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Posts Tagged ‘creative freelancers’
Evaluating Different Types of Freelance Resumes
4/13/2012 9:00 AM By ArtisanIf you’re looking for advice on evaluating a resume to determine if a certain freelance professional is right for the job, the first thing you should know is that in your search you’re likely to come across a wide variety of resume styles. The typical professional freelance resume can come in all shapes and sizes – and depending on what type of resume you receive from a prospective employee, there’s a lot you can tell about that individual’s background by the style they choose.
Targeted resumes take the greatest amount of effort on the freelancer’s part and can be seen as a sign that they’re willing to do what it takes to get a job done. When a freelancer submits a detailed resume that spells out precisely why they’re qualified for a specific job, this is indication that the freelancer is good at adapting their approach to requirements and is willing to do all that’s necessary to match an employer’s expectations.
- Chronological resumes are the most frequently used and provide a list of the freelancer’s work history in reverse chronological order – beginning with the most recent job and working backwards. This style is generally used by freelancers to place focus on their consistent work history.
- Functional resumes are usually employed by freelancers that may have had long gaps between work assignments, usually as a result of having left the workforce for a lengthy period of time. The purpose of this style of resume is to highlight an individual’s experience and skills, but it can also give indication that the freelancer is someone who only works sporadically and may be given to taking extended periods of time off between jobs.
- Combination resumes are precisely that. They’re a combination of chronological and functional resumes that take a “best of both worlds” approach. They can give you, the employer, an idea of not only the individual’s skills, but can also give insight into the frequency with which the freelancer has been able to find work or is willing to work, which is sometimes viewed as a more accurate barometer of their abilities.
Needless to say, it’s critical to look beyond format to determine if an individual is ideally suited to an assignment before making a hiring decision. Simply because someone may have used a freelance sample resume as the basis for creating their own shouldn’t eliminate them from consideration, just as someone who’s taken the time to create a targeted resume shouldn’t be hired without a closer look at their abilities. To help in the process of elimination, employers seeking freelancers should register with a third party staffing firm like Artisan Talent, where only those professionals who have proved their mettle can apply for job postings.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Less is More: Achieving Simplified Web Design
4/12/2012 2:29 PM By Artisan
A lot of people make the mistake of viewing minimalistic web design as less functional. They get the notion that when a customer or prospective client visits a website, they’ve got to be greeted with bells and whistles and flashing elements that will keep their attention and prevent them from prematurely leaving. In truth, this is the best way to chase business away. The real secret to effective custom web design is in the creation of a website that’s clear of clutter, gets straight to the point and is visually pleasing. Opting for a minimalistic approach is the best way to accomplish that.
Your first step should be to adopt a “less is more” attitude. It’s not just a saying; it happens to ring very true, especially when it comes to web design. Simplistic visual designs have a way of breaking things down to their most basic form in the mind of the website visitor, something that you should always strive to achieve. Here are a few tips on achieving an influential, minimalistic custom web design.
· Consider the content you want to include in the website. Eliminate all superfluous content and strip things down to their bare essentials. What you want to achieve is a visual environment that makes it easy for a visitor to know exactly what services you offer or what products you sell, and that gives your customer a clear path to doing business with you if they desire. If you make a visitor work too hard to figure that out, you’ll lose them.
· Make good use of white space. Effective web design toes the line between simplicity and boredom and never strays into the latter category. Consider the spare use of colors to draw attention to areas of importance on your website, and never go overboard with the use of clashing color. It’s too hard on the eyes.
· Stay away from an imbalanced design. Aim for symmetry in the layout of the images and text boxes of your website in order to give it an even, structured feel. If you’d rather pursue a custom web design that’s a bit more risky, don’t go too far over the edge. Stick with traditional principles when fleshing out the look of the website so that it maintains a semblance of order, even if you’re shooting for something a bit more edgy and creative.
· Pay attention to font styles and font sizes. There seems to be a tendency these days to make text appear either too small or too big. Select a font size that won’t require your visitors to squint, but also one that won’t be so large that they’ll have to step away from their desks in order to take the words in.
Becoming versed in minimalistic approaches to custom web design will give you the necessary tools to make the right choice when you hire a web designer. To begin your search, get in touch with Artisan Talent and review the samples of available freelance web designers to see if their visions align with your own.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
How to Know You’re Hiring the Right Freelance Writer
4/11/2012 2:24 PM By Artisan
Registering with a creative talent agency like Artisan can be an effective step in the right direction to hiring the best freelance writer – but ultimately, it’s up to you to determine if the individual recommended for a job has the capability to deliver a project on time and at the level of professionalism you require. Here are a few tips to help you know you’re hiring the best freelance writer for your assignment.
