Marketing Yourself as a Freelancer with Social Media

Marketing Yurself as a Freelancer with Social MediaMarketing Yourself as a Freelancer with Social MediaAnother day, another early morning answering emails, taking one-off phone calls and parking in your local coffee shop in order to get a few things done. If youre one of the growing numbers professionals that are a part of the freelance movement, you know the drill, and the pain, that can come along with working for yourself. Sure, the perks of not having to answer to a corporate hierarchy are amazing. But the downsides, like having to listen to your seatmate recount via phone (much too loudly) the play by play of their blind date from the night before or having to trommel up business in increasingly creative ways, can be a bitdaunting.At Simply Hired, however, par for the course has never been our cup of tea. If youre striking out on your own there are plenty of ways to market your skills, regardless of the specialty area of expertise. Want to learn more? Read on for our expert advi ce on how to market yourself as a freelancer on social media. Facebook The platform may have taken a few hits in recent days, but Facebook remains the venue of choice for just about anyone, and there mother and grandmother too. From selfies to shameless pet pics, Facebook is a great place to share whats new and exciting about your personal life. If youre the work from home type, Facebook is also an excellent platform for drumming up extra business.Facebook pages are free and knocking one out for your personal business takes no more than a few moments and the patience to get through an instructional video or two. In plus-rechnen to your own space to market your activities, sharing your professional aspirations with your social circle is a great way to help spread the word. Maybe aunt Mildreds co-worker is in need of a photographer for her daughters upcoming wedding. Or maybe your cousin Kim needs cupcakes whipped up special for her sons one year birthday bonanza. Whatever the event, Facebook is a great tool for helping others discover your professional passion if simply due to the sheer numbers of people who use the service. YouTubeIf youre of the impression that YouTube is just the place for pirated tv shows or music videos from that band you used to follow in high school, think again. Businesses of all kinds pay big money to make professional, highly targeted YouTube videos in order to help promote your brand. If youre a freelancer looking for business, theres no reason you shouldnt be doing the same.A quick video that highlights your skills, shows off a product or otherwise promotes your individual freelance skills is a great way to drum up business. Try demonstrating a few minutes of your craft or speaking to your customers about packages, promotions or your range of offerings. Videos create a personal interaction thats hard to mimic in other formats. Use this opportunity to sell just what makes you, and your freelance skills, unique in order to increase re venue and exposure. TwitterWho says you cant make a BIG impact in a small space? Twitter is an increasingly popular venue for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Start out by following relevant movers and shakers in your field. Retweet a few of their relevant posts and try to interact to drum up a following. Once youve managed to attract some attention, use Twitter as a succinct way to get your message across. Followers on the platform love to hear a quick word about how youre progressing in your studio or in your newest project. Have an online shop or sell goods that people can score deals on? Twitter is a great place to share a quick coupon code which, in turn, will get people paying more attention to your feed.Social media gets a bad wrap in the professional world, but theres a reason that some of Wall Streets biggest and brightest are increasingly using the platform to grow and expand. Utilized well, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media sites can help promote and gr ow your freelance services, helping to maintain your independent lifestyle and ability to work for yourself.

Establishing Confidence When Interviewing for an Internship

Establishing Confidence When Interviewing for an InternshipEstablishing Confidence When Interviewing for an InternshipRecently I have been working directly with a number of students on how to prepare for an internship interview. The interview may be by phone or in-part, but basically preparing for either type of interview is quite similar so we can discuss both all in one sitting. Students who have done a lot of interviewing in the past are generally bedrngnis as stressed about the process but for students who tend to be more introverted or who have not done too many actual interviews, interviewing can be quite a scary experience. Simple Tips I like to begin preparing students for interviewing by offering a few simple tips that I believe will help them. This often includes helping them change their perspective of the entire interviewing process. What often helps students in preparing is letting them know that they will also be interviewing the company as much as the company will be interviewing them. If they plan and prepare themselves as best they can for the actual interview, the determining factor often comes down to the interviewers impression and how well the interviewer feels that the student will make a good fit for the company. Oftentimes if the company doesnt feel like the student is a good fit for the organization, the student may also find that the culture of the organization is not the right one for them. Taking Control of the Interview My basic advice for students in preparing for an interview is to both begin and end the interview strong. Taking control as you walk in and out of the interview can increase a students chance of getting hired enormously. For example, as you enter the room be sure to give a firm handshake, maintain direct eye contact, smile, and say something like Its very nice to meet you and Id like to thank you for taking the time to meet with me to discuss my candidacy for the summer internship position currently open at Google. On the other hand, as you are leaving you will maintain the same firm handshake, direct eye contact, smile, and say something like, I have thoroughly enjoyed discussing the internship position with you and I know my knowledge, skills, and previous academic and work experiences would make me an excellent candidate for the job. Establishing Confidence Prior to Your Interview Once you feel confident in your non-verbal skills, its time to take a look at how you can prepare answers to interview questions in the most direct and professional manner. To do this you will begin by writing down your knowledge, skills, relevant college coursework, relevant experience, and personal attributes along with why you are the best person for the internship. I always recommend that students write down a list of things that they want the employer to know about them and then find a way to incorporate this information in their answers to whatever the interviewer decides to ask in the interview . What Do You Want the Interviewer to Know About You? As a student preparing for an interview, you will not know exactly what questions the interviewer will be asking. Even so, there are a number of questions you can prepare for that would be very similar to other questions that might be asked. In preparing, be mindful of what you want the interview to know about you. Sample Answer I am a very self-motivated individual and enjoy taking the initiative whether in a classroom or work setting. I pride myself in having a strong work ethic in combination with my excellent communication and interpersonal skills, which have proven invaluable in my courses and previous internship and work experiences. In my Introduction to Business course at my college brde year, I led a group of 5 gruppe members in researching and planning a presentation to a board of executives visiting the class. My summer internship last year gave me the chance to take theory and put it into practice. I not only led the companys social media campaign but was asked to sit in with the VP of the company and present my views on student recruitment and what my thoughts were on the overall commitment the organization made in the local community. I was also a member of my high school basketball team for four years and captain senior year. At my college, I play intramural sports along with committing two hours per week to doing community service in the local community where I live. My ability to work well in a team and individually has contributed greatly to my success. The Importance of Thank You Notes Once youve successfully completed the interviewing process, be sure to send a thank you note within 24 hours to every person that interviewed you. In the note, you might re-iterate your interest in the internship and mention a few key things that you discussed that you really find exciting. Your knowledge and skills may be very similar to other students applying, so a well thought out thank you not e could end up being the last thing that ends up getting you hired. Last but not least, the best piece of advice I can give is practice, practice, practice. You may practice with a career counselor at your college or with a family member of friend. Its important to practice out loud so even if youre practicing on your own, be sure to answer the questions out loud to help better prepare you in voicing your responses at the actual interview.

