Why Freelance Writers Should Apply to Full-Time Jobs
May 21, 2008 by Deb
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Yuwanda Black
Many freelance writers spend time applying only to freelance job listings. I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993 and I apply to these job listings and to full-time jobs as well. Why? For three reasons.
Before I detail my reasons, let me give you a little background. I owned an editorial staffing agency in New York City from 1996-2004. I recruited editors, writers, graphic design artists, etc. for many different types of companies.
From major publishers like Random House and McGraw Hill, to nonprofits like the National Kidney Foundation, to small graphic design firms, I’ve dealt with them all. This has been extremely beneficial for me as a freelancer because I’ve been privy to how employers think. Hence following are three reasons why freelance writers should apply to full-time jobs.
3 Reasons Freelance Writers Should Apply to Full-time Job Ads
Employer Wish List: In job ads, employers are seeking the ideal candidate. So, when you see job ads with requirements in there, usually, this is what I call their “utopia candidate.” Ninety-nine percent of the time, this candidate doesn’t exist.
When I received a job description from clients who had hired my firm to recruit for them, I asked them what were the top two or three non-negotiable skills; skills a candidate absolutely positively must have. I let them know up front that they were highly unlikely to find someone with everything that was listed in the job description.
Once they told me this, I used it as my recruiting guideline, not the first job description. And, this is where it gets interesting for freelancers. Many times, when a company can’t find the perfect employee, they use freelancers (who most often had more of what the client was looking for than many of the full-time applicants).
Deadlines: Many times when a company is in a hiring phase, projects are either backing up or being handled by an overworked in-house staff. Either way, the time spent hunting for a new employee means that work is not flowing as it should.
This is when many companies will bring in freelancers. Because work still has to get done, your credentials may land on an overworked supervisor’s desk at just the right time.
When I first started SEO writing, something similar happened to me. One of my first clients was an Internet marketing firm. The owner who had received my query called me in desperate straits. Two of his writers had left to start their own firm. He was looking for new writers to bring on, and projects were backing up. He offered me a full-time slot, which I turned down. But, to this day, I still do a significant amount of work for this firm.
Timing is everything.
Budget Crisis: Many times employers will advertise a position, only to have funding pulled for it. This happened to me quite a few times when I was recruiting. I would get a call like, “Yuwanda we really loved that last candidate and want to bring her on, but the department just got hit with a hiring freeze. Do you think she would be interested in some freelance work?”
Usually, the full-time job seeker would take on freelancing work, but would still be looking for a full-time job. I always told clients that it was dangerous to hire someone who was looking for a full-time job for freelance work, and steered them towards my roster of freelancers. Many were grateful to have this type of insight, and would usually remark, “I didn’t know you staffed freelance positions too.”
While you won’t hear back from many, it’s those few who do respond who can go on to become long-time clients. And, the best part about it is, once you get a foot in the door, your contact from one department will refer you to others in the company. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me in my freelance career.
As these three scenarios illustrate, applying to full-time job listings can be an excellent way to land more freelance writing gigs.
About the Author: Yuwanda Black is a freelance SEO writer. She is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com, blogs at InkwellEditorial.wordpress.com and is the author of How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple 500 Word Articles.
Hi Yuwanda,
I like your article. It’s inspiring to hear how a successful writing career can develop.
As a serious long-term goal, I’ve been working on my independent writing career for almost two years, but my situation might be a bit different… I have a regular job, so, I can only work part-time. Do you know of a good, honest, web-based service that has a way to market skilled part-timers?
Thank you for your article. It is a welcome encouragement.
Regards,
Jeff
Hi Yuwanda,
Off-topic: I’ve tried to get into your blog for a couple of days now (just tried the link in your sig) and I keep getting a page that just says “Blog inactive”.
Thought you might want to know!
~Graham
It’s always good to hear from people who know what employers are thinking when they post for a job applicant.
Yuwanda,
Thanks so much for this post.
I’ve recently had a similar experience, with what essentially billed as a “temp to hire” position for which I told the publication up front that I wasn’t interested in the “to hire” part. I heard from them three months later and now am under contract for a nice feature.
Even with that experience, I didn’t connect with the bit about applying for full-time jobs. You’ve opened my eyes!
-Hazel
Very interesting and informative article. I am a new freelancer and looking for work and trying to get things going for me. I was very excited to learn from this article. I hope you e-mail me.
Sincerely,
Amy
The blog address is http://www.inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com. Perhaps you are in the process of moving it to wordpress?
Great article though!
I often send out LOIs to places on the job boards, and I’ve gotten some of my best assignments from those places.
What about positions that list jobs as on-site only? Or list a location but don’t rule out telecommute? Are these employers open to telecommuting, generally? Are these jobs worth applying for if you can only telecommute?
Thanks so much!
EVRYONE: The blog address is http://www.InkwellEditorial.BLOGSPOT.com. I did move to wordpress, with disastrous results, so moved back to blogger. You can read all about it in the latest issue of my newsletter, which is free: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/Newsletter/May-freelance-writing-newsletter.pdf
**************
@Jeff: You just have to marketing like a FT freelancer would to get work, and only take on those projects that you can handle. You don’t HAVE to tell clients you work full-time; the beauty of freelancing is that as long as you meet client deadlines, they really don’t care when you do the work.