- Verify Their Writing Skills. It’s not enough to take anyone’s assurance at face value, not even the creative staffing agency recommending the talent. Ultimately, you are the only person in a position to be able to say if a writer matches your requirements. Once you find a freelancer you think may be suited for the job, verify their writing skills by asking to see at least three samples of recent assignments they’ve completed for another client. If these assignments are proprietary and can’t be shared, the freelance writer should be able to offer you other writing samples that you can use to gauge their skill level.
- Determine Their Level of Education. Some of the best writers in the world have no more than a high school education so when you do take education into consideration, it’s important not to take it at face value. Simply having a master’s degree is no indication that a writer is talented, although it can give you some indication as to whether or not they’re able to adapt their writing style to a more academic approach.
- Look for Experience in Your Industry. If you’re looking to find a freelancer who can come up with compelling, fun and engaging content for your blogs and newsletters, you probably won’t go after a technical writer – just as you wouldn’t want a freelance writer known for their comedic wit to take on the a serious press release or white paper. This is not to say that just because someone specializes in a certain area doesn’t mean they’re capable of handling other kinds of assignments. But before you hire a freelance writer, make sure they’re a good match to your industry and can write about it with authority.
- Avoid Cut-Rate Writers. Most professional writers know their worth and aren’t afraid to ask for it. If the cost of a freelance writer is too low, it’s usually indication of one of two things: they haven’t gained enough work experience to ask for a higher rate or their skill level isn’t up to par with what you probably require. Remember that good writers are always in demand and the best will not be cheap.
Most importantly, the key to finding a writer that meets your criteria is to first know exactly what it is you’re looking for. If you’re not sure, a creative talent agency like Artisan can help you figure that out, and can use their considerable contacts to provide you with a short list of high-quality, readily available writers waiting to put pen to paper when you need them. Visit www.artisantalent.com to get started.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
5 Steps to a Professional Online Portfolio
3/27/2012 2:15 PM By Artisan
Searching for employment requires you to be resourceful. One of the tools most often used by resourceful job hunters is the professional online portfolio. Building an online portfolio is relatively easy, but making it shine is where the true challenge lies. Here are 5 steps to help you overcome that challenge and emerge with a portfolio that any employer would be nuts to pass over.
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KISS (Keep it Simple, Smarty) – Going for simplicity is the smartest thing you can do to attract a potential employer’s attention. But we’re not just talking about having a clean, handsome layout that’s easy on the eyes. We’re talking about not making interested parties work too hard to know what services you offer and how to get ahold of you if they want to make you an offer.
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Drive Inbound Traffic to Your Portfolio – There are two portfolio methods often employed by professionals searching for employment: the online resume and the discoverable portfolio. If you really want to maximize your exposure to the greatest possible number of clients, you can’t rely on using your online portfolio as a virtual resume that you have to point people to. Enable the discovery of your portfolio by increasing traffic to your site. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, but the most effective method is to network with other creative freelancers and professional associations. If you can get links to your portfolio posted on othese other websites or blogs you can increase your visibility in the search engines.
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Incorporate SEO and Keywords – Yet another frequently overlooked method of achieving greater online visibility is through the use of keywords in your portfolio. Think about what potential employers looking for someone like you might punch in to a search engine (example: “freelance writer in Chicago” or “Bay Area application developer”) and use those phrases in the text of your portfolio. This greatly increases the chances that your portfolio will appear in someone’s Google search. Just don’t keyword-stuff, that looks unprofessional and transparent.
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Show Off Your Skills – This is something that’s frequently overlooked. If you’re searching for employment in the field of application development, don’t design your portfolio to look like your specialty lies elsewhere – for example, by using high-res images of nature landscapes to dress up your portfolio. Don’t let there be any ambiguity in the portfolio’s design about what you do for a living.
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Tell a Story – Look at a handful of professional portfolio samples and you’ll find that the one thing they have in common is their ability to give potential employers the details of what they’ve accomplished in previous jobs and what they can do in the future, like helping a past client achieve their sales goals or creating an application that went viral. Be honest, but be clear about your past accomplishments and let your personality shine through.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Are Creative Placement Agency Jobs “Real” Jobs?
3/19/2012 3:26 PM By Artisan
When you obtain a job through a creative placement agency, you may wonder if you should consider it the same as any other “real” job you have worked in the past. While some jobs you obtain through creative staffing agencies are not salaried or permanent, they are still real jobs. You will work under similar expectations of other creative jobs in the industry, and you will be paid for your time. The only difference between creative placement agency jobs and other jobs is that the job search process is much easier when you use an agency.
Creative placement agencies can place talented individuals in temporary, permanent and contracted positions. Depending on the nature of the position, the structure of the job will be different. Temporary and permanent positions will operate similar to temporary or permanent positions you have worked in the past. Contracted positions will function according to the terms of the contract you sign.
