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Posts Tagged ‘job search’
The Importance of Knowing Your Market
12/30/2011 2:56 PM By Vince Font
You can find all sorts of full-time and freelance marketing jobs by working with a creative staffing agency like Artisan. But when it comes down to being the chosen one for all of the sweet gigs on offer, there are a couple of things you have to do to make yourself a truly appealing candidate. One of those things, and quite possibly the most critical of all, is to know your market. Knowing your market means:
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Having a concrete idea of who your client is and who their customers are. This involves recognizing both parties’ needs and wants, from both a business standpoint and as a consumer. What makes this product and service unique and how is it different than it’s competitors?
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Understanding your limitations as well as your capabilities. If you don’t have enough experience or conversely are overqualified, you may be wasting time and resources applying to certain jobs. A resource like Artisan can help match you with opportunities at your skill and experience level.
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Being able to assign a dollar amount to your services. When finding full-time or freelance marketing jobs, there’s no room for feeling a client out to see how much they’re willing to pay you. Have a precise price list for your services that’s based on knowing exactly what you’re worth to potential employers.
All of the A-list, cream-of-the -crop Talent represented by freelance marketer firms and staffing agencies must know their market or learn it quickly. If you want to join their ranks, make it your New Year’s resolution to start following these suggestions.
Self-Employment Advice: The Importance of Mapping Out Your Work Schedule
12/22/2011 3:20 PM By Vince Font
If you’re working with a creative staffing firm to find freelance job assignments, you’re still self-employed. Even if you work through a recruiment agency like Artisan, where you may be granted access to actual paid time off and benefits, you’re still essentially a free agent, which to is music to many freelancers’ ears.
But beware, there are some pitfalls that you might fall into, and the need to manage your time properly is one of the most critical bits of self-employment advice you’ll ever get. It’s also the one that can make the biggest difference in determining whether you succeed beyond your wildest expectations or end up taking a job you don’t want at hours that conflict with your life.
Your first step to tackling the issue of time management is to assign yourself specific office hours. Don’t work around the clock or you’ll burn out. Likewise, by working around the clock you run the risk of slacking off and not getting things done by misusing flexible hours. Failing to keep a regular work schedule is one of the biggest mistakes that self-employed people make, and it can lead to a pile of messes including backed up work, missed deadlines and killer stress.
To help you accomplish this, get a day planner specifically dedicated to your freelance life. Every few hours of your work day, from lunch breaks to max productivity time, should be mapped out in advance so that you don’t fall behind on a project or deliver a substandard end result. It’s also important to plan days off for yourself even if you’d rather work. Taking a break from the stress of a job you love is another vital piece of self-employment advice that’ll help ensure your longevity and continued passion.
Cover Letter Tips for Freelancers: Explaining Employment Gaps
12/21/2011 3:20 PM By Vince FontSearching for employment is a lot like hunting for food. If you don’t arm yourself with the right equipment before heading out, you’re going to come home hungry, empty handed and maybe feeling a bit defeated.
One of the most critical pieces of equipment for a freelancer on the job hunt is a cover letter. Writing a cover letter for freelancers is no different than if you’re searching for a permanent position— all the same rules apply. One of the most critical parts to focus on a cover letter is explaining employment gaps if you’ve been between jobs for a long time.
Why is this such a big deal? Simply put, because most employers who see gaps in employment on your resume will automatically assume the worst—that you’ve been out of work for a long time because you can’t hold a steady position or you’re not passionate about working. Of course, this isn’t necessarily accurate. But it is a sign to potential employers that you may not be the most reliable individual for the job. Not unless there’s a good reason for your spell of inactivity.
How should you best address it? By being honest and forthright. If you stopped working to take care of a sick family member or to go back to school or because you wanted to spend more time with your kids, say so. Keep in mind that a cover letter for freelancers may include inactivity spells due to a slowdown in work, and that you don’t necessarily have to address every single gap in employment.
Focus only on periods that extend for a few months or longer. And if you have the chance to meet with a hiring manager or creative recruiter in person, elaborate on the contents of your cover letter to paint a more holistic picture of yourself.
3 Important Things to Know Before Pursuing a Freelance Marketing Career
12/15/2011 3:11 PM By Vince Font
Marketing Director jobs aren’t exactly what you’d call a dime a dozen, but there are ways that you can improve your chances of finding work if you’re willing to explore the opportunities that exist in the freelance world. Being successful at finding freelance work, however, depends on knowing three very important things.
- You won’t always be your own boss. In fact, you’ll have many different bosses as you move from one project with one company to a different project with another company. If you don’t thrive on constant change, perhaps freelancing isn’t your bag.
- Just because you no longer work for “the man” doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly have a lot of free time on your hands. Quite the contrary—because your success rate at lining
up future assignments is dependent on your work quality, you may find that you’re putting in more hours than you would in a permanent office environment. - Finding work will become a full-time job in addition to your marketing director duties. You can make this a lot simpler, however, by working with a third party creative staffing agency like Artisan, which will help you line up assignments that you’re uniquely qualified for.
