Have you ever been on LinkedIn these days?
I’ve been listening to plenty of tales about ultra-long job interview course of steps, a number of individuals concerned, and on the finish of all of the hoops candidates undergo, they’re informed they didn’t get the job.
Wh-what?
I discover this loopy.
I imply, I haven’t had a standard job for about eleven years, however nonetheless, I don’t recall a job interview going like that.
I suppose with COVID-19, there are extra individuals needing jobs. And when there are extra individuals vying for a similar distant job, there are extra rigorous evaluation standards to observe.
It’s no surprise recruiters, human useful resource individuals, and advertising and marketing managers are concerned in hiring.
So, in the event you’re fed up with lengthy job interviews, possibly there’s an alternative choice on the market – specifically, freelance work on-line!
However first, let’s unwrap this mess.
The Lengthy Technique of a Job Interview
Amber Burgess is a content material supervisor searching for a job.
Nicely, she turned fed-up and let down after making an attempt to land her dream job.
“I used to be despatched a rejection e mail that they have been not going to maneuver ahead with me as a candidate.
I spent 5 weeks making use of to this job! The method included:
- A 1hr kickoff interview with the chief of workers
- A 1-week task to judge my skillset
- A 1hr interview with the hiring supervisor that included additional work on the finished task
- A 1hr interview with an information scientist that included an train task throughout the interview that I used to be not made conscious could be part of the interview
- A 1hr interview with a product supervisor that included an train task throughout the interview that I used to be not made conscious could be part of the interview”
Speak about exhaustive!
5 weeks of all of this resulted in completely no job for Amber.
And the kicker in all of this?
All through this course of, she was inspired and given optimistic suggestions on her work and energy.
Is that this prolonged job interview course of regular these days?
However that’s not all.
An increasing number of individuals are getting fired from their jobs.
If you happen to search YouTube for “I bought fired,” you’ll see younger individuals getting fired from company jobs.
And this coincides with the information you’ve in all probability been listening to about sure sectors – tech, for instance – and the way huge corporations are shedding huge quantities of individuals.
However The Distant Job Interview Course of Is Worse
I not too long ago shared my ideas on seeing “faux” writing jobs throughout LinkedIn and job boards.
It’s ludicrous, and what’s worrying is that determined freelancers are falling for this.
These faux jobs say they’re freelance writing jobs, however they aren’t.
They’re only a common 9-5 worker job.
Freelance content material author Dana Yewbank observed this odd distant job advert.
“That is the wildest “freelance” job posting I’ve seen but!
One of many largest on-line retailers within the WORLD is outwardly hiring “fully-remote freelance content material writers” who…
- work full time, 9 – 5 EST
- can enroll in a healthcare plan
- receives a commission effectively under the present trade customary
Y’all, that is BONKERS.
What number of occasions should we are saying it?
THIS. IS. NOT. A. FREELANCE. POSITION!”
Dana goes on to speak about how freelancing is totally different from conventional employment.
In her publish, she explains that freelancers are taxed considerably greater than common staff.
Which means that whereas doing the identical work as a full-time worker, you may pay as much as 30% extra in taxes out of your earnings.
Additionally, freelancers don’t receives a commission time without work, holidays, declare advantages, have sick go away, and many others..
That’s why freelancers have to make sufficient cash and have sufficient purchasers to afford these items.
I can take the complete summer season off or work if I’m sick (if I need to) and take the afternoon off or Fridays off.
If you happen to’re concerned with freelance writing work, let’s see the way to get some work!
The Interview Course of for a Freelance Writing Job is Simple
Getting employed as a contract author is fairly easy.
There are three predominant methods you should use:
- Job boards and job websites
- Chilly Pitching
- LinkedIn Networking
However earlier than we talk about these ways, think about how straightforward it was for me to land considered one of my current gigs.
I get an inquiry about an organization concerned with hiring me and asking about my charges.
I gave him my charges, after which he requested me a few subject I may write about.
From there, I wrote and submitted the publish, and so they paid me.
There was no dragged-out job interview course of, Zoom calls (though some corporations do that for hiring a contract author), and just one contact particular person.
So, if need no complications to realize a distant job, let’s take a look at these methods to land a consumer.
1. Job Boards and Job Websites
Are there particular job boards devoted to writing jobs? YES!
For instance, Running a blog Professional curates running a blog, freelance writing, content material writing, copywriting, and enhancing jobs for on-line companies.
As a brand new freelance author, these are straightforward writing jobs that you may apply to.
The one catch is that the majority of them aren’t that high-paying, however you must begin someplace, proper?
Go forward and go to a couple of job boards, reminiscent of Problogger, Superpath, and Writers Work, to see what writing jobs you have an interest in.
For instance, over on Problogger, right here’s a scriptwriting job for YouTube movies.
Every writing job would require totally different {qualifications} and necessities.
For this gig, a CV or cowl letter and a “brief path,” which I presume is “brief trial.”
Most corporations are tremendous with particular writing samples you’ve revealed.
I wouldn’t write a brief trial pattern for a corporation. As an alternative, I might current my portfolio and transfer on in the event that they don’t need to take care of me.
You need to notice that many of those companies have but to work with freelancers, so that they deal with us like staff and do worker issues as an alternative of freelance issues.
It’s as much as us to indicate them the best way!
2. Chilly Pitching
Chilly pitching refers to contacting corporations that aren’t in search of freelance writers.
You method them along with your LOI or pitch and await a response.
Sometimes, chilly pitching means sending out dozens of pitches earlier than you hear again from a lead.
In February, I focussed on chilly pitching and LinkedIn networking and acquired a response from a chilly pitch I despatched.
A response requested me to do a fast video about why I wished to jot down for this firm.
I discovered this uncommon however didn’t thoughts since I’ve two YouTube channels and am used to video recording myself!
After doing that video, I now choose doing this over sending an e mail!
Chilly pitching is a course of I may very well be extra profitable at, and that’s okay since I’m way more profitable with lead technology (having purchasers come to me).
However, as I’m a course creator and assist new freelance writers, I made a decision to ensure I can land consumer work in different methods, which I can!
This video sealed the deal, and I’ve already submitted my first content material article to them.
3. LinkedIn Networking
LinkedIn is a powerhouse platform for locating writing jobs.
Keep in mind that whereas it’s a good suggestion to construct your model on LinkedIn by posting persistently and fascinating with others, you also needs to steadiness this with connecting with the correct individuals and asking for freelance work.
It’ll take time to develop your presence on LinkedIn and your means to attach with individuals (relying on what tier they’re on).
When you construct up your profile and model, you’ll get freelance jobs in your feed every day.
I simply opened my LinkedIn account, and this job was the primary one in my feed.
It’s also possible to search LinkedIn’s job part, nevertheless it’s hit-and-miss for me. Many of the gigs are full-time and distant, not freelance.
The factor about LinkedIn is networking.
Join with as many content material leads, managers, and editors as doable and interact with their content material.
Over time, LinkedIn will present up for you, and also you’ll discover work rapidly.
Able to Grow to be a Freelance Author?
If you happen to’re fed up with the prolonged job interview course of, why not attempt freelancing?
Take a look at these 100 sources that will help you begin this journey!