Working with a boutique staffing resource is an excellent way to land real jobs without engaging in an extensive search process. Instead, you will simply provide the placement agency with information about your skills and experience. The agency will then compare this information to the needs of its client base in order to find you work that is best suited to their needs. When you have fulfilled the responsibilities of your position, you can return to the agency to find more “real” jobs that are compatible with your skills, experience and preferences.
If you are a talented professional looking for an easy way to get jobs without hours of research, creative placement agencies are the way to go. In fact, some creative agencies, including Artisan, even offer valuable benefits such as health insurance. Creative staffing agencies allow freelancers to enjoy the benefits of a real job without the stresses that accompany standard full-time work. For this reason, many creative talent are choosing to work with these agencies instead of looking for jobs on their own.
Amanda M is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Indianapolis 2012: The Year of the Freelancer
3/5/2012 2:12 PM By Artisan
In light of the evolving shift in the work market from on-site positions to remote home office jobs, freelance developers, designers and marketing experts in the Indianapolis metro area can expect to see huge growth in the number of opportunities available to earn a living. With third party talent agencies working to match highly skilled workers to high profile employers, there’s virtually no limit to the number of Indianapolis creative openings that freelancers can gain access to.
The Year of the Freelancer
According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and various other sources that predict trends in employment, 2012 is working out to be “The Year of the Freelancer.” As in recent years, employers seeking to cut cost by moving to smaller facilities are opting in increasing numbers to hire individuals capable of telecommuting from their home offices – resulting in dramatically decreased overhead and greatly improved profit margins. As a result, Indianapolis freelancer positions are growing in proportion to that need.
Improved Technology Will Lead to Greater Opportunity
Experts predict that freelance opportunities will continue to grow as more companies adapt to technologies that make it easy for them to carry a workforce of self-sufficient, home-based employees. Those interested in taking advantage of this boom in virtual employment opportunities should seek the help of Indianapolis freelancer services to pair them up with businesses seeking to hire on a temporary to permanent basis.
The Past, Present and Future of Remote Employment
Home office opportunities were once only the province of virtual bookkeepers, secretaries and customer service representatives. But as companies continue to look for creative ways of cutting cost corners, there’s been a dramatic increase in job opportunities in the fields of print design, web design and marketing. If your specialty lies in these areas and you’re in the Indianapolis metro region, visit Artisan Talent today to register for access to lucrative freelance opportunities.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Washington D.C.: Exploring Freelance Work in the 21st Century Job Market
3/5/2012 1:55 PM By Artisan
These days, being on the job market requires you to have thick skin. Even if you’re gainfully employed, nothing is ever certain. But if you’re a DC-based freelance talent on the hunt for work, there’s good news and even better news. The good news: there’s no shortage of DC companies seeking talented professionals to fill temporary and sometimes even permanent work assignments. The even better news: signing up with Washington DC freelancing agencies can vastly improve your chances of connecting with those companies.
So what does this news mean to someone who’s been out of work as a result of the sagging job market? Quite a bit, in fact. For one, it’s evident that there is hope – even if you have to change your job searching trajectory to find it. Simply put, sometimes the trick to finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel involves you sticking your head into a new tunnel.
If you’re out of work and your field of specialty is in print design, web design or marketing, don’t wait for work to find you. If you do, you might be waiting for an awfully long time. The best advice dictates that you should take the bull by the horns and sign up with a Washington DC freelancing firm that specializes in matching up creative professionals like yourself with clients seeking your services.
If you’re new to the concept of freelancing, here’s a quick and dirty rundown of what to do, how it works and what you can expect.
· Explore Washington DC freelancing agencies to determine which will give you access to the greatest number of job listings in your specific field. Don’t waste your time with general temp agencies that’ll hook you up with short-term office jobs then leave you hanging. Seek those agencies that represent creative careers for marketing experts, graphic designers, app developers and similar careers.
· Once you’re registered, you’ll be able to share your professional resume and/or portfolio with companies seeking qualified candidates for work assignments.
· As you continue to take on and complete job assignments, your resume will grow along with your level of experience and you’ll become an even more attractive candidate to employers.
Kick start your search for Washington DC creative careers by visiting Artisan Talent today, and set your job path on a new and decidedly brighter direction.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
New York: Facing the New Challenges of the Work From Home Freelance Environment
3/2/2012 4:33 PM By Artisan
New York City employment agencies are rife with freelance opportunities to work from home. And if you’re a graphic designer, technical writer, copy editor, web designer or app developer there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to take advantage of the flexibility and freedom that having a home office can bring. But is working from home, away from a professional office environment, all it’s cracked up to be? Here are some of the challenges you’ll face, and how can you prevent from becoming a full blown shut-in.