Working in the freelance world can be just the thing the doctor ordered for many fledgling marketing careers. Not only will it open the doors to a whole slew of employment opportunities you otherwise wouldn’t have had access to, but it’ll also help you rack up the kind of experience that it takes many people years to accumulate. If you want to try your hand at starting a freelance marketing career, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Freelance Creative Directors Must be More than Creative
12/8/2011 3:03 PM By Vince Font
There are two kinds of creative people in the world: those who play well with others and those who don’t. The latter may have talent coming out of their ears and the ability to create jaw-dropping deliverables– but without the kind of cooperation that translates well to a professional environment, it’s a talent that no one wants to work with. On the other hand, a Designer who has command of his or her people skills can make one heck of a living as a freelance Creative Director.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that just anyone with a penchant for creating beautiful campaigns and the ability to communicate well can strut their way to a Fortune 500 company or top digital agency and pull off the kinds of killer marketing campaigns that freelance Creative Directors are hired to orchestrate. A buildup of specific skills is also required. By far, the most important are brand development skills.
Being a Creative Director isn’t just about being, well, creative. There’s more to it than being able to communicate your visions to multiple teams of people. It’s also about understanding brands and markets, and what makes consumers view a company in a certain light. In other words, a Creative Director is an artist who understands their audience and knows what they will respond to. The successful ones are also those who can listen to their peers, consider new ideas and effectively collaborate.
There are numerous freelance and long-term Creative Director opportunities available out there in both digital and print – it’s just a matter of knowing where to find them. By working with a creative staffing service like Artisan, you’ll be put in touch with companies seeking out only the most qualified and capable talent in the country.
Promising Outlook for Freelance Programmers
12/7/2011 9:59 AM By Vince Font
One of the biggest myths about being a professional freelance Programmer is that work is hard to find. Statements like that, apart from being downright negative, suggest that programming jobs are in great abundance on the in-house market. But the unemployment rate will tell you otherwise. Yes, web design careers are secure and job opportunities are going to continue to grow—but the majority of that growth will be experienced in the freelance arena.
As if you needed any more reason to strike out in search of work as a freelance programmer, it’s not just the dire unemployment scene that should prompt you to do so. People with freelance web design careers can make more money than those who work in-house as salaried employees. Even when you consider the fact that freelancers aren’t guaranteed certain perks like medical benefits, paid time off, and emergency family leave, they’re still able to command far higher pay for their work for their dependability and flexibility.
What’s even more encouraging is the fact that at Artisan, freelance Developers are actually eligible to take part in group medical insurance and can even get paid time off. If this sounds like a marriage of the best of both worlds—better pay with benefits—that’s because it is. Get registered as a freelancer with Artisan today to take advantage of this truly unique opportunity and jump start your career.
Finding the Right Creative Talent Agency
10/11/2011 3:10 PM By Jeff Orloff
Chicago is one of the best places for freelance designers, writers, developers and marketers because like most big cities there are more opportunities to find work with equally ambitious people. Yet like in other places, there are people who take advantage of others and this seems to be happening more often when it comes to freelance talent.
Finding the right Chicago-based talent agency doesn’t have to be difficult though. If you know what to look for then you can certainly find an agency that will connect you with clients and help you build your career. Here are some questions to consider asking them:
What are some of the companies you have placed freelancers at?
Obviously you want to know who an agency has relationships with. If you prefer working with smaller companies and the agency only works with large corporations, you may not find them to be a good fit, or vice versa.
How long have you been in business?
A company that has been around for a while is likely one of the more well reputed Chicago talent agencies. They may help you get in the door with established clients quicker. On the other side, a new up-and-coming agency may attract local start-ups that are looking for less traditional talent who are looking to grow with them. Consider both sides when determining the worth of an agency’s age.
Do you offer any professional development?
Good recruiting agencies know that as much as they represent talent, their talent represent them. By providing access to learning tools, they make their freelancers more marketable and productive. Obviously, you want to work with an agency that understands and encourages this.
How do you handle problems your freelancers have with clients?
Not all freelance workers are going to get along with their clients. You need to find out if the agency will intercede on your behalf or if they take a hands-off approach when it comes to dealing with disputes. The answer may help you decide what kind of agency you want to work with, and also make you aware of how you handle conflicts yourself.
Fulltime Web Design Jobs Require More than Technical Expertise
10/6/2011 2:12 PM By ArtisanFulltime web design jobs require as much cognitive and interpretive knowledge as general creative/design skills. Web designers may or may not need cutting edge technical ability, depending on the nature of employer’s requirements. Typically, however, the design task list requires the following:
- Clear screen resolution
- Efficient image compression and maximum loading speed
- Consistent browser display
- Good navigation and architecture
- User friendliness
- Good CSS, HTML and JavaScript skills
To take maximum advantage of this job growth, web designers should also become proficient in, or at least familiar with, these disciplines:
- Interactivity designs and techniques
- Features that make websites “sticky”
- Branding strategies and campaigns
- Social media design and analytics
- Components of graphic design
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth knowledge
- General understanding of information architecture components
Whether you are a freelance or fulltime web designer, your value
will dramatically increase by having the full menu of skills. For
example, while you may not seek information architect positions,
understanding the components of the structure, capture, massaging and
measurement of data architecture helps you design better websites.
