Having trouble finding a job? Try freelancing.

September 23, 1:17 PMLA Workplace Issues ExaminerPeggy Castellano

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You sent your resume to dozens of job postings. So far not one, single recruiter has responded. Sounds like your September job search is going to be as disappointing as previous months.

Sound familiar? With the national unemployment percentage at 9.7%, many job seekers are facing the same regimen of applying for jobs only to be greeted by disappointing news.  With so many Americans unemployed it's no surprise that recruiters don't have the manpower to get back to every candidate who applies for a job. Some resumes aren't even reviewed, and for the few that are, only a small number actually land an interview. The reality is, most people don't receive any sort of an acknowledgement letter that their resumes actually made it into the hands of a true decision maker.

For those of you tired of the black hole of job boards, there are some alternatives. Consider freelancing. The concept may seem a little frightening at first, because freelancing doesn't offer the usual employee benefits and other perks associated with being an employee, but there are a great many other benefits with being a freelance worker.  Freelancing may provide interim employment income while you are seeking permanent opportunities. It will also allow you to work for yourself while you select projects that appeal to you that utilize your skills and strengths. And many freelance projects will allow you to work from home, which has a definite appeal to some workers.

There are a few freelance websites to choose from, but I recommend two in particular, for different reasons.  First, I recommend www.ifreelance.com. You have to pay a small fee to register, but then you can set up a personal profile and place a bid on any of the projects that appeal to your experience and skill sets. The typical projects look for the following kinds of skills and/or individuals:

• Writers, Editors, and Illustrators of books
• Seo Experts
• On-line Marketers
• Sales Experts
• Editors
• Magazine Article Writers and Blogger Writers
• Web Designers
• and many other project opportunities

The site is easy to use, and once you are are registered they'll notify you when a new project is listed that meets your profile criteria.  Most of the projects are focused on writing and editing or web activities, but you will find other opportunities if you dig deep.

A second site I highly recommend is www.guru.com.  Here, too, freelancers must register their profile and pay a small fee to join, then they can bid on a wide range of open projects.  This site has a broader range of project opportunities covering more fields than ifreelance. At guru job bidders can browse through numerous projects looking for talent in the following fields:

• Business Consulting
• Administrative Support
• Graphic Design
• Legal
• Finance
• Writing, Editing, Illustration
• Marketing
• Photography, Video
• Websites
• and other fields

I've used both sites and I have not been disappointed with the quality, the technology, and the turnaround on compensation for services rendered. The sites are user-friendly and easy to navigate through to establish a personal account and user profile. Aside from the range of freelance projects, the most significant difference between www.guru.com and www.ifreelance.com is that job bidders can see the bids of their competitors at ifreelance, although the dollar bids are sealed.  However, you can see the written proposals which I found very interesting and helped me improve my own bidding process. Both sites offer something unique for all freelancers, so I strongly recommend both to anyone interested in exploring freelance or contract opportunities.

The employers posting jobs on the sites have been very impressive. New freelancers should always look out for their best interests when applying for independent work assignments, but I believe you can feel comfortable when applying for work with these two sites. As a Human Resources professional and a user of both sites, I have found only quality resources, referrals, and treatment by the job hosts. Compensation for services has never been an issue.

So if you are frustrated with the typical job search campaign, do yourself a favor and check out the freelancing option. If you'd like further advice, write to me. I'd be happy to give you additional tips for freelance success.

peggycastellano@yahoo.com

Resources:

Department of Labor - August Unemployment Statistics 9.7%