@Graham: Thanks for the headsup on this; unfortunately, I’m all to aware of it. I’m back at blogger.
@Adam: It is nice to have this insight; the thing to remember is employers are human (they really are!) and organizational needs change — so just get your credentials in. The worst that could happen is you’re ignored (so what!).
@Hazel: Thanks for sharing your story and giving validity to my piece.
@Amy: Good luck. Persistence and consistency in marketing is all it takes to succeed as a freelance writer (and a modicum of writing skill, of course).
@Laura: Thanks for alerting everyone to the new blog address! You’re a gem.
@Sue: Thanks for being yet another testimonial.
@Tamara: I apply for everything — no matter what the job description says because as I mentioned in a comment just above, organizational needs change. And, when companies get in a pinch, they’ll hire a freelancer every time to get them out of it.
Didn’t you know, we’re the @$$ and dollar savers for on-site management!
Thanks everyone for your kind comments.
And, remember, I’m back at blogger. Pass it on!
Yuwanda
Yuwanda,
That’s some great advice that I never would have considered. I also avoid applying for full-time positions because I have several clients and several part-time jobs, so it didn’t seem like it would work. Thanks for opening my eyes!
Great article, Yuwanda!
I had always considered full-time jobs out of bounds but now you’ve given me a completely different perspective.
@Yuwanda – great article!
@Tamara – I recently applied for an on-site position, yet, after talking with the recruitment team they will allow freelancers too.
I’m still waiting to hear, but it does sound promising.
It’s for a highly skilled, niche market though so perhaps having freelancers allows the company more growth potential.
just wondering what a freelancer ought to put in their cover letter when applying? should we explicitly state that we’re only interested in freelancing, or is there some other diplomatic lingo we could use?
and if anyone knows of good links to freelancing cvs/resumes for some guidance, i’m all eyes!
thanks for the post!
Magda:
Don’t send a cover letter; this sends the subliminal message that you’re looking for a job. A short query containing the following will do:
Your Name
Your Expertise
A Link to Your Online Portfolio
Your Contact Info
Employers don’t want — or have time to go through — extraneous materials like cover letters (which I personally think is a time-wasting dinosaur that should disappear altogether). Don’t submit one unless they ask for it.
This is just my opinion mind you, but I have enough experience and have interacted with enough employers to speak with a modium of surety.
Yuwanda
Ahhh, I do like the sound of that! Thank you!
Nice article Yuwanda.
If you ever decide you want to go the Wordpress route, I can help. I know of one big thing you did wrong in the process. Let me know if you need help with it in the future.
LJ:
Thanks for the offer. They actually wrote back and told me what I did “wrong,” ie:
In your sidebar you have this:
“Yuwanda Black: SEO Content Writer & More” [this was the title on my author bio page] We do not allow blogs here to be used for SEO purposes and your blog is doing this. You are creating content for SEO. This is why the action was taken, sorry.
I was floored. So, I’m an SEO content writer; I can’t have that title on my blog’s author page? I thought it ridiculous and discriminatory toward SEO writers. My blog did not have content “created for SEO.” I write content like this for clients — some of whom happe to be Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. But, my blog was not full of keyword-laden text or a promotion spot for affiliate programs.
I’ve been at blogger since Feb 2005. Just looking at a few of my posts you can tell that my blog is not one of these. But fine, if they don’t want me on their platform, I’m happy to move off. Say what you will about Google, but I ran back to blogger, and will stay there until my new blog is built (I’ve hired a firm to do it for me and have it hosted on my own domain).
Thanks again for the offer though. I do appreciate it.
Yuwanda
This is one of the best blogs I have ever read. Your interaction with the readers is superb.
This post has articulated what I vaguely suspected: you can basically ignore the utopian, unrealistic job description. If something needs to be written, and you can write, apply for it.
I see so many job ads that are insane, seeking a person who is a writer, budget analyst, toilet scrubber, auto mechanic, and nanny (I’m exaggerating to be comical, but that’s what they sound like sometimes).
It’s ridiculously unrealistic.
They want you to do the work of 5 people, and nobody will do it, or can do it. Plus “the ideal candidate” will move to their city, but why? Most work can be done remotely by email and telephone, so there’s rarely a legitimate reason to be physically present.
Thanks for the great information and inspiration!
About the cover letters: I actually had the opposite experience. Somebody hired me for a consultant position because I included a cover letter in my email and he said he hated it when people just sent a general “This is me, here’s my resume” message. So it’s very personal and subjective.
Diana Says:
About the cover letters: I actually had the opposite experience. Somebody hired me for a consultant position because I included a cover letter in my email and he said he hated it when people just sent a general “This is me, here’s my resume” message. So it’s very personal and subjective.
———————————————–
Yes, I always write a brief email to the advertiser, unless of course they state they do not want a cover letter.
