Saturday, August 31, 2019

Nicole Brzyski on How To Manage Stress as a Freelancer

Freelancing is a fantastic gig to have; it lets you be your own boss and make flexible hours. However, the unstructured nature of freelancing can sometimes become too unstructured. Without a steady stream of work and income, it can be challenging to remain calm and stay motivated. Freelancers are continually pitching themselves to potential clients, and once they get a job, they have to hit the ground running to make the deadline. Working under these conditions long-term, and without a plan for stress management, can set you up for failure. Here are some ways to manage the stress that comes with the freelance life. “No” One word that freelancers probably never want to say is no. Getting a job is what freelancers work towards, but a wave of projects is not always manageable. New clients and new work mean more money and probably, more stability. However, freelancers need to learn their bandwidth and take on each task accordingly. It may mean that you will have to say no and turn down a job but, the saying quality over quantity comes into play here when looking to manage your stress and mental health. Take Note of Stressors Stress and anxiety from work can make it hard to complete your daily tasks. One way to recognize these stresses and find a way to manage them is to carve out time in your day where you write down what’s stressing you out the most. Writing down your most significant causes of stress can help put these things into perspective and allow you to find a solution. For example, if one of your stressors is that you’re constantly working late maybe, you need to take on less work. Set aside 30 minutes to evaluate your day, set goals, and reduce your stress. Set a Schedule Freelancing is a bit free in terms of the schedule you may have. Especially when just starting out, take time to track your day and plan for each task. You don’t have to set a strict 9 to 5 business hours for yourself, but you do need to begin setting boundaries for your hours of operation. Once you determine your schedule, you can then let clients know what times they can reach you. If you don’t, you’ll be setting yourself up for burnout when your clients believe they can contact you at any time. — Published on August 27, 2019 Nicole Brzyski is a freelance writer and editor based in New Jersey. She has experience working in marketing and communications prior to making the switch to freelance work. Nicole Brzyski produces content for her clients, who are typically entrepreneurs or small businesses, that helps each company develop their voice and image. The Thrive Global Community welcomes voices from many spheres. We publish pieces written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Learn more or join us as a community member!



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Thursday, August 29, 2019

How to Find a Freelancing Mentor

Talk with any freelancer, and you will quickly discover how isolating and lonely the career path can be. In fact, only enter into a conversation with a freelancer if you have a few hours to spare. This may be the only conversation he or she has had that day other than a chat with the clerk at Starbucks that morning.

While some freelancers are happy to have only a German Shepherd and a robot vacuum as officemates, others miss the water-cooler conversations. They miss the drinks after work, and they miss having a person they can turn to in the office to offer career guidance. Many freelancers miss having a mentor.

Perhaps you already know someone who has worked in your freelancing niche and has a stable career. Maybe this person has been open to offering career advice, or at least acts as a sounding board when you have a problematic client. If so, you are lucky.

The reality is that many freelancers begin their careers after late-night Google searches. They stumble upon their first gig, which turns into a few more jobs. But through the ups and downs, through the feast and the famines, most freelancers have no one with which to discuss career strategies.

Friends and family members shake their heads and ask if you are still unemployed. Your mother is sure you are getting scammed. Your neighbor asks if you are paying taxes on your earnings, and your friend asks if you can help her lazy brother-in-law “make money online.”

You need a mentor.

How do you find one? It’s tough, but here are some ideas.

LinkedIn

First, look through your network. Look for other freelancers in your industry and niche. You may be surprised to discover someone working in a similar field as you. It’s not likely, but it’s worth a try.

While you are still on LinkedIn, search for groups specific to your freelancing niche. Be as specific as possible. For example, freelance writing groups are often filled with fiction writers who complain about writer’s block, and how they prefer the company of the characters they write about instead of interacting with real people. If you don’t want your news feed cluttered with this kind of content, choose the groups you join carefully.

Search for Freelancing Support Websites

Since you are reading this on freelancingbuzz.com, you can see there are plenty of freelancing websites available to support those millions of tea-drinking, PJ-wearing freelancers out there in the world. These aren’t the websites that you will use to get jobs, but they are websites filled with freelancing resources. Read the blogs on those sites and start conversations with those who are posting.

Some of these freelancing websites also offer great advice on taxes, budgeting, and health insurance.

