5 things to consider before becoming a freelancer

5 things to consider before becoming a freelancerNo set hours, no dress code and no boss. The life of a freelancer sounds like the dream situation for many average workers, especially those who have skills in writing, design or coding. With these skills, the reality of becoming a remote worker is bedrngnis a far off dream as it is for others. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) But, it is important to take a step back and consider what it actually means to be a freelancer before taking the leap. Quitting your job and realising its not actually for you can be a stark reality to face.1) Its a Solo Career PathTheres no office water cooler in your home office, nor is there an opportunity to turn to your co-worker and have a chat about the weather. For some, this can be a very lonely path. It is good for those who have an erratic schedule, kids who need varying amounts of attention or someone who thrives on work hours that are outside of the 9 to 5.However, for some people, the isolation that comes with freelancing can cause anxiety or even depression. Freelancers who begin to feel this way should get out of the house as often as possible even if its simply scheduling coffee with a friend or taking part in a sports activity twice a week. A break from the norm and social interaction is needed to keep the average freelancer sane.Networking can also be a great way to ensure that you get socialisation as a freelancer. Whether ansprechbar or off, not only can you meet new people but you could also get more work from the endeavour2) Money TalksFreelancing does not come with a set salary. One month you may be swimming in work and watching your bank account grow healthily, whereas the next you may be struggling to remember the meaning of the word client. Its an insecure way to make a living any prospective freelancer needs to be aware and prepared for this.Also, leaving the world of full-time work can remove important factors suc h as health insurance, retirement funds and other company benefits. Paying out for this alongside rent, savings, bills and the simple cost of living can see your freelancing money not stretch as far as you would have hoped.If you generally struggle to save money or keep track of your finances even with a regular income then freelancing may not be for you. Doing your own finances, taxes and sorting out the right freelancers insurance can be next to impossible if you dont have a firm grasp on your budget.3) Legal FactorsAs a freelancer, you are considered a sole trader. But, this can open you up to a world of legal problems that are typically covered by an employer in the permanent career path. Setting yourself up as a limited company can be one way in which you mitigate this legal risk to yourself.Creating your own limited company can help to separate you and your work. Protecting your personal funds in the case of your company financially struggling or folding, or in the case that a client sues. Having a company in place helps to prevent the client from going after you or your personal money.Having legal contracts in place is also integral to protecting yourself from any repercussions. A written agreement can help protect your income also, as having written proof of your agreement with a client can help you to claim back money owed in the case of no payment. Terms and conditions alongside a privacy policy are also important to have on your website if you are selling a product, as it protects both you and any visitor to your site.4) Firm Handed ApproachSometimes clients dont want to pay you. Sometimes clients want things on an impossible time scale. Sometimes it can feel like youre just being set up to fail. For these situations, having a firm hand is vital to help keep your head above water. Learning to say no is almost as important as the skill that allows you to freelance in the first place.If you find that youre more of a yes person then freelancing may n ot be a career path that you can thrive in.5) Organisation is KingDeadlines. Client logins. Invoices. Taxes. Emails. Lots and lots of emails.Keeping on top of everything can feel like a monumental task at the best of times, but even more so when you are a freelancer responsible for the running of a small business. Ultimately, thats what you are. A small business with all of the paperwork and administration that comes with it all of which you have to do by yourself.If keeping things in order is a struggle of yours, then keeping track of your freelancing career may be a struggle in the beginning. However, learning to become organised is not impossiblePurchase a file for your tax returns and insurance documents. Invest in an accounting software that works for you and can help you to invoice your clients with ease. Create folders in your email account that will help you deal with issues in order of priority. Use a calendar that can help you keep on top of all your deadlines, those are important after allThere a lot of things that need to be organised as a freelancer, if it seems like too much now then imagine what it will be like during the everyday struggle of freelancing. Set firm organisation in place from day one to enjoy true success as a freelancer.So there you have it, the top considerations that you need to make before you take the leap into freelance writing for good. Ensure that you consider everything carefully before you leave the city centre office in exchange for your home office.About the authorZack Halliwell is a lover of long walks with his dog during the day and a freelance writer by night. Kind of like Batman (coincidentally the name of his dog). Find him ZackHalliwell onTwitter.

