you to eliminate these errors, it is very easy to make grammatical mistakes. Just knowing that you don?t have any words misspelled is not enough ? you need to proofread for spelling, grammar and clumsy or over-complicated sentences before posting your CV online.
Check through your CV yourself and then find someone who is used to proof-reading such as a teacher to check through it as well. In addition to checking spelling and grammar, make sure you aren?t using any complex technical jargon, acronyms or awkward phrasing. If your CV is a pleasure to read, you really are half way over the first hurdle of getting to that interview. Good luck!
About the Author
Peter Whitehead is commissioned to write articles on behalf of iProfile, the preferred online CV template. iProfile brings the online CV into the 21st Century. Tips & advice vary from CV writing to negotiating a pay rise.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 10 2008
Have you ever tried to hire employees without posting the job in the newspaper, on the door of your business, or on the Internet? Not doing so makes it difficult to find high quality employees. Not doing so also makes it difficult to fill a position that needs filling quickly.
Luckily, there are many different methods in which you can easily post a job. It may be sort of easy to send a classified ad to the local newspaper, but that is something that is slowly becoming obsolete. This is because the Internet has opened up a completely new doorway to how jobs are listed. With the invention of job listings on the Internet, less and less people actually frequent their newspapers when looking for jobs. They go to job seeker sites and look at the listings there. As a matter of fact, that is how a lot of people get their jobs nowadays.
The evolution of job listings
Let’s step back a bit and look at the days in which the newspaper was the only option. People would go through the lists of jobs and would circle what they thought they could do and would then call the number in the ad. This could be a frustrating process because it was time consuming.
All of a sudden, the Internet came to be and job listing sites were added to the Internet. It took a while for employers to catch on, especially since not all businesses had Internet access like most do today. Nowadays, a job comes open and the boss can go onto the Internet and list the job opening on a website within moments of the job coming open. In just a matter of minutes, hundreds of people can see that ad.
Being that hundreds of people see the ad in any given day, it can be difficult on the boss because he or she has to sift through all of those replies. There are resumes everywhere with qualified people busting at the seams. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. This isn’t a bad thing because this means that there are plenty of qualified people to choose from. Eventually, the boss is able to find a qualified individual and the job is filled in no time.
Another thing that has happened with online job listings is that individuals are more able to find other jobs in other towns and recruiters can recruit from anywhere. It used to not be this easy. Back in the day, someone would have to call or they would have to hear it through the “grapevine” that a job was available with a company across the country. Now all it takes is a surf through a job listings site and jobs can be found on the other side of the world. It is utterly amazing and has done a lot for competition within businesses and even the economy. The best employees are placed within the best companies and some employees are even fought over because they are incredible workers. The Internet has helped revolutionize this.
How these sites work
As the employer, job listing sites makes your job easier. Basically, you just sign up for an account and you then follow the instructions to post an ad. It only takes a few minutes. You don’t have to worry about mailing off your ad and waiting for it to be in a newspaper. It will be live in no time after you have submitted. From there you don’t have to worry about anything other than reviewing the many resumes that come your way.
Job listings sites are easy to use. Basically, you fill out a form asking you what kind of job you’re looking for, where you want to work, and what kind of job title you want. This is the best way for you to target the kind of job you want instead of having to search through all sorts of listings. In the days of classifieds in newspapers, you had to read ads for jobs that you did not want. Nowadays you type in what you want and you’re taken right there.
Newspapers are good for the news
Newspapers are good for the news. Most individuals have the Internet now and, even if they don’t, they will make sure they find Internet access when they’re looking for a job. They know where to find the best jobs and that is on online job listings sites. They know that they aren’t going to find a high quality job in the newspaper anyway. It seems that most of the jobs listed in the newspaper classifieds are jobs regarding work-at-home opportunities that want you to pay some sort of fee. There are also job listings for truck drivers and individuals wishing to sell cosmetics. As for the other stuff, people turn to the Internet and that’s why you should make sure your job listings are listed there and nowhere else.
To maximize your chances to land a quality employee, you can list your job opening on multiple sites. No one ever said that you had to use just one. Multiple sites work out just fine. When the job is filled, you can make sure you remove the ads from the other sites. That way you don’t continue to receive inquiries and resumes about a job that is already filled. That’s something you can’t do in a newspaper. If you pay for the ad to run for 7 days, then it is going to run for 7 days. If you find a great person on the second day, then you have 5 days that you’ve paid for that you don’t need. In the end, you will find that submitting job listings online is more cost-effective and can save you a lot of time in a number of ways. That is just the way to go, so make sure you use online job listings from now on so that you can reach a larger audience of great employees.