Read and Post from Your Freelance Job Platform

Whether you use Upwork or Freelancer to find your paid freelancing jobs, check out the website’s community page. You can ask specific questions of your freelancing community, and most of the time, those who answer offer sound advice.

Send Messages to Successful Freelancers

Some freelancing job sites allow you to see the amount of money the individual has made through the website (if he or she chooses to share this information.) Other freelancing job sites have label “top-rated” workers in each industry. Send private messages to those who are successful within your industry. Ask specific questions of these freelancers.

Many people are proud of the success they have found through freelancing and want to offer advice to others. Remember, those freelancers are working from home in their PJs too, and they like to interact with the outside world at times.

Freelancing Conferences

You may consider searching for freelancing conferences in your area. There are freelancing writing conferences scattered throughout the country, so chances are there are similar conferences in other industries as well.

For an additional fee, some of these conferences offer one-on-one consultations with professionals in the industry. Perhaps you could also network with other attendees who can share in your frustrations and your successes.

While most freelancers would like to have an in-person mentor to meet with periodically to offer advice and encouragement, perhaps there are plenty with “traditional” employees with on-sight jobs who are seeking this out as well. Some industries are particularly good at providing support for newbies, but beginners in other fields are also thrown to the wolves.

If you have been able to make a steady income as a freelancer, take a moment to pay yourself on your back. Maybe you don’t know anyone else in the field. Perhaps your friends, family, and neighbors don’t understand how you earn your living. Regardless . . . you are doing it! Congrats to you!

This article was originally posted at Freelancing Buzz!



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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Freelance Proofreader Job with Virtuoso

*This post may contain affiliate links. I only share opportunities that I truly believe will benefit my readers. Disclosure. Virtuoso is seeking a freelance proofreader on a 20-hour project to be completed over two weeks, starting in September. This home-based proofreading position could lead to ongoing freelance work. From the company: “Virtuoso is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. We are seeking a freelance proofreader with a keen eye and exceptional attention to detail to review copy for print and digital products on a project-by-project basis.” Requirements (from work-at-home job listing): 5+ years’ experience editing and proofreading marketing collateral Previous experience working with a publisher, advertising agency, or in-house creative team Advanced understanding of U.S. English style, usage, grammar, and punctuation Familiarity with standard style guides, especially The Chicago Manual of Style Confidence with adopting corporate style guide modifications Exceptional communication skills and ability to prioritize deadlines as a remote freelancer Knowledge of the luxury travel industry is preferred but not required. Ability to proofread U.K. English is preferred but not required. This is a 100% telecommute contract position. If interested in learning more, please see the original work at home job listing . Good luck! Interested in training online to be a freelance proofreader? Read my post: Learn How to Start Your Own Freelance Proofreading Home Business!



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Sunday, August 25, 2019

Why Companies Should Make Freelancers Their No. 1 Priority

Skillful contract workers have proved the difference between success and failure for numerous businesses. This story originally appeared on Glassdoor Freelancers are among the most valuable workers businesses have access to — and many successful companies simply couldn’t thrive without them. Your company may not need a full-time, 40-hours a week graphic designer on staff, but you could easily reach a point where a great corporate design could transform your business. Just ask the freelancer who created Nike’s iconic Swoosh . Skillful contract workers, including attorneys, programmers and writers, have proved the difference between success and failure for numerous businesses. Yet for all that freelancers bring to the table, many companies — whether large corporations or early-stage startups — fail to treat them nearly as well as they do their full-time employees. Every long-term freelancer has a horror story about jumping through hoops and making 20 phone calls just to get paid for a long-overdue invoice. Beyond payment issues, many companies communicate with independent workers poorly (or not at all), and others don’t even consider giving them opportunities to grow . What these companies miss is that this sort of treatment isn’t just bad for self-employed talent — it’s bad for their bottom lines. Freelancers are expected to make up about half of the American workforce within a decade. That’s a lot of people, and if they’re treated poorly, the vast majority of them will underperform at work. If businesses are hoping to thrive during the coming shift to the 1099 economy, they’ll have to start treating freelancers with the same respect and consideration they give to full-time staff. Freelancers Can Make or Break Your Business Contrary to popular belief, many — if not most — independent workers don’t want a full-time job. They thrive on the freedom and flexibility that freelancing affords them, which includes the ability to turn down work from companies that don’t treat them the right way. Good freelancers are in high demand, and if you treat them poorly, they’ll simply go work with someone else. Mistreatment can cause project delays when workers aren’t motivated or stop working until they receive an overdue payment. Just as is the case with full-time workers, companies that fail to treat freelancers with respect will eventually develop a bad reputation, making it harder to bring in good people moving forward. Related: Contractors Are People Too — How to Enhance the Experience of Company Culture Beyond Full-Time, In-House Employees How Companies Can Thrive in the 1099 Economy The most obvious way to retain and motivate independent talent is to pay them well and pay them on time. Find a pricing structure that makes sense for both parties before you start working together, then make sure you have processes in place that allow you to pay people in a timely manner. Since non-salaried freelance workers often lack a regular income, a late payment can be the difference between making or missing their rent or mortgage payment that month. Beyond payments, my […]