Gen X Lawyers in the Legal Workplace

in richtung X Lawyers in the Legal WorkplaceGen X Lawyers in the Legal WorkplaceIf theTraditionalistswere the sicher builders, and theBaby Boomerswere the competitive, self-actualizing, workaholics, Generation X is the misunderstood slacker generation. Characteristics of Generation X Generation X welches born between 1965 and 1980, and its members are currently 34 to 49 years old. The least wanted, least parented generation in recent history, Gen X is both 25% smaller than the Baby Boomer generation that preceded it and 25% smaller than the Millennial/Gen Y generation that follows it. Gen X is the product of the economic bust that followed the post-World War II boom, resulting in a generation with lowered expectations, but- arguably- a more realistic understanding of the world than the idealistic Baby Boomers. Gen Xers grew up in a world wheredivorce was becoming normal,women were entering the workplace in record numbers, globalization was accelerating, and downward mobility was commonplace. Workplace loyalty was a relic of the past - Gen Xers knew better than to rely on one company or employer for a lifetime of employment. That simply wasnt going to happen. Because they grew up as the latchkey generation, Gen Xers came to rely on friends as family, and, eventually, demanded work-life balance in ways that were foreign to the workaholic Boomers and Traditionalists, who worked long hours, but were richly rewarded for their efforts. Gen Xers saw things differently- why work long hours and dedicate your life to a single employer when the factory might close and get shipped overseas, or the company might decide to downsize to increase profits? Gen X was also a generation raised on technology, making them potentially a bridge between Boomers and Traditionalists, who tend to view technology with suspicion, and the Millennials, who are so steeped in it that they cant imagine anyonenotknowing how to use the latest gadgets or apps. A typical member of Gen X remember s seeing email and the internet for the first time- and rapidly realizing the possibilities for what it could do (including reducing the need for dreaded face time and meetings). How Gen X Values are Impacting the Legal Workplace When Gen X entered the workplace, they were immediately, and not entirely fairly, stereotyped as slackers. The reality, from the Gen X viewpoint, was simply that they saw through the game, and werent going to work long hours and do what they were told when there was no realistic prospect of advancement. The economy had slowed down dramatically by the early 1970s, andwage growth decoupled from productivity gains, meaning workers werent benefiting from increased productivity as they had in years past. At the same time, inflation and interest rates skyrocketed, as did consumer and student debt. (Student loans almost doubled between 1977 and 1990 and more than 40% of the graduating class of 1990 had a job that didnt require a college degree or no job at all .) Because the Baby Boomer generation was so much larger than Gen X, opportunities for advancement were slim, meaning lower-level employees often had to jump ship to advance. Law firms also closed ranks and upped the requirements for partnership (especially after theAmerican Lawyerstarted openly publishing profits-per-partner numbers in 1985.) Gen X wasnt eager to put in the face time that Boomers and Traditionalists valued, and tried to negotiate new work-life balance options (not entirely successfully, given their relatively small workplace numbers). Gen Xers also found themselves frustrated at the seeming inability of law firms and other legal employers to use technology to streamline work and increase flexibility. These trends have continued, as the newMillennial/Gen Y generationenters the legal workforce and reshapes it in their image.