Freelance Career
June 20, 2008
I’m interested in starting a freelance career in my line of work. What are some of the things that I need to look out for so I can be as successful possible. - Adam in Phoenix, AZ
Freelancing consists of taking up jobs in a specified field and hiring themselves out as an independent contractor, usually involving; writing, photography or web design. This is done by building an impressive resume to attract work in your specialized field. A freelance career requires a quick working pace, flexibility and independence which is suited to some more than others.
The internet has boosted this market massively by creating an easier network for freelancers to build a customer base revolving around specific types of employment. This living is made from relying on their talent and self promotion to quickly replace a completed job with an endeavor of somewhat the same caliber but this isn’t always the case.
People with a freelance career path can be employed by several companies at different venues requiring many varied skill sets; within the same week. This is far easier done with multifaceted talent in the profession you are perusing and sets it apart from regular nine to five jobs with the ‘being your own boss’ aspect of this living.
To become a freelancer, a person is required to possess a keen sense of freedom and creativity that enables them to find continual business and keep a positive cash flow. However, keep in mind that a freelance job search is forever on going and never set in stone, yet this lifestyle is highly recommended for anyone who is willing, capable and passionate to go after what they want really want to do with in life.
Benefits of Telecommuting
June 16, 2008
Telecommuting has recently been offered to me as an option vs having to drive to work every day with high gas prices. I’m seriously considering doing this but could you describe to me what the benefits of telecommuting really are? - Matthew in Los Angeles, CA
The benefits of telecommuting are far and wide especially when you consider how high gas prices have become. A telecommuter usually has the same workloads that their office colleagues have along with similar responsibilities. However, these people are able to perform their duties without having to make that daily drive to the office. This usually results in a situation where both parties come out ahead.
Along with being able to save a significant amount of money in gas, consider the amount of time saved from your daily commute. Many people who live in a suburban environment have an average drive of 45 minutes to and hour, to and from work and these extra couple hours can be used to increase your over all productivity. There is no dress code and instead of having to go out daily for lunch, telecommuters are able to eat meals at home and have the chance to eat family meals together more often.
This provides you with the ability to spend more quality time with family and friends and is great for new parents, giving them the option of taking care of their children at home vs having to take them to a daycare which can incur a significant expense. Telecommuting parents are more available for doctors appointments and school functions with fewer scheduling conflicts. The hours that are missed can easily be made up during the evening or on the weekend.
Imagine having an environment where you are not distracted from the typical hectic atmosphere of the office along with being able to avoid the office politics, gossip or distraction from your co-workers. However, the few drawbacks of telecommuting being isolated and the potential for procrastination which can lead to definite problems between you and your employer if not addressed carefully.
But so long as you can keep yourself motivated to complete your work, then these negatives aspects are kept to a minimum. A vast majority of workers find that the benefits of telecommuting far outweigh the bad. With being able to sleep in and work in your pajamas all day, save on gas and spend more time with your friends and family who could want anything more?
Networking Advice for Job Seekers
June 12, 2008
I need networking advice to help me make valuable contacts for the future. Is there anything you suggest I can do? - Jim in Denver, CO
Receiving good networking advice and using it is one of the keys to a person’s career growth. By getting out there and introducing ourselves to various people we are able to learn about new job opportunities, especially the ones that we wouldn’t have come across otherwise. Yet only using networking as a means to look for a job shouldn’t be the only goal to focus on for networking.
Having a well connected network of professionals in many different fields can be prove to be an effective tool when it comes to other areas of your career as well. Making the most of these people will allow you to gain insight as well as advice and inside information. Here are some simple steps to get the highest return on your networking efforts.
1. Actively make everyone you know a part of your network that can be a useful contact. Even though a person may not be directly related to your area of work there is an excellent possibility that they might know someone who is.
2. You have to be willing to ask for another persons help especially when you need the advice of a contact that you know has the information that you are seeking.
3. On the opposite hand, you have to be willing to help out your contacts when they come to you. Don’t be selfish because networking for a job isn’t solely to help you. If someone asks you to either help them or a friend with a particular problem, then help the person to the best of your ability.
4. Strangely enough, don’t just use your network for job seeking either. Its a common view that people only think of having a good network for just finding a job and will only use it for that purpose. You have to think about how other people view your reason for contacting them, if its only to discuss potential job opportunities then they will come to think of you as “so and so” always scrounging around for that next position.