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Friday, August 23, 2019

Is it Illegal to Work as a Freelancer?

The short answer to this question is “maybe.” A better question would be “is working as a freelancer a fire-able offense?” Here are some things to think about if you are considering working as a freelancer in the same industry as your current full-time job.

What does your contract say?

Before you sign up through Upwork, Toptal, People Per Hour, or Freelancer, you need to check your employment agreement with your company. Your contract may spell out the company’s expectations on whether freelancing or moonlighting is acceptable or not. 

 See if you signed a non-compete clause in the myriad of paperwork you went through during the on-boarding process. Most of the time, a non-compete clause is written to protect your current company. This part of the contract keeps you from taking your previous employer’s clients, technology, or proprietary information to your new company after you part ways. 

 These non-compete clauses in your contract may cover freelancing as well. Check the wording of the document. Perhaps your non-compete clause is just for a specific geographic area. For example, if the contract says you can’t work in the telecommunications industry in Kansas or Missouri for three years after leaving your current position, does that mean you can’t work as a freelancer for a company out of Iowa?

 Also, check your contract to see if you are an at-will employee. This means you can be fired at any time and for any reason. If you are an at-will employee, be particularly careful working as a freelancer within the same industry.

Do you have professional liability insurance through your employer?

Besides checking your work contract for wording that discourages freelancing, you should also check your professional liability insurance policy that your company may have purchased on your behalf. This insurance policy will not cover any of the work that you do while performing as a freelancer. Also, the fact that your company purchased this insurance for you may indicate that they would be not happy if you worked as a freelancer.

Are you using your employer’s assets when you work as a freelancer?

You cannot use your employee car, computer, copier, phone, software, tools, or travel benefits when working as a freelancer. That would be the same as stealing from the company, and that would be grounds for dismissal.

 You also cannot use proprietary information you learned from your current company to benefit another company. This may be tricky to determine which information is proprietary or not as it is defined as “special knowledge and skills that an employee learns from a job.”

Is working as a freelancer affecting your performance at work?

Of course, your employer cannot demand that you work 24 hours a day, but they can expect that you arrive at work rested and ready to perform. If you cannot complete your work functions appropriately because you are out of energy, this is also considered stealing from the company. 

Does the freelancing project conflict with your company’s interests?

Another indicator that working as a freelancer may be a fire-able offense is if you are offering the same service to clients who could easily be your company’s customers. If you are a landscaper working for a company, but you tell potential clients you will do the work on your off-hours at a fraction of the cost, this may be grounds for dismissal. Even if you don’t use your company’s equipment and you still can perform your work during daytime hours, you are stealing clients from your employer.

 Another way freelancing may conflict with your company’s interest is if, through your full-time job, you are privy to information that can be used to benefit a company that you are working for during your off-hours. 

How much do you want to work?

Most adults are ready for bed at the end of a long day of work and personal commitments. Sure, everyone freelances for extra income, but life is short. How much of your time do you want to spend working?

The Bottom Line

There may be nothing written in your contract that would keep you from working as a freelancer. You may not use any of your company’s resources or proprietary information. You may not take clients away from your company or limit your employer’s ability to make money in any way. Even if this is the case, you may want to consider giving a head’s up to your employer on your plans of making money on the side.