About the Author
Jay Gaulard writes for a wide selection of websites on various topics. He is a veteran of the internet and has come to be respected in his many areas of expertise. This article was written on behalf of Iiamin, a popular help wanted ads website.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 09 2008
Though we are well into the new millennium, we are still being surprised by innovative technologies that surface almost everyday. And many of them transfer very effectively into the work world, affording us opportunities to restructure the way we conduct job searches.
This means it is a good idea to learn some of the new ways to seek jobs. That way, you can keep up with, and even surpass your competition.
Web Portfolios and Video Resumes
Web portfolios are becoming popular vehicles for obtaining employment because they offer easy-to-read, attractive, electronic versions of your resume. They are especially useful for candidates working in web design, writing or artwork; however, anyone can take advantage of them. Typically, they showcase screenshots of designs, links to a working page, and a description of the work being displayed. There are websites dedicated to helping individuals create them in order to post the work and send links to employers.
Video resumes, while not as popular or highly-accepted by recruiters, are another way for job candidates to spice up what was once simply a dull piece of paper. Posted on sites like YouTube, candidates use these resumes to verbally list their skills, talents and capabilities. After creating the video, they send the link to potential employers. However, before you decide to take this route however, conduct research to make sure this type of resume is acceptable in your field.
Job Blogging and Social Networking
Along with creating video resumes and web portfolios come two more vehicles of online job seeking: job blogging and social networking. You are probably familiar with the concept of social networking by now if you have a Myspace of Facebook page. On both websites you can either communicate with your friends or set up a page that lends itself to your professional side. But social networks now do even more. They also allow you to get on message boards where recruiters often frequent, and network with other individuals in your field.
Since some recruiters take the extra steps to locate candidates via the Internet, it?s not a bad idea to also set up your own blog that tracks your job search and markets your skills. Just ensure that if you?re trying to have a professional online presence, you either don?t create or make ?private? any profiles listed under your full name that may be inappropriate for business. For more information on how to blog responsibly, you can visit EFF.com
The Behavioral Interview
While not technology-based, the behavioral interview is becoming a popular format employers are using to gather more information about job candidates. The interview is handled in person like the traditional interview; however differences lie in the types of questions being asked. For instance, instead of being asked ?What are your strengths and weaknesses as an employee?? you might be asked ?What is a specific example of an occasion where you were called upon to solve a problem? And how did you solve it?? The latter questions explore exact behaviors in specific situations, and give more insight into your day-to-day abilities.
Staying on top of what?s going on in the world of job seeking is very important. So try to find out more. You?ll be surprised by the exposure and access to opportunities you?ll acquire.
About the Author
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. If you need a resume writer, compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.
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[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 08 2008
The word “copy” simply means material that a client wants published. A client might hire you to write copy online or offline, for a website, magazine, book, restaurant menu, brochures, posters, user manuals? the list is virtually endless.
Anything that needs writing needs a writer. This makes the list of freelance copywriting jobs seemingly infinite. If you have superior writing skills (i.e. excellent grammar and a skill for stringing words together), then you can become a great copywriter.
How much can I earn as a freelance copywriter?
Freelance copywriters regularly earn more than enough money to support themselves and their families. It takes hard work to establish a name for yourself and market your abilities to the public, but you can achieve a decent pay rate between $35 and $50 an hour.
Beginner freelance copywriters usually earn around $20 per hour. Experienced freelancer copywriters earn $50-75 per hour and up.
Where do I find freelance copywriting jobs?
The Internet is the ultimate resource for freelancing jobs. Join sites like Elance, IFreelance, and Guru. All of these sites will let you create a profile that includes an online portfolio to showcase your work to potential clients.
On the sites listed above, people post projects to hire writers, and freelance writers bid on them. It’s a competitive business because many writers are willing to underbid just to get some quick cash. Usually, however, buyers are able to distinguish a poor writer from a good writer based on their bids, so you should still be able to earn reasonable wages.
If you have some experience under your belt, create a website of your own so clients can come to you. Copywriters with their own websites regularly earn more than those who bid on freelancing websites, simply because a website lends credibility to your abilities.
How do I showcase myself as a freelance copywriter?
Whether you’re writing copy for your own website or responding to an ad, make sure your writing style reflects the image you want to convey.
This means you should have perfect grammar, flawless spelling and syntax, and zero typos, no matter what. If you can’t get your own advertising materials right, why should clients trust you with their projects?
How do I pitch myself as a freelance copywriter?
Okay, so you have the grammar down. Now what?
Well, this is where you want to appeal to the market segment of the job you’re trying to land. Many freelance copywriters lose copywriting jobs because they generalize their bids. Resist the temptation to tell potential clients everything you’ve ever done and every type of writing you can handle.
For example, it’s much better to tell a restaurant owner who wants new menus this:
“I specialize in creating menus that tantalize customers and enhance your restaurant’s reputation. I can make even Mac and Cheese sound like a delicacy!”
instead of this:
“I’m an expert in writing web copy, e-books, promotional material, and reports. Whatever your writing need, I can handle it for you.”