5. Make sure that you stay in touch with your contacts, sending a quick email often just to say hello and see how they’re doing shows that you are interested in keeping communication going back and forth. Stay on top of what they are doing in their life and it will be a lot easier for you to get in touch with them if you need to in the future.
6. Finally, when networking for a job make sure that you are thankful for the advice that you receive and especially when this leads to a situation where you benefit. Sending a thank you note or taking them out to lunch or dinner to show your appreciation can go along way to solidifying that relationship and can make a strong band of connections to well placed people over time.
Utilize this networking advice to your advantage and show yourself willing and able to help your contacts when need be. You never know, that person you meet at the bar or walking the dog can be the one that can lead you to a life changing opportunity.
Professional Goal Setting
June 11, 2008
Professional goal setting along with achieving personal goals have become an interest of mine lately. What are some things that I can do which would help me in this process? - Mike in Austin, TX
Being able to set and achieve goals on a consistent basis puts you on the top of the ladder vs the rest of the population who have never even considered it. Many people do not realize that when they have a desire for something, this desire can be firmly used as motivation to obtain exactly what you want. By focusing this desire into a set of WILLFUL goals that are confined within a definite time line, you create a plan for yourself to succeed.
What is strange is that this behavior for success is not readily taught in our education system. Rather than teaching children to think and act for themselves and figure out what it is that they want to do with their inborn talent and interests, they are forced into a cookie cutter mold that has to rely on authority figures for direction and purpose. In light of this, its not difficult to understand why so many people become mindless drones and end up in dead end jobs that they hate because they never listened to their heart and pursued what they truly wanted.
However, setting short term goals or long term goals has to be done in a proper format - having a half thought out plan of something you want to make happen but not knowing the steps that will lead to it’s fulfillment will bring nothing but frustration. I used to be a mindless, worker bee drone, yet over the past two years by using this simple process, I have transformed myself from a wandering automaton into a finely honed point of WILL that is able to accomplish things I wouldn’t have dared thought possible before.
Therefore here is the path to bring your goals into the vein of reality.
1. Desire - You have to become so keenly aware of your desire to accomplish what you see in your minds eye that it burns like a fire inside you.
2. Focus - Once this desire is realized you have to focus it into a discrete pattern of specific actions that enable you to translate this “mental energy” directly into your environment.
3. Faith - I’m not talking about religion, what this means is a personal faith within your own inborn ability to succeed and reach this success that your mind, heart and body ache for.
4. Belief - Which can be described another way as PERSISTENT ACTION. In utilizing the first 3 tools mentioned above, you act upon your faith, focus and desire while taking the steps - one by one - that will lead to the realization of what you burn to achieve.
5. Writing it All Down Many of you may be familiar with hearing “Oh just write down your goals and they’ll magically appear before you” and on and on. Don’t kid yourself, goal setting is hard work. But writing down SPECIFICALLY what you desire to achieve is a fundamental step in making it happen. This allows you to take that seed in your minds eye and literally “write” it into concrete reality.
In translating the energy of your goal from your mind by “planting” it as “seed” through writing it down, you are setting yourself up in harmony with the natural law of attraction and growth. There’s an ancient Hermetic teaching that has proven very useful to me which describes this meaning perfectly. “As above, so below - As below, so above”. Now think about it for a bit and how it can be applied in your daily life.
This one simple phrase encompasses both the macrocosm and microcosm of everything, from the entirety of the Universe down to the inner workings of our very own minds. Through understanding that there really is no separation of everything that exists and how we are all part of the same unified whole, we come to a definite comprehension that we have the same ability to create the reality of our own choice by utilizing the same creative process of the Universe itself. How could it be otherwise, are we not made up of the same building blocks as everything else? Cool huh?
Consider this, anything that has ever been created by civilization all started out as a thought in someones mind. Every tool, every invention, every new and more efficient way of doing something all started off as an intangible form of vibration, circulating back and forth inside the minds eye of someone until they finally took action upon it. By writing down what you want, you are taking that crucial first step towards drawing this creative power out of your mind and into your surroundings. So do it!!!