This article was originally posted at Freelancingbuzz.com



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Are You a Website Developer/Builder Looking for More Customers? Post a Freelance Gig at our Marketplace

Communal Freelance Gig Marketplace is soon to open for business and we’re offering internet website developers access to new customers with zero out-of-pocket costs to you. Do you provide Internet-related services such as: Website Building? Website Maintenance? SEO Help? Back Office Assistance? Digital Strategy? WordPress Buildout? E-Commerce? Database Solutions? Social Media Expert Support? Facebook/Google Advertising? And more…? If you have small business expertise, a quality background, and want us to provide you more business, what do you have to lose? Why not put your web services out in a place for the world to see? Our marketing will inform you when you have a business request, collect the money for you, and make sure you’re fairly paid. This allows you more time to focus on your valuable craft. Leave the business side to us and our new, fast growing and rewarding platform. What we provide is a constant flow of visitors– our freelance gig service is integrated into Communal News that receives close to a million visitors per year. We’ve just added a whopping 300% increase in visitors in just the last three months alone! We are seeing robust growth on our news side and, in time, our Communal Freelance Gig Marketplace will be completely embedded into our news service. We want to add-on real business services to help our readers. At Communal Freelance Gig Marketplace we charge the lowest fee of any gig platform that we are aware of– only 14%. Most platforms charge 20% plus they have additional services fees. Our very low-cost service allows you to pocket a savings of over 40%– money that small business person (like you) might need. Work with Communal Freelance Gig Marketplace and we will provided your service with additional free digital news and marketing. So why not be one of the first to try our open new platform? If you want to grow, we want companies that will grow with us. Signing up takes about the same amount of time as a Craigslist add. Who knows, over time this might significantly increase your business. We believe it will make a difference and that’s why we decide to create our second platform. So web developers, WordPress experts, e-compliance specialists…this is a new opportunity for you and us. Hopefully we can both succeed (communally!) together and at a lower cost to you.



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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

4 Essential Steps You Should Take To Transition From A Freelancer To A Founder

From a freelancer to a founder. You love the freedom of freelancing and you cannot imagine ever working for someone else. However, running a service-based business means that at some point you’ll inevitably hit the earnings ceiling. Yes, you can always raise your prices and negotiate better deals with clients . But still, you won’t be able to take on more work than you can muster alone. Here’s a big question you need to answer honestly: do you want to stay in the freelance economy or do you want to transition into entrepreneurship where you actually grow a business? If you answer is the latter, there are several things you’ll have to figure out before you can start introducing yourself as a founder. 1. Make sure you understand what you are signing up for Right now, being a freelancer, you’re a gun for hire. You’re regarded as an expert in your field and a technician available to the one who needs your service. As an entrepreneur, to be successful, you should get that being a talented technician is only part of the puzzle. This is because the entrepreneurial mindset focuses on the larger picture and creates a system based on business goals. So, what are your goals? And how can you transition to them? This requires some careful thought and analysis of your skills and how you can market them as a business owner, not a freelancer. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Perhaps you can bundle your services into product packages and remove yourself from the delivery of those by hiring a team? Or you are eager to explore the more passive business ideas that would allow you to scale more rapidly and “remove” yourself from the business to some extent. Finally, you can always have a clean start and build a startup from the ground up, based on that idea you’ve been cherrishing for years. 2. Change your sales process Running a business means that you now need to interact with a somewhat different crowd including potential investors and customers. You are no longer a ‘gun for hire’, but an entity with the added challenge of communicating your value and navigating a more complex sales process as a result. “It takes a huge mindset shift,” said Kris Lal, CEO of Curator Social . “We’ve increased profits year on year seven fold, by simply switching from selling our services to problem solving for our clients. Stay true to your strengths, firm with your pricing and build value as opposed to discounting your services. It’s the difference between becoming a valuable partner as opposed to a replaceable supplier.” 3. Prepare to delegate Many “freelance founders” often have the problem of giving away the reigns. They are so used to putting out all fires by themselves that they often forget that it’s no longer their responsibility to do so. As a former app developer, you may be tempted to rework the code produced by your new hire. But it’s no longer your […]



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Monday, August 19, 2019

What kind of freelancer are you?