Web design is no longer simply a creative endeavor but an integral
business function too. The expanding dependence on e-commerce,
including other revenue sources (i.e., membership fees, subscriptions and newsletters), branding campaigns and content that informs and
entertains requires web designers to be business persons along with
efficiently using creative talent.
The blurring of the sales and marketing functions by social media
sites creates the need for designers to understand the vagaries of
business and commerce. Only then can they properly incorporate their
employer’s business and marketing strategies into web design functions.
Working with an experienced creative talent firm, like Artisan, will
help you take advantage of the many freelance and fulltime web design
jobs now open. These agencies often have a better understanding of
employer preferences beyond a simple job description. While you can
learn much researching employers via the internet, you seldom
capture inside information that is often available to creative
recruiters.
Starting Out and Finding Success as a Freelance Writer
10/3/2011 2:43 PM By Patrick Ogle
A freelance writer faces obstacles in the job hunt arena that are unique, but certainly not insurmountable. Getting a copywriter freelance job is not only possible, but many make a living doing this and only this. The trick to getting work is catching the eye of the right people – content developers, marketers, advertisers - even while a myriad of other writers are doing the same thing.
There are many different kinds of writers but those interested in freelancing need to develop a diverse collection of writing samples and a solid resume. Building samples across a wide variety of topics and styles of writing is a good idea. But how do you do that in a time when it seems like printed material is becoming obsolete and there is more competition than ever on the web?
Many freelance writers started out writing for newspapers or magazines, but now it is very common to start your career with an online publication, agency or in the marketing department of a small or large business. Many have also simply started blogging on their own and maintaining a website full of their own work. If you plan to use your own blog or website as a portfolio when applying for freelance writing jobs, be sure to uphold the same standards of quality you would for any paid assignment.
No matter where you begin, always keep your eyes turned toward the type of writing you aspire to do and stay up to date on what sort of writers employers are hiring. Is there a growing need for web copywriters? Are you an aspiring novelist who sees a rise in the need for ghost writers? You’ll learn that writers with a medical background can often find work, or that technical writers are in high demand and typically receive generous compensation. But these things change over time, so staying up to date on the qualifications of different opportunities and continuing to write on a broad variety of subjects will likely help you gain employment.
Of course your passions and interests matter, as well, as people write best about what they care about. When you are putting together samples, writing on what you know and what you care about is a good place to start. Ultimately, the practice and mastery of language you gain from this will enable you to write about any topic placed before you.
Three Things That Will Make You a Better User Interface Designer
9/29/2011 2:42 PM By Vince Font
To land a job as a full-time interactive designer, you’ve got to do one thing: Be good at what you do. But as everyone knows, sometimes being good isn’t enough to make you the top candidate for a job. Don’t forget, there are thousands of others aspiring to get the same spot. If you want to be in that enviable position of being able to take your pick of user interface design jobs, you’ve got to be more than just good. You’ve got to be incredible.
There are two kinds of web professionals in this world: Those who just read the part about “being incredible” and swell with confidence and those who shrink in fear. If you find yourself in the latter category, don’t despair. There are plenty of things that you can work on that will help you develop into a much better user interface designer. Interestingly enough, those things have very little to do with education or work experience.
Learn to See the World Through Other People’s Eyes
This is one of the fundamental abilities that all user interface designers must have. It’s not enough to look at a program or a product with your own eyes and think of how it could be made to function better. This is an inherently flawed approach that will only ever please a small segment of the populous: You. When approaching your work as a fulltime interactive designer, you’ve got to be able to put yourself in the shoes of users from all walks of life, from tech-savvy youngins to potentially tech-phobic senior citizens – because everyone appreciates a smart, friendly experience.
Learn to Make Mistakes
The people who will be using the products and the programs you design will make mistakes on a regular basis, and therefore it’s vital that you learn how to “break” things in a way that will uncover potential bugs before a final product is released. This requires that you develop the ability to throw caution to the wind when it’s required. Not everyone has an on/off switch that enables them to toggle between being intensely focused and being lackadaisical, but if you really want to be a well-rounded interactive designer you’ve got to channel this inner power and learn how to use it.
Have an Eye for Design
User interface designers need a knack for aesthetics. By definition, you’ll be designing things that people have to look at and interact with on a daily basis – and the fact is, people can be incredibly picky about the way that something looks and feels as opposed to how it actually functions. Being able to produce something that works AND looks good is a key requirement of all user interface design jobs. If this isn’t something that’s already innate to your sensibilities, you’re going to have to develop it if you want to get far.
In your quest to garner the necessary education and experience to become the best user experience designer you can be, you’re going to learn quite a few things about yourself. You’re going to find out what kind of an observer you are, whether you’re as broad minded as you give yourself credit for and if all of your masterpieces are merely works in progress. When you arrive at these conclusions, don’t take them as a sign of having reached your limitations. Instead, grow from them and then go out and find the dream job you’ve worked so hard for.