How To Find A Job Using Social Media

How To Find A Job Using Social Media Do you use social media every day to stalk makeup gurus and style bloggers? Is your Instagram feed full of lovely photos of traveling, yogis, and shoes? We all use social media for similar reasons. But did you know you can also make it parte of your job hunting experience? Your potential employers are out there you just need to impress them with your awesome personality.Whats the first thing you do when youre after a new job? Try to make connections, right? You also gather information about the company youre interested in and get informed about the entire industry. You can do all these things using social media.Norah Daniels, a team leader atSuperiorPapers, shared an interesting anecdote about this.I always knew I wanted to be a writer, she said. My main interest was academic content. I had no idea how to look for such job, so I became part of a Facebook group for writers. I connected with the best companies in the writing industry before I knew i t, and here I am still working for one of them.Now, you must be wondering how can you, like Daniels, use social media to get a job? It involves more than just following industry types on Twitter and waiting for something to fall into your lap. Here are seven ways to use social media in your job hunt1. Show youre an expert.The real effort should go into building youronline reputation. Lets say youre an architect looking for a new firm. Youll need to show the world youre good enough for every firm to want you. You can do that by promoting your own work through blogging. Whatever projects youve worked on, feature them on a blog and share them via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn.If you dont yet have much work to brag with, you can post reviews. Focus on your industry and put yourself in the role of a critic. When you prove yourself as an expert through the blog and comments on social media sites, cool job offers will start coming your way.2. Tell people youre read y for a new job.As an example I just updated my LinkedIn profile. Check it out Im looking for a job in marketing. Of course, this status or tweet will be followed by a link to your LinkedIn page. If you implement tip No. 1 first, youll have established yourself as someone worthy of attention. With this step, youll inform the world youre open for suggestions. Some of your friends may suggest openings, and others will recommend you to people they know.3. Learn about a companys culture.When you follow a company on Facebook or Twitter, youre getting insights into its culture and way of work. Youre also learning about the current projects and marketing campaigns.Why are these insights important? First of all, they can help you decide if that company is the right fit for you. However, they will also do you good during interviews, since youll be able to show how you fit into that culture.4. Show you can use social media well.You dont have to be a marketing expert to use the full potential of social media. Remember that blog we recommended you to build and maintain? Well, youll need to promote it everywhere Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, YouTube you name it.You can even create a Pinterest motherboard that will serve as your virtual portfolio and resume. Show youre not afraid of technology hiring managers are very attracted to such candidates.5. Make connections.This is a crucial part of every job hunt. You already have some connections that youll use, but dont be limited to those alone. Find out who you need to know to land a specific job youre interested in. Whos the hiring manager or team leader? Follow them on Linkedin.And dont stop there. Retweet their tweets so youll hopefully get them to follow you on this network. Thats a great tricks that connects you with professionals without necessarily intruding upon or bothering them.6. Add a link to your LinkedIn profile in the bio.Have you noticed how people use the bio in their profiles to link to th eir website? You can do the same thing, but youll link to your LinkedIn profile. This will help in two ways It directly leads more people toward your virtual resume, and it shows your own confidence in your social media use.7. Make your profiles flawless.Lets say you sent a resume that got a hiring managers interest. Now what? Their first instinct will be Googling your name. They will find your profiles on all social media. What will they see on Instagram? Puppies, cats, loads of makeup, and images of shoes? If youre not in the fashion industry, thats not the impression you want to leave.Be smart and make your social media profiles private. When someone lands on your public profile, they should see the most professional version of you. Facebook allows you to set the privacy on each post. Keep your private photos private, but make the links to your blog and smart notes public.The best thing about social media is that you can start working on it today. You already know how to use it, right? All you need to do is improve the impression you leave as someone whos looking for a job. --Joan Selby is a productivity coach and a blogger a graduate of California Institute of the Arts and a fancy-shoe lover and a writer by day and reader by night, giving a creative winzigkeit to everything. Find her onTwitterandFacebook.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer

An Unbiased View of Writing an Effective Objective on a Resume

An Unbiased View of Writing an Effective Objective on a Resume Youre wondering in case you should have a statement at the very top of your resume to grab the hiring managers interest. When you want to land up a job in a trusted business house you will want to get a detailed resume. In nearly all scenarios, a resume purpose is merely a couple sentences long. Actually, my resume went to another level once I asked a few recruitment colleagues and my wife to check over it for me. A scarcity of experience doesnt need to avoid a resume from looking serious, just be certain youre applying for the suitable position. In the majority of instances, a resume objective is merely a couple of sentences long. A potent objective has to be written by keeping the job in mind youre applying to. A proper presented objective may be the high-impact tool that could protect an employing managers interest right from the beginning. An excellent career objective must tell the employer what you can pr ovide them if youre hired rather than that which you expect from them. If youre on the lookout for a career in sales, the very first place to begin is in your resume. A complete career purpose isnt just about what you want to achieve. It is not only about what you need to perform. Things You Wont Like About Writing an Effective Objective on a Resume and Things You Will Creating an IT resume objective gives you a means to demonstrate a hiring manager what you need to do and how you are going to benefit the business. Job application purpose is the original section in the work application. Curriculum vitae objectives are sometimes a minor controversial. From time to time, an objective on curriculum vitae can decrease the probabilities of succeeding.