Follow these steps and if you are truly sincere about reaching your goals then check out the references below. If you don’t set goals for yourself then there really is nothing else you can do to get where you want to be in your professional and personal life. Search these references on Google and see what you find.
1. The Kybalion by Three Initiates
2. The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles
3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
4. The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale
A Career Mentor
June 10, 2008
I wanted to know if finding a career mentor would be a good move? I want to develop as much as I can professionally and was curious if this would be time well spent? - Johnny Neil in Clearwater, FL
Having access to a career mentor will provide you with valuable insight into your chosen path and can be like finding a diamond in the desert. These people can give you first hand knowledge that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Imagine trying to find the shortest path to a destination, but without having a guide who knows the area, you have to stumble and wander around obstacles that could have been made perfectly clear if you only had someone to point it out.
Career mentoring may be conducted in either an informal or formal setting depending on the arrangement. Sometimes by a stroke of luck you may find that you have attracted the eye of someone who takes it upon them self to give you the guidance and direction you need to become successful. Or on the other hand, a lot companies will have programs that place a new hire with someone who is already highly skilled and knowledgeable in their field.
Also, there are many professional organizations out there that are strictly geared towards providing this sort of mentor coaching. When seeking out a mentor, keep in mind to find someone whose goals have a correspondence and relation to yours. The mentor has to be able to provide the time necessary to teach and invest in the relationship along with you making the time as well to learn as much as possible.
Consider this, you must have the guts to go up face to face with someone you are considering as having a mentor and make that important initial step in asking for their time and advice. This shows confidence on your part but also a sincere desire to learn. However, don’t be forceful, no one owes you anything so remember that, you have to be humble when you ask. From the very start, you have to display an incredible work ethic so they know that you are serious about learning.
As a result, both the mentor and protege benefit through this symbiotic relationship. This is due to the protege gaining the insights and subtleties of their chosen path along with the knowledge of being able to navigate where others with less experience would fall and also, this allows for the mentor to strengthen and hone their leadership abilities.
In providing this guidance the mentor enjoys the satisfaction of seeing their hard work bear out in the achievements of the people they have mentored. So take hold of the opportunity and start looking for someone that can help lead you along the path to success.
If you are sincere in what you are seeking, more often than not, you end up finding it.
Working with a Recruiter
June 9, 2008
When working with a recruiter, what advice or suggestions can you provide in making this as productive as possible? - Karen in Flagstaff, AZ
Working with a recruiter helps you maximize your ability to get a job that you might have a difficult time landing otherwise. Recruiters have a definite advantage with being able to leverage a wide range of industry contacts to help qualified candidates find that perfect fit. This gives you an advantage over people who are searching for a job all by themselves. Aside from them helping you unlock doors, they can serve the dual purpose of providing excellent career advice.
When you use a recruiter, It’s almost like having a personal job coach that can help you sort through those difficult questions when it comes to interviewing and giving great salary negotiation tips. It is in your best interest to be as upfront as possible regarding your level experience and previous job history. This person needs to know as much about your professional life that you can provide them to help you figure out what is the best career path to go after.
Recruiters are hardworking, extremely busy people. So it can seem at times that you are being put off when you make a phone call or send an email without getting an immediate response. Between a constant flux of new job orders, clients and potential candidates that these people talk to on a daily basis, it is not unusual to go a few days without hearing from them.
So be patient, realize that they are behind the scenes working their magic for your benefit. However, by continually following up with them shows that you are definitely interested in the position. When you do speak to them try to be as prompt and forthcoming with information as possible. Now if you get ambitious and work with more than one recruiter make sure you let all of them know.
Candidates commonly assume that they will hurt their chances of getting a job somewhere if they let their recruiter in on the fact that they are using multiple recruiters in their job search. Believe it or not this is the complete opposite. Letting your recruiter know that you have more than one iron in the fire helps to build up trust and rapport with them and shows that you have enough guts to be straight forward.
There is nothing more irritating for a recruiter than to have a job interview lined up for a candidate only to find out the this person had acquired a position through another recruiter without letting them know and this can definitely hurt your chances of working with this person in the future because you led them on.
Realize though that the position you are searching for may take some time to materialize. A placement can happen as quickly as 24 hours or due to conditions outside of the recruiters control it can be many months before you find that dream job. You have to keep your resolve and understand that it is in the recruiters best interest to help you find the job you want as quickly as possible.
