With the highest seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates since the 1980’s, the American workplace is still firmly rooted in the throes of an employer’s market. But even though that fact may make your job search a bit harder than you’d like it to be, there is a way to make constructive use of your time as you continue looking for the right situation.
How? By using your time between jobs to do a little freelancing.
Today it’s easier than ever to hang your own shingle, become an entrepreneur, and offer your business skills to the market at large through freelancing. In fact, the difficult state of the economy may be the largest single factor leading to the expanded need for professional skills on a for-hire basis. Companies that previously had larger staffs with wide cross-sections of versatile abilities now find themselves in need of subcontractors to take the load off understaffed, overstressed managers.
Where do such companies turn when they find themselves in this situation?
To online freelance resources such as http://www.guru.com/, and http://www.elance.com/. Between those two sites alone, there are currently nearly 10,500 open projects available in categories like these:
• Website design, implementation and programming
• Administrative assistance and support
• Sales & marketing
• Writing & translation
• Engineering, manufacturing and production control
• Finance, accounting and management
• Legal
• Design & Multimedia
• Broadcasting
• Telemarketing & communications
• Illustration and artwork
• Fashion and interior design
• ERP and CRM
• Photography, videography and voiceovers
These sites offer an online environment that matches companies looking for services with freelance providers, and they do so in a way that ensures reliable compensation, fair competitive practices, and plenty of opportunity for capable people.
How are you using your time during your job search? If every minute isn’t being spent on tuning your resume or driving to the next interview, consider putting some of your skills to work by freelancing online. You will earn some extra money, fortify your background, bolster your network and in the long run, you’ll greatly improve your chances of landing on your feet -whether the economy decides to help you or not.
By: David DiCola
David DiCola is a 20-year management veteran and the author of Customer Golf – The Short Game, a novel about overcoming obstacles in business and in golf.
How? By using your time between jobs to do a little freelancing.
Today it’s easier than ever to hang your own shingle, become an entrepreneur, and offer your business skills to the market at large through freelancing. In fact, the difficult state of the economy may be the largest single factor leading to the expanded need for professional skills on a for-hire basis. Companies that previously had larger staffs with wide cross-sections of versatile abilities now find themselves in need of subcontractors to take the load off understaffed, overstressed managers.
Where do such companies turn when they find themselves in this situation?
To online freelance resources such as http://www.guru.com/, and http://www.elance.com/. Between those two sites alone, there are currently nearly 10,500 open projects available in categories like these:
• Website design, implementation and programming
• Administrative assistance and support
• Sales & marketing
• Writing & translation
• Engineering, manufacturing and production control
• Finance, accounting and management
• Legal
• Design & Multimedia
• Broadcasting
• Telemarketing & communications
• Illustration and artwork
• Fashion and interior design
• ERP and CRM
• Photography, videography and voiceovers
These sites offer an online environment that matches companies looking for services with freelance providers, and they do so in a way that ensures reliable compensation, fair competitive practices, and plenty of opportunity for capable people.
How are you using your time during your job search? If every minute isn’t being spent on tuning your resume or driving to the next interview, consider putting some of your skills to work by freelancing online. You will earn some extra money, fortify your background, bolster your network and in the long run, you’ll greatly improve your chances of landing on your feet -whether the economy decides to help you or not.
By: David DiCola
David DiCola is a 20-year management veteran and the author of Customer Golf – The Short Game, a novel about overcoming obstacles in business and in golf.
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