Hone Your Skills to Find Jobs and Gigs
July 3, 2008 by Jodee
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Becky Scott
What’s the best way to find a job or a gig? That’s what we all ask ourselves, even if we’ve been at this for a while. The great thing about communities is the opportunity to share so we can learn from each others’ successes – and failures.
Network – no, really – NETWORKI
I’ve gotten a few jobs as an unknown entity, but it’s much more difficult when you don’t know who you’re dealing with. You need to research the company or person you’re pitching so you can tailor your ideas for them (that goes for business writing, blogging, fiction, magazines, et al). By letting my friends and acquaintances know that I’m available – and listening when they casually mention they need something – I’ve garnered several gigs.
Have an elevator pitch
Polish your “this is what I do” mantra until you can tell people what you do in 30 seconds. Why? If you can encompass what you do in 30 seconds, it will give you more focus when you write a query. Keep it in mind when you meet people and they ask you what you do. Think about it when you design your business cards. People don’t have a lot of time, so you need to get their attention quickly.
Don’t burn bridges
No matter how mad you are at your treatment, don’t email everyone you know and tell them. We all vent to a trusted person at times, and that’s fine. But there’s no need to spread it around. And if you see a low-paying job, just pass it by. Don’t email the poster and berate them. Maybe they don’t know they’re paying low wages. One gig I had started out a little low, but on other projects they’ve asked me for my price – and willingly paid it. If I had sent them a nasty-gram, I wouldn’t have the additional income.
There are a lot of great ways to get work. But you have to pound the pavement and practice so you can hone your skills, find out what works and get the job. So what are you waiting for? Get out there!
Tell us, have you gotten a job purely on networking? Have you ever tried an elevator pitch on someone and did it work? And have you ever regretted burning a bridge with someone?\
Becky is a freelance writer and editor in San Diego, Ca. She writes about a variety of topics including business organization and productivity, automotive info for women, personal blogging and celebrity real estate gossip. Visit her online at www.beckyscorner.com
I am an aspiring freelance writer. I have been freelancing for over 2 years and primarly worked for low pay. I decide to expand my horizons and actually start my own freelance writing business. Therefore I learned about the wonderful power of marketing and searching job boards. I am truly upset as I write this, and I did’t know where to begin. But I got a gig from this post listed below , I think through craigslist. I wrote the assignment and the editor said that he would pay me $ 20.00 for the assignment -the funds never came, therefore I emailed him after two weeks passing. He stated that he was busy updating the website. I went to view the “new” website and sure enough my article was there and it stated that it was written by him!! I am a person that works with integrity and trust. If the editor would have said ” I need you to be a ghostwriter” I would have accepted that. However the editor told me that he was going to add a link to my website and give me a profile page. Not only that he posted another message on craigslist stating that he is looking for more writers! I don’t really care about the money. It is the fact that I was betrayed is what really hurts. Has any other experienced freelance writer been through this kind of betrayl? If so, how to get over it?
Writers Needed for Online Las Vegas Culture and Events Guide!
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Reply to: gigs-726889375@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-20, 3:08PM PDT
Searching for hip, creative and talented writers! We are a San Francisco based established event/publishing website that is in the process of expanding to markets in Los Angeles, NYC, Miami and now Las Vegas. We are looking for experienced writers to cover nightlife, concerts, art events, music festivals, and restaurants as well as write reviews, features and articles in the Las Vegas area on a freelance basis. The time commitment is fairly minimal but quality and a creative literary angle is a must. Incentives include creating a linked profile page for each writer, prominent placement on the website, tickets and passes to events and festivals as well as in the Las Vegas area.
Specifically, we are looking for writers in the following arenas:
• Event Reviewers and Previewers – People connect to the Las Vegas nightlife scene and beyond. If you travel around the country to party, we want to hear from you as well. Also, peeps that would like to write about trends in food, fashion, culture, etc..
• Interviewers – Writers who have experience or simply an interest in interviewing artists and musiscians at a local and/or national level.
You should be: A creative writer, reliable and looking for exposure (we have 25,00 weekly subscribers), not afraid to voice an opinion, and are available to write several articles per week.
Hey Nina,
You can check out this post for more information about what to do with a deadbeat client.
http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/09/how-to-handle-a-deadbeat-client/
@Connie – nice link. Thanks!
@Nina – I would definitely email him and remind him that the writing is not his to use until he pays you. Do what you can to recover your payment. And make sure that in future gigs you have a contract in place that stipulates that permission to use the piece does not transfer until you are paid.
Hey Jodee, this is always the first website I visit when I open my Internet. I just want to say thanks for the help you’ve always given freelance writers. I just started freelancing early June 2008 and I’ve already gotten two steady jobs and two new, long-term ones. I’ve also gotten a few sidelines from the jobs you’ve posted here.
At first, I got a lot of rejections. But when I changed my approach and my pitch, I definitely began getting more offers. So thanks for the tips! I always look forward to reading them and applying them to my situations.
@Connie I agree that is an excellent link.
#11 I’m getting there: networking, and elevator pitch, both are coming along….. but the burning bridges, I try not to do. I like your suggestion of having a close friend to vent to and then we can move on. Life is too short and who needs the stress and mess that burning bridges creates.
@Jaq – that’s a lot of success in such a short time. Good for you!
@Jenny – having a friend to vent to has saved me much heartache.
We trade our smart replies, and it saves us from hurting any relationships. Just make sure you send it to the right person!
I agree that some people (maybe most) don’t understand what a suitable rate for a freelance writer should be. I had an acquaintance ask me to edit a book for $75. I thought about it for a while, and then wrote back a thoughtful email explaining what value I could offer him for that amount ( a read through and a some general pointers.)
He emailed me back the next day saying he hadn’t realized the amount of work he was asking for or how much money I actually deserved. He tripled the amount he was offering, we set up a great working relationship, and I had a ball editing his book. Plus, he and I have a standing agreement that we will help one another with recommendations and speaking engagements.
I’m glad I tactfully asked for what I wanted. It made life MUCH easier, and landed me a great job.
@Melody – That’s awesome! What a great example of using tact in your response and getting a better offer because of it. We have to be careful about letting low offers offend us, because when we do that, we’re making assumptions. And that usually makes us react badly. Good for you on getting an adjusted offer.
@ Melody – Great tactic! Two birds with one stone — diplomacy prevails and you ‘trained’ him by setting up boundaries for acceptable treatment. Wouldn’t it be nice if every client saw the light like that!
I’m a firm believer in networking. I picked up three jobs this year thanks to letting people know I’m out there and what I do. Editors talk, too, and I’ve gotten jobs that way.