If a company does not mention a cover letter, I will still write a brief email of 2 or 3 paragraphs in length. On a few occasions some companies have requested a cover letter to be attached with the resume. The majority seem quite happy with a short email though. I also always paste my resume into the body of the email, unless of course a company requests an attached document.
@Steven:
Thanks for the kudos. Employers do tend to throw in everything AND the kitchen sink the the job description — and the funny thing is, usually it’s the FREELANCER who has everything (and then some) of what they’re looking for. BUT, they are not interested in FT. This is because freelancers have to keep up on new skill sets to stay competitive, whereas FT employees tend to only brush up on their skills when the company mandates (and pays for) it.
@Diana: While you do have some die hards who still want a cover letter, most employers don’t bother to read them. Sending a cover letter can never HURT, but they do litle to help.
I’ve literally reviewed tens of thousands of resumes in my career, and I can count the number of times on one hand that I actually read a cover letter. I get right to the resume, because if your skill set isn’t what I’m looking for, then you won’t be able to change my mind in a cover letter. Strangely enough, I would read a cover letter if a candidate piqued my interest with their resume, but the opposite never happened (eg, nice cover letter, let me see what their resume looks like).
I stand by my assertion that the only time you need to send a resume is when it’s specifically asked for.
@Shell:
Re: “I also always paste my resume into the body of the email, unless of course a company requests an attached document.”
It’s best to do both if no preference is stated. Why? Because employers can access it the way they choose. Read more specific resume advice here: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/resumetips.htm
Yuwanda
The reason I always paste my resume when an attachment is not requested, is because the email/attachment may get deleted. Usually, employers will specify if they do not accept attachments but some may forget.
I suppose it’s a very subjective process. I’ve begun to think that using a bulleted style in a brief email/letter (to highlight my skills/achievements) might be more effective for myself personally, because I tend to get long-winded in cover letters.
I still have to build up a solid portfolio, and until I do I can only fall back on highlighting the writing I’ve done in jobs I’ve held in the past – which is why I think a cover letter might suit me, but not someone who has already got their feet wet in freelancing.
Can I just say, I loathe writing cover letters!!!
What is the point of a cover letter?
I think a wise use of cover letters would be not to pump up how talented and motivated you are, but to let the company know why you admire them, how you use their products, what you know about them, or explaining your expertise in their niche.
If corporate fluff, arrogant “we, us, our” copy is old fashioned and not working anymore, then let’s apply this to ourselves.
I have a freelance opportunity with a client in the motorsports industry. They asked me to make a prototype blog, as a way to prove I know something about motorsports, NASCAR, Indy, Formula 1, etc.
This means I’m reading books on the subject, by race car drivers, and visiting relevant blogs and websites.
My “cover letter” will be the prototype blog. The research will take about a week, then I have one week to create the blog, with a few posts in it, showing my ability to address various issues and use the right buzzwords.
If you’re a hardcore blogger, and making blogs is easy for you, then consider whipping up a speculative blog for a client, with a good blogroll, graphic header, etc.
This might help, especially if the client is offering a steady stream of work, and not just a project or two.
I’ll report back later on the results I obtain from this unusual approach.
Steven, good luck with your project. I hope the potential employers are offering outstanding pay for all your endeavors!
Yuwanda,
I already read on your site about your encounter with Wordpress.
I a techie person too. If you want to have control over your content and look professional, you would be better off NOT having a blog on the free hosting sites.
I can’t find a way to contact you via your site, unfortunately. Anyway, best to you.
@LJ you’re right, which is why I’ve hired a professional blog design firm to handle the design and migration of my blog to my own hosted domain. Lesson fully learned!
And, I can be contacted via email at info [at] InkwellEditorial [dot] com. I’ve had this address since 1999, so if you email me here, I’ll always get it.
@Steven: Good luck with your “cover letter experiment.” There’s an article idea up in there somewhere — new technological slant on an old standby … hmmmmm …
@Magda regarding “Can I just say, I loathe writing cover letters!!!”
I second that!
Yuwanda
@Yuwanda Good! That’s exactly what I was talking about. Just an FYI…there are some fantastic designs out there that are free for the taking. But it sounds like you are set and I am happy for you. Once you’re on your own domain, it’s your…well, domain!
Cheers!
LJ
Just a question:
If you say you have a full-time job, won’t it be harder to find freelance gigs — since a potential client is probably looking for a freelancer who has time to work on their projects?
I was just wondering…
Bryan:
When you’re marketing for freelance work, don’t mention that you work full time, UNLESS they ask you.
Many freelancers start out part-time, so it’s perfectly acceptable to apply if you know that it’s something you can do. Now, if the ad is saying that on-site meetings and client interaction is necessary during the middle of the workday, then obviously, you wouldn’t be a good fit.
But, many freelance gigs just have project parameters and a deadline. And with email, even interaction during the day is possible (eg, on your lunch hour via your laptop).
Bottom line: It is perfectly acceptable to apply and not mention that you work a fulltime job.
Hope this clarifies things a bit.
Yuwanda
Hi Yumanda,
Thanks for replying to my inquiry! Your feedback is appreciated.
-Bryan