The reason the second way won’t work is because clients want to pay a copywriter to share the passion they have for their projects, whether they realize it or not. You wouldn’t believe the number of copywriters who respond to an ad the second way, just because they don’t want to spend a lot of time bidding.
Sample ad for you to try:
Read the ad below and see if you can figure out how to make an enticing bid:
“I need someone to help me write an e-book about natural cures for depression. I have done all the research myself and it’s mostly organized into chapter headings. I just need a great writer to make it come to life. It’s an educational book but it should be easy to read, too. No technical mumbo-jumbo.”
All right, this person has put together a book outline that she obviously cares a lot about. To impress her, you’ll need to respond to her bid that shows you share her enthusiasm for the subject matter.
Try something like:
“I think it’s wonderful you’ve put together such a worthwhile book. Depression is an epidemic in our country and I would be honored to be part of a project that works toward a solution.”
That’s a great start. Remember, if you take the time to tailor your bid to suit the project, you’ll have no problem standing out from the crowd as a freelance copywriter.
About the Author
Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance copywriting jobs at Online Writing Jobs (http://www.online-writing-jobs.com), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.
See Also:
[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
Nov 08 2008
Blogging is a fast-growing field that offers plenty of freelance opportunities. However, beware of what type of blogging you’re doing and how much the client is paying you. Many new freelance bloggers find themselves putting in full-time hours for part-time pay.
Even if you’re just starting out, don’t accept less than $7-$10 per post. Just because you haven’t blogged before doesn’t mean you lack valuable, sought-after skills.
If you do have experience, or if you’re blogging for a financially-stable company, feel free to charge more. Top bloggers can earn $30-$50 per post and sometimes a share in the company’s profits.
What exactly do bloggers do?
On the surface, it’s just article writing. The purposes behind blogging are much more elaborate. Companies use blogs with excellent headlines/keywords to drive traffic to their websites. More web traffic means:
1. More customers to buy their products or services.
2. More people to click on their advertising.
It may seem basic, but these two goals mean you need to create posts that aim and appeal to your clients’ target markets. The best bloggers are writers who can write newsworthy content that generates a loyal readership and seamlessly (and sneakily!) promotes the company in question.
Who offers freelance blogging jobs?
A few years ago it was difficult to find people to pay you to blog. These days you can find dozens of new ads for bloggers posted each day. Realtors, auto mechanics, health food stores, doctors, door-to-door salesmen? sometimes it can seem like everyone wants a blog of their own.
Freelance blogging jobs are plentiful, no matter the time of year. Check out WritingBids, Online-Writing-Jobs, Elance, Guru, and IFreelance (or just search for “freelance blogging jobs”) to find thousands of blogging jobs available to you.
The bad news is that you’ll have to sift through the blogging jobs to find quality jobs. Don’t accept jobs that pay $1 per post. Don’t accept jobs that expect you to write 10 blogs every day, either — somehow these people want to pay you next to nothing because of the volume of work (why would you get paid less to do more?). They also comment in their ad that they only want “serious, professional writers.” Bidding on blogging jobs like these only sends the message that you are neither serious nor professional because if you were, there’s no way you’d consider a job like that.
Do I need experience to be a blogger?
If you want clients to pay you as a legitimate blogger, then yes, you need experience. Luckily, it’s not hard to get. You can rack up a few of the lower-paying jobs quickly or consider starting your own blog.
If you do start your own blog, make it full of posts that would impress a prospective client (i.e. no posts for your friends about how killer that last party was). If you post boring content with grammar mistakes, no one will want to hire you. Do your best to create content that drives traffic to your site; this way, you can show clients how good you are at writing what people want to read.
What’s the best way to respond to an ad?
Let’s say you come across an ad that says this:
I am a successful travel agent looking for a blog writer. I need someone with experience to write interesting posts that pertain to my business — you can choose specific topics yourself. I need one post a day.
To craft the best response possible, follow these 4 steps:
1. Briefly introduce yourself as experienced and interested.
2. Explain how your posts will drive traffic to their site.
3. Suggest a couple of topics to show you’re in sync with the client.
4. Include links to your best blog posts.
Using the ad above as an example, you’d want to:
1. Introduce yourself and express interest in the project and the travel industry in general.
2. Say something like: “I will tailor my posts with specific keywords to make you more visible to potential customers.”
3. Suggest topics such as “What to pack for Alaska” or “3 Unique Things To Do In Barbados.”
4. Include links to your best existing posts, especially any posts related to travel.
You’ll have your first (well-paying) client before you know it. Happy blogging!
About the Author
Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance blogging jobs at Online Writing Jobs (http://www.online-writing-jobs.com), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.
See Also:
[Via Jobs Articles At Isnare.com]