Your client’s perception is coloured by how seriously you take your business. Are you the type of freelancer who effortlessly works on your laptop anywhere you please, like this fashionably business casual 20-something man who can afford an apartment with trendy mid-century chairs and too good a view? Is this what your clients think you do? Photo by Austin Distel Not all freelancers are equal. It’s a generic label that can mean a wide array of relationships to work. We’ve chosen to run our own indie businesses for different reasons. Or it hasn’t been a choice at all — maybe you’ve been thrust into this lifestyle by accident. As a result, we all have different levels of commitment to our businesses, and different feelings towards the purpose and longevity of our freelance careers. When you say you’re a freelancer , do your clients think that means a casual digital nomad or local full-time pro? Do they envision someone doing gigs as a stop-gap measure while between jobs, or someone who’s committed for the long haul to build lasting relationships? Do you even have a clue how your business is perceived? Look your career in the mirror, and see which one of these freelance types best describes you… Full-time permanent pro freelancer You’re a freelancer by choice. You’ve built a reputable business and sustainable career from it. You do this full-time and don’t intend to ever be “employed” again. Hence you take your business seriously and operate with extreme professionalism and commitment. You have to, because you and your family depend on this as your primary source of income. Your business becomes steady and secure . Your clients become long-term partners . You’re a freelancer by accident. You were made redundant or quit your soul-crushing job and decided to give it a whirl because it was taking too long to land your next opportunity. You may even continue to contract for the employer you just left. You don’t consider freelancing a career — it’s just a stop-gap measure in between “real” jobs. (Unless by accident you fall in love with it and realise it’s better than what you thought you were looking for). Part-time side hustle freelancer Your day-job is alright, but it doesn’t make enough money or isn’t creatively satisfying. You start freelancing on the side to earn extra cash or learn new skills. One day you might build up that freelance business big enough to jump ship and make it full-time, or it may forever remain a side-gig. You can afford to start slow and experiment with freelancing because you’re not reliant on it as your main source of income. Digital nomad freelancer You love travel more than your work. Travel is your career. Your freelance business is just a means by which you afford your nomadic lifestyle. You work when you need to, wherever you are, to earn enough money for your next adventure. Remote freelancing means freedom to be untethered to anywhere. Casual gigster, not a […]



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Saturday, August 17, 2019

Freelance futures: The one financial step every freelancer should take

After leaving full-time employment to raise her children in their South African home, Alison Hill spent years as a stay-at-home-mum before deciding it was time to give her life an overhaul. So, she packed up her things – and her life – and moved to Australia to follow her dream of becoming a freelance writer. There was only one problem – she had very little in the way of superannuation. “I had some but not a huge amount as I’d migrated here, leaving my super-equivalent in South Africa, where I didn’t have that much anyway,” she says. “Super isn’t compulsory there, though luckily my employer did pay some. Then I had years out of the workforce raising children too. I had salary sacrificed for a few years though, and that made a big difference. It saves tax and boosts your super balance.” Despite the modest balance, Hill found the freelance lifestyle to be liberating, allowing her to work around her family and have a positive work/life balance. Self-employment: How to negotiate the cash flow and super growth struggle Read more “I love not working in an office and not having to attend endless, pointless meetings,” says Hill. “Not commuting, not having to dress in a certain way, being able to go to gym and swimming when I feel like it. Not to mention being able to follow my own interests and ideas when it comes to writing.” But freelancing does come with its share of difficulties. “Finding a constant flow of work is hard – you become out of touch with new technologies and have to make a real effort to keep up to date, and networking can be difficult and time-consuming. When you feel unmotivated, it’s easy to be distracted and go for a walk or find some vital household job that has to be done today – and probably involves a trip to the shops, a coffee while you’re out, and catching up with your reading afterwards.” Networking can be difficult and time-consuming. When you feel unmotivated, it’s easy to be distracted. As with any small business, cash flow can become tricky for anyone earning their living through freelance work. “It’s really difficult to plan and save, especially as my partner and I are both self-employed. It’s so easy to splash out when you have cash, and then regret it when things get tight. It’s hard to plan things like travel and holidays, because you always worry that work might drop off, or you’ll get so busy that you won’t be able to take time off when you want to.” While Hill jokes there are more fun ways to spend her money, she’s also renewed her focus on superannuation, particularly as she approaches potential retirement. “I try to save as much as I can when I can, and I keep some of it in a term deposit so that I can’t spend it on a whim. I’ve also made some lump sum payments into super when I’ve […]