1: Spoil Yourself by Creating a Grand Office Space
If you’re going to be doing the majority of your work from home, such as you would snatching up freelance opportunities from a New York creative staffing agency, you can’t just set yourself up in a small, dark corner of your home and get to it. If your work space is uncomfortable, you’ll soon grow tired and distracted. For this reason, it’s critical that you beg, borrow or steal the best possible office furniture that you can. You’re going to be in your office for the majority of the day, so you’d best make sure you’re comfy.
2: Keep Office Hours
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to not keep strict working hours and work around the clock. Failing to create a definitive work structure can not only mess with your bearings, it can also lead to premature burnout if you’re not careful. Schedule everything. If you have to work additional time to finish a big project, specifically pencil it in to complete that work and be sure to give yourself plenty of time for rest, relaxation and sleep.
3: Get Out of the House
Getting a slew of freelance work from NYC employment agencies can work wonders for your bank account, but working from home full time can take its toll on you mental state. Too much isolation isn’t a good thing, even if you love to work alone. Get out of the house on a frequent basis and interact with others – friends, family, even the friendly checkout clerk at the grocery store can provide the all-important human interaction that we all require.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Why Asking for Spec Work Should Be Off Limits
2/14/2012 11:30 AM By Artisan
When hiring a designer, people sometimes ask for work on spec. This means that the designer does a complete job but without a contract, and thus no guarantee of payment. While this might seem ideal to someone in the market for a designer, asking for work on spec should be off limits, and here’s why.
You Are Hiring a Professional
As stated by Banskt Designs, you are making the decision to hire a professional and the process is no different than hiring a professional in a different field. If you went to the dentist and asked for your first filling to be performed on spec, your dentist would send you out the door with your toothache intact. You trust that a dentist with the proper qualifications and references is going to do the job well. The same is true when you hire a creative professional. They do not do work for free.
Professionals Have a Portfolio for a Reason
Any designer worth his or her salt is going to have a strong portfolio. That portfolio should show you a variety of styles and ideas of what the designer can do. The best hiring advice you will find is to learn to use these portfolios. If a portfolio does not show you what you want to see, then you probably need to look for a different designer because chances are they cannot provide what you need. If the general style you see in the portfolio seem to match your vision and objective, then the designer is likely going to be a strong match.
Asking for Spec Work is Unethical
According to No-Spec.com, an organization dedicated to promoting education about the problem of spec work, asking a designer to work free of charge is ultimately unethical. It undermines the true value of the work performed by these professionals, and it causes designers to start undercharging themselves in order to try to be the lowest bidder and get the gig. In the end, this causes a drop in quality across the industry and everyone ends up suffering.
There are hiring solutions that protect you from shoddy work. This begins with doing your homework before offering a contract. Take the time to search for a professional who knows the industry. Study their portfolio to get an idea of individuals’ skills. Take the time to talk to the designer to see what ideas he or she might bring to the project. Then, design a contract that gives you options should the work be done poorly. By doing this, you can make a decision without resorting to asking for work done on spec.
Nicole H is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Deconstructing Myths: The Best Freelancers Aren’t Necessarily Hired in Person
2/13/2012 1:36 PM By Artisan
When your company hires someone to fill most vacancies, you go through resumes, call people in for interviews and make the decision after having a face-to-face discussion. However, if you need to hire a freelancer to handle your temporary design or marketing needs, then this is not always the right process to rely on. When it comes to creative staffing, face-to-face hires are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
1. Hiring in Person Ties You Geographically
If your business is in Chicago and you rely only on freelancers you can hire in person, then you are limiting yourself to only those freelancers who live in or near Chicago. This might mean that the perfect freelancer who is able to offer the service at the right price is outside of your grasp simply because she lives in San Diego.
2. Freelance Work Is Primarily Digital
Consider the work you need from a freelancer. It may be copywriting, design, web development or even marketing managment services. Almost every one of these things is handled digitally. You can even arrange video chat sessions to allow you to get to know the person without a physical meeting.This means that the exchange of ideas, files and products can take place regardless of geographic location. The individual could be living across the ocean and still provide a top-notch product for you, so unless your work requires in-person collaboration there is no reason to limit yourself.
3. Off-Site Freelancers Highly Value Their Clients
For someone who freelances for a living and does so off site, having happy clients is the strongest way to ensure continued success. These professionals are often the best in their field because they have to be. According to software consulting company Red Bit, Blue Bit, a good referral is a strong motivator for the off-site freelancer. Because of this, you will likely find that hiring someone to work remotely, even if it means sacrificing an in-person interview, is going to bring the best work.
The best freelancer may be someone in your local area, but then again it may not be. Because of this, you need to debunk the myth that you should hire freelancers in person. If an in-person interview works out, then by all means take advantage of it, but if not, use technology to get to know the freelancers you are considering. Then choose the person with the strongest portfolio and top references, even if they are not located near you.
Nicole H is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
