Job Listings – June 26, 2007
Having Standards
The toughest thing you will ever face in your freelance career is that person staring back at you in the mirror. That’s right – you’re your own worst obstacle. Why? Because more often than not, you’re willing to compromise your standards in order to secure the job. I’m here to say stop it. Stop it right now.
Look – if you want to earn big bucks at freelancing, you have to stop accepting low-paying jobs. Sure, that check for a hundred bucks helps when the gas bill is due, but in the long run you’re settling. You’re allowing yourself to take crap jobs that you know full well are crap jobs, but you justify them by saying they’re “easy money.” Really? Easy money? I see them as roadblocks to the real money. While you’re working on that web log that pays a buck a post, you’re not looking for or securing that job that pays a buck a word or better. Also, it’s not exactly a huge bonus to have some of these jobs listed on your resume. Which would read better to you – health article writer for an article mill or article writer for Top Health Magazine? How about catalogue description writer versus writer of corporate white papers?
I understand why you take the low-paying stuff. I’ve been on the side of where’s-my-rent-money-coming-from. But if you change your mindset and put a bit more faith in your ability to find and secure real gigs, it will happen.
With that in mind, take a look at some of these gigs below. Mind you, I cannot tell you how much each pays. I cannot decide for you how little is too little. I can bring you just a few more options to choose from. Good luck with the search for bigger and better.
Onsite Freelancer – Hoboken/Manhattan
Freelance Education Writers
Writer/Editor for Men’s Site
Web Writers
Freelance Proofreader
Editor for lifestyle magazine
Women’s Lifestyle Blogger
Freelance Article Writer
Employee Comm Writer/Shmoozer
Real Estate Ad Writer
Writer for Shopping Venues
Lori:
I also think (hope) that if enough writers refuse the low-paying jobs, just maybe (maybe) some of the people offering them will rethink what they’re paying and start to offer something more reasonable.
(One can hope.)
Carol
From your lips to freelancers’ ears, Carol!
Lori, great advice. I think at some point in our careers we’ve all settled for less than we knew we should have been making. Not only does that type of situation make us feel bad about ourselves but it also hurts other freelancers.
Keep preaching, sister; I believe, I believe.