I have known many people who have worked with a skilled recruiter over many years and it has truly helped them in realizing their career goals, so make sure you follow the above steps to get the most out of the relationship.
Introverts at Work
June 6, 2008
There’s introverts at work… a lot of them. I really have no idea how to relate to these people because they are so quiet all the time. What gives, they seem so slow and uninterested in talking to people. Why are they like this? - Joe in Dallas, TX
Introverts at work eh? Well, consider yourself in good company Joe. I myself am an introvert and believe it or not, being quiet and slow to speak is not a sign weakness nor stupidity. People who are like this are at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to having an expressive personality. In no way shape or form does it suggest that these people are inferior to those who are much more extroverted and make it a point to be social butterflies, twirling around, making every personal connection they can.
A lot of people view introvert characteristics as being slow, unproductive, lacking ability, highly antisocial, shy and over all not interested in being team players. Wonderful stereotypes aren’t they? On top of this people say that introverts think too much, should be more reactive and anything they do should be done quick, quick, quick!!! I look at these people like they are from another planet when they say things like this.
Anyways, rather than assume that the stereotypes are true, let’s go ahead and examine the positive traits of an introvert personality instead. Introverts make for excellent strategizers and writers along with being able to listen well. When it comes down to needing someone that is patient, persistent, focused and methodical to take charge of a large project, look no further than your workplace introvert.
I tend to take lunches by myself, not because I want to be some crazy “loner” but because I simply need time to relax and gather my thoughts for the rest of the day. Being surrounded by a large group of people bantering back and forth can make me a bit edgy. But the time alone helps me to find creative and interesting ways around a problem while focusing on the smallest details to make sure the solution all comes together as planned.
When an introvert appears as being passive or inattentive, its not because they are spacing out or don’t genuinely care about what is happening. Its difficult to understand this do to the blank stare people may see, but in fact, what is going on inside the introverts mind is every conceivable permutation of the problem and simultaneously the best approach to solving it. Sometimes the most people will get out of me during a meeting is a stare and a grunt that I acknowledge what they are saying.
As much as the extrovert is displaying on the outside with their behavior, the same is going on inside the mind of the introvert, they just don’t show it, and this can make people very uncomfortable. So how do you get along with your wonderful introverts at work? Simply let them be, definitely do not try to push your perspective of how you see the world onto them, as it will do nothing more than make them resent you with a vengeance that will follow you like a plague.
Understanding this difference between the opposite personalities will vastly improve your relations with them almost instantly.
Preparing for a Job Interview
June 5, 2008
I’m preparing for a job interview and I want to know exactly what to avoid doing so I can make sure I give myself the best chance possible. I’ve heard horror stories of people being sure they have the job only to say one little thing that messes it all up. - Michelle in Seattle, WA
Preparing for a job interview is an absolute necessity. I know exactly what you’re talking about, many people think that just winging it during the interview process is fine so long as they end up getting the job. But why stack the odds against you if you can do the opposite and make an excellent first time impression?
Consider this, you’re sitting down with the person that you’re having the interview with and everything is flowing smoothly back and forth between the both of you. There is good rapport with questions and answers being given readily and then all of a sudden, that uncomfortable silence. Blank stare on your interviewer’s face and that uneasy feeling we all have experienced.
What the heck just happened? You basically just ran into a wall by triggering a negative response. This puts you on the defensive and makes you feel like you’re being viewed under a microscope. This is exactly what you don’t want so here are some tips on how to prepare for a job interview.
Proper communication is something that I can’t mention enough.
Neither too little or too much either because you need to have a balance and I’ll explain why. Imagine that you are actually sitting down with someone and interviewing them for a position. In the course of the interview, you do your best to tease out very important information about their previous work history, knowledge and experience. But if they sit there through every question and barely squeek out a sentence then how could you be sure that they would be right for the job?
On the opposite hand, what if by asking one simple question, the interviewee goes on a tirade literally for half an hour about something that is completely unrelated to the question or could have been answered in a couple well put sentences? Either would be extremely frustrating. Also, think about how you talk. Among friends or family, slang is commonly used in the course of a conversation and no one thinks anything about it.