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Friday, August 16, 2019

Freelance Marketing Copywriter Job with FunnelKake

Digital marketing agency FunnelKake is seeking a freelance marketing copywriter in the U.S. This is a contract position. The company is seeking a long-term, ongoing relationship. Compensation for this freelance position is $18.00 per hour. From the company: “The Copywriter will provide content based on client needs that is insightful and meets conversion. Topics and keywords will be provided to the writer, so we are looking for a copywriter who will elaborate on established messaging. We are looking for a sharp, hard working, problem solver who is self-motivated, and loves to help SMBs succeed.” Qualifications (from work-at-home job listing): Skills: Writing for various social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) Experience conducting keyword research on a subject Long-form content writing (Blogs, Articles, Listicles) Experience producing engaging and factual content Email Newsletter and Digest writing Strong advertising copy writing skills Strong English written communication skills Experience Social Media: 2 years (Preferred) Copy writing: 3 years (Preferred) Experience with the Agency/Freelancer model (Preferred) Scheduling for this freelance marketing copywriter position is flexible. The schedule is Monday to Friday. If interested in learning more about this freelance position and applying, please see the original work at home employment listing . Good luck! This home-based job not right for you? If you love to correct people’s grammar, you should check out my earlier post: Start Your Own Freelance Proofreading Home Business!



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Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Freelance Frontend Web Developer

This is an extremely busy time of the year for Swoop regarding freelance contracts & we’re after Frontend Web Developers of all experience levels with the following experience & attributes… – Strong attention to detail – A broad variety of relevant work examples – Working with supplied designs & psd assets – Exp. with eDM, website & banner design – Advanced HTML & CSS – Bonus exp. in WordPress, HTML5, Laravel & PHP – Competent across varied subject matter – Fast & accurate work – Friendly & professional demeanour – Strong verbal & written communication – Unrestricted Australian work rights – A professional CV & portfolio If you’ve got most of this covered, please APPLY NOW! Contact Name: Jasmin Contact Email: knock@theswoopinn.com



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Monday, August 12, 2019

How To Become a Successful Full-Time Programmer: 9 Tips for Freelancers

According to Nasdaq , 43% of all U.S. workers will be freelancers by 2020. This applies worldwide and in most industries, including software development. That’s why you can find a lot of blog posts on how to jump from a full-time programmer job into freelance developing. But what if you don’t get as much pleasure and profit from running your own freelance business as you used to? Opting for a full-time development job can be the solution in this case, though this might sound a bit challenging. However, the transition from freelance programming to a full-time development position isn’t as difficult as you might think. You’ll be in a new environment and will get to meet new people, but the nature of your work will mostly stay the same. What Does it Take to Transition to a Full-Time Programmer Job? In order to acclimate to your surroundings and find success in your new position, there are some things you need to keep in mind. These are details a freelance programmer might never need to care about, but as a full-time programmer, you most certainly will. So, let’s get started! Set Your Alarm Early Whereas freelancers set their own schedules, full-time programmers need to get their work done between certain hours. The difference can be a little jarring, but once you get used to it, finding your work-life balance can be much easier. Set your alarm earlier than you need to. This will make sure that you don’t oversleep because you forgot that you have somewhere to be. It will also give you time to fit in your favorite activities in the morning. You’ll feel less like a corporate slave if you’ve already had breakfast, done yoga, and enjoyed a morning walk with your dog. It’s also a good idea to show up to work 10 minutes early. If you run late, you’ll actually arrive on time. Set your standards high early in your career; you can relax once you understand the company culture. Learn the Company’s Shorthand If you’ve been hired as a full-time programmer, there’s a good chance you are joining a pre-existing team. Every team has their own shorthand for project comments and their own way of naming files. Learn these words and phrases as quickly as possible. Your projects will quickly fit in with everyone else’s, and you won’t waste time asking the same question repeatedly. To save yourself some trouble, write down each shorthand term as soon as you see it for the first time. Keep these notes by your desk until you’re sure you know the local language. Leave Extra Comments On the subject of notes and comments, leave as many in your programs as possible. Otherwise, your code might be completely indecipherable to an outsider, slowing down everyone’s work. Hopefully, the importance of habitual comments was drilled into you during your first computer science class. But if you are one of those developers who like to limit the number of comments, pay attention […]



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Thursday, August 8, 2019

Daily Chronicle seeking freelance sports writers

Caption Mark Busch – mbusch@shawmedia.com The DeKalb Daily Chronicle sports department is looking for freelance sports writers to help in coverage of local athletics with a focus on the high school level. Interested candidates should have a passion for writing and for sports, as well as reliable transportation. Candidates should also have a firm grasp of grammar and writing skills. If interested, please contact sports editor Eddie Carifio at ecarifio@shawmedia.com or at 815-756-4841, extension 2224.



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Invoicing Tips For Freelancers

Self-employment is a rising trend in the global workforce . fxxu / Pixabay More and more people are choosing to become their own bosses either because they want increased flexibility or because they firmly believe it is the best option for their skills and abilities. Being an solopreneur does have its perks , but the limited income can stop you from reaching your financial goals — particularly in the beginning. [REITs] Q2 hedge fund letters, conference, scoops etc When you are just starting out, you will most likely not have a steady paycheck . How are you supposed to handle the ebbs and flows of this type of income? Simple. You learn how to invoice. If you carefully and wisely manage to invoice, your business will run much more smoothly. These are our tips for getting started with better invoicing. Do A Little Bit Of Research Make sure to research your clients before sending out invoices. Will the person pay on time? Will they pay at all? These are questions that require immediate answers . Social media is a great place to find more about the people you are doing work for. Check out your clients’ social media or Glassdoor profiles. It is also a good idea to go to forums and see if past freelancers or employers have anything bad to say. Carrying out this kind of background check is very useful, as you can find out a lot about the company you are doing business with. Use Good Invoicing Templates It takes only a few seconds to download invoice templates and put them to good use. You can create professional -looking invoices. This means that you can show your brand and use well-defined fields that please the eye. When it comes down to invoice templates, all you have to do is to download the Excel or Word document, fill it in, and, last but not least, email it out. Clients will easily remember you if you use the same template every time. However, if you are looking to step up your game, use a live email template. When the email lands in your clients’ inboxes, it will make a big impression. Do Not Forget Important Details Certain details have to be included in a business invoice. The most important ones are: Your Company’s Info Date Services and Charges Due Date Nothing says ‘unprofessional’ like the client having to send back an invoice full of errors or lacking complete information . If you have these important details included in the invoice, you do not have to worry about legal issues. This will make you look like a true professional and will boost your freelancer brand. Specify What Methods of Payment Are Acceptable People need to know what payment options they have. If you do not mention the terms of the transaction, it will take longer for you to get your money. If you don’t specify payment conditions, like your preferred payment method , you’re opening yourself up to […]



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Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Freelance Traffic Manager

Position: Freelance Traffic Manager Location: Manhattan Status: Freelance Estimated Duration: Ongoing Starts: Within a Couple Weeks Rate: DOE Job Description: Our well known client in the professional services space is looking for a Traffic Manager to join their team. Responsibilities of the Traffic Manager: – Manages the intake and workflow of design projects for a high volume, dynamic design team with multiple skillsets and diverse project requirements. – Conducts scope analysis and confirmation for all projects on projects that come in through the clients workflow tool, Workfront. – Pulls in appropriate Creative resources and works with assigned Creative resource to finalize scope. – Educates stakeholders on how much time is required to complete various types of jobs and all the steps necessary to process a job – Prioritizes all requests and estimates dates and resource availability. – Negotiates timelines and resources when applicable with stakeholders. – Collaborates with other Traffic Managers to meet project requirements Requirements for the Traffic Manager: – Minimum of 4 years experience. Design agency/studio, marketing and sales or related role in corporate /professional services preferred. – Proven ability to provide the supporting resources which lead to successful design solutions. – Experience in maintaining and implementing brand guidelines. – Experience in project management and planning. Proven ability to work well with individuals at all levels within an organization. – Outstanding attention to detail. – Knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite. (PC platform) – Strong computer skills in PowerPoint, MS Word, and Excel and Google for Work equivalents. – Experience with a Marketing Workflow/PM tools. – Strong Workfront knowledge a plus. If you feel you are qualified for this position please send your resume (and samples if applicable) to: View additional job opportunities at www.creativecircle.com Creative Circle is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Creative Circle will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact your Recruiter (the person you’ll be interviewing with) or a member of our Human Resources team to make arrangements.