However, what kind of impression do you think you give off if you use that sort of langauge in a professional business environment? Some more job interview strategies are pretty simple but regardless they are still over looked. Not focusing your attention on the conversation and specifically how it relates to the question asked makes you look like a bumbling space cadet. If the question though seems vague, ask for them to clarify it for you.
Another thing that can make the interview take a turn for the worse is avoiding eye contact. Looking around everywhere but at the person can make you appear that you don’t have confidence or are even a bit shady. I realize that some people are shy but at the same time if you can’t bear to look someone directly in the eyes, at least look at the space in between their eyes or the middle of their forehead. One final common sense tip of course is don’t lie during the interview.
One little white lie can come back to bite, and bite hard. So being able to build up a sense of trust between you and the other person is paramount and can give you the edge that you need. By following these simple job interview strategies gives you the power to put you in the position to win and get the job you want.
Benefits of Taking a Vacation
June 4, 2008
Is there any real importance of taking a vacation? I know a lot of people who are married to their job and all they do is work. - Josh in Los Angeles, CA
Many people assume taking a vacation will interfere with their work and put them behind in the long run. So does using your vacation time really end up making you a lazy sap? Even when these workaholics do take time off, a large portion of them still take what’s called a working vacation where they are constantly tethered to a phone or laptop regardless of their location.
Then there are the masses of people that don’t take vacation time at all. Talk about being a drone!! With all these new fangled energy drinks that pump us full of interesting chemicals to keep humming along at all hours, we tend to forget that we’re human and that we require rest. As humans… along with needing a good nights sleep, it is of utmost importance to take time off. The stress from a daily grind of the same drone like work over and over, day by day gradually wears people down.
As a result, their performance suffers and these people begin to question what they are really working for in the first place. Think of it being similar to sleep deprivation. Everyone can relate that losing just one good night of sleep can keep you from performing your best and dampens your ability to think clearly. The importance of taking vacation gives your body and mind the chance to recharge.
However, the lack of quality sleep as well as adequate rest ends up having a detrimental effect on your body’s ability to fight off disease and overall health. How many workaholics do you know that won’t take vacation time are genuinely happy, walking around with a cheery smile on their face? None. The key here that so many of us fail to understand is that taking a vacation will actually make us more productive in the long run because we are giving ourselves the chance to catch up.
How can it be any other way? Imagine trying to get to a destination when you know you’re running on empty and rather than stopping to fill up on gas, you instead keep driving ahead. Sooner or later you’ll run out and will have no one to thank but your own stubbornness. The benefits of taking a vacation allow us all time we need to reconnect and realize what we’re working for.
Don’t ever let yourself get to the point where you are a mindless drone, pounding out day after day without taking any time for you or your family. If you see this happening then have the courage to realize that your work will still be there and that the world will not come to an end if you take a few days off.
Age Discrimination in the Workplace
June 3, 2008
Age discrimination in the workplace is something that an older colleague of mine is worried about. He is searching for a new job right now and believe this is a real concern. Is there any information you can provide on this subject? - Kelley in Albany, NY
I understand why your colleague has anxiety about age based discrimination. Even companies who are generally seen as being open-minded look at older workers as more of a liability than an asset. These companies are aware that people who are older possess more experience, are dependable and loyal while being able to provide excellent customer service.
Unfortunately, this older demographic does not have the technical knowledge or experience that the younger crowd does and therefore misses out on a lot of opportunity. As a result, companies tend to over look candidates who may have every qualification necessary as mentioned above. To top it off, many employers have this idea that older workers are going drive up healthcare costs for the company and wonder how long older hires will stay on the job.
Studies on age discrimination statistics show a correlation. One found that two-thirds of respondents age 45 to 74 experienced or witnessed age discrimination on the job. Another study examining hundreds of job applications found that those who were sent by younger people were more than 40 percent likely to result in an interview vs those the older applicants who applied.
This illustrates how difficult it is for someone looking for a job that relates to their experience. However, a strong emphasis needs to made during the interview that even though someone may be older, they are not set in stone to where they cannot learn new skill sets. If you can convince a potential employer that you can apply your knowledge and experience directly to their business for the next 5 - 10 years than this is definitely a significant contribution to their company and can even give you an edge on younger applicants.
To avoid age discrimination in the workplace, it becomes in everyone’s best interest, including my own to keep on top of the advances going on today and how they relate to your job now or an opportunity in the future.