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Saturday, August 3, 2019

How Freelancers in the Philippines Can Get a Credit Card

Credit Card for Freelancers in the Philippines | Moneymax “How can I apply for a credit card if I’m working as a freelancer?” For anyone who has started a work-from-home career, concerns like getting a credit card for freelancers always come to mind. Credit cards are useful for self-employed Filipinos just as they are for employees. Having a plastic card allows freelancers to verify PayPal account for receiving payments online. It can be used to buy software programs, web hosting services, and other work tools. Of course, it comes in handy when shopping online, paying bills, or booking flights. While a Visa/Mastercard debit card or prepaid card can get those things done, it’s better to use a credit card for certain transactions. For example, you can pay for big purchases like laptops or appliances in monthly installments with no interest. More importantly, a credit card can be a life-saver during a financial emergency when you have no access to cash. Unfortunately, it’s challenging to get a credit card for freelancers in the Philippines. To qualify for a credit card, you have to own a registered business with a profitable operation for at least one to two years. To prove that, you’re required to submit an income tax return (ITR), business registration papers, and financial statements. Beginning freelancers typically don’t have these documents on hand. But don’t lose hope—you can still get a credit card even if you don’t have stable employment. Here are different ways for Filipino freelancers to get approved for a credit card. Apply for a Secured Credit Card How to Get Credit Card for Freelancers – Apply for a Secured Credit Card As a freelancer, you have a higher chance of getting approved for a secured credit card than a regular one. How Secured Credit Cards Work Although they have the same features with regular cards, secured credit cards have a different set of requirements. To get a secured card, you need to open a savings, checking, or time deposit account with a bank and deposit a certain amount, which the bank will place on hold as your deposit guarantee (also called hold-out deposit). This means you’re not allowed to withdraw your money until you cancel your card and have fully settled your credit card account balance. Also, in case you fail to pay your credit card debt, the bank can recover the money by taking your hold-out deposit. Your deposit will also be the basis for your credit card limit, which is typically 80% to 90% of the hold-out amount. For example, if your hold-out deposit is PHP 10,000, your credit limit will be PHP 8,000 to PHP 9,000, depending on the bank. Banks allow secured credit cardholders to increase their credit limit by depositing an additional amount into their account and requesting the amount to be placed on hold. Because the hold-out deposit serves as collateral, secured credit cards are generally 100% approved (except for cases like an applicant having a delinquent bank account). […]



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Thursday, August 1, 2019

Here’s How This Freelancer Creates a Budget That Works

As a freelance writer, I have a good idea of how much money I’ll bring in every month — but my estimate is rarely perfect. Sometimes I don’t get as many assignments as I had hoped for, and sometimes clients are slow to pay invoices. There are also months where I earn much more than I had expected, and my bank account is temporarily flush with cash. I’ve cataloged assignments completed and money earned publicly, through monthly income reports at The Write Life . But what I don’t often dig into is how I budget as a freelancer. I’ve been freelancing since 2012, so I know a lot about how to handle the irregular cash flow that comes with the freelance life. Instead of getting a paycheck every two weeks, some clients pay every month, some clients pay every week and some clients pay 30 days after an article is published — which can be three or four months from the date of article submission! Having nightmares about creating a budget? We’ve got your back! Get great tips delivered straight to your inbox. How to Budget as a Freelancer Here are the budgeting tips I’ve developed to help me survive life as a freelance writer. 1. Know Your Monthly Overhead Cost The most important thing you can do as a freelancer — or as any person with an irregular income — is to know your monthly personal overhead cost. This is the money it takes to pay your rent, pay your bills and buy essential items like food and medication. If you have other essential costs such as car payments or daycare, include them in your overhead as well. Leave out money for clothes, entertainment and other non-essentials. My monthly overhead cost is $1,500. This is the amount of money it takes for me to get from one month to the next and pay the bills, keep a roof over my head and put food on the table . If you have irregular income, you must always bring in more than your monthly overhead cost. Every single month, even the lean ones. If you’re not bringing in more than your monthly overhead, you need to focus on earning more money — and luckily you’re on the right site for that! 2. Know When You Usually Get Paid Now that you know your monthly overhead cost, it’s time to figure out when you usually get paid. If you’ve been working with freelance clients for a while, you’ve probably figured out their payment patterns. I have one client who pays me every week, and the rest of my clients tend to pay around the 15th of the month or the end of the month. Even though the amounts in these payments vary, I can expect a little bit of money to come in every week and two big chunks of money to arrive around the 15th and the 30th. Knowing when you usually get paid helps you plan how to stretch […]



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