Freelance Friday

Tips to make working with customers easier so that your freelance business can run smoothly

Choose your customers wisely-There are just some customers that aren’t worth your time. They may have great jobs and great opportunities but if the stress they cause you is unbearable, it’s not worth it. Don’t be so picky that you don’t have any customers but be okay with sometimes admitting that a certain customer isn’t right for you. It

Let the customer be right-Even when the customer is wrong, the customer is right. This doesn’t mean that you let him or her walk all over you but that you’re polite and understanding. A bad reputation can do more damage to your freelance career than you can imagine so you want to make it easy for the customer to like you.

Set appropriate boundaries-The customer might be right but that doesn’t mean they get to control you. Set certain work hours for email and answering phone calls and let your customers know that you’ll be working with them only during those times.

Be creative-Often what causes difficulties in relating with customer is the fact that many people are stuck in the same old model of customer-contractor relations. Break out of the mold, be yourself and be genuinely interested in forming creative relationships.

Get to know your customers-You don’t need to mix business and pleasure but knowing a little bit about your customers can help you to feel more comfortable interacting with them. You’ll like your job more and they’ll like you more.

http://www.allfreelance.com/freelancing_blog/2007/07/02/working-with-customers-as-a-freelancer/

Tip of the Day

Career Advancement tips

Ask for more-Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed.

Sharpen your people skills-Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and coworkers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.

Be innovative-Never be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business ideas to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

Find a mentor-Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.

Sell yourself-Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it — especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally.

Keep learning-A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/careers-career-development/11128-1.html

Freelance Friday

Freelancing while working full time ( Moonlighting)

Keep a Time / Activity LogIf you are going to work a full time job and keep up a productive freelance business, then keeping a time and activity log is essential. With an activity log, you will be able to identify black holes in your schedule that can be turned into productive work time.

Create a Daily ScheduleNow that you have eliminated your time wasters, you should know how much time you have available to you every day. In order to stay on top of your work, it is a good idea to write down everything that needs to be accomplished on a daily basis. Write these activities down by priority level and set a time limit for each task.

Eat While You Work or at Least Skip Eating OutTaking the time to go out to eat is a huge waste of time that could be spent getting your work done.I suggest taking 20-30 minutes to eat your lunch and then utilize the second 30 minutes to get some work done.

Utilize What You Have on HandNot everyone has access to the Internet or even a computer at their full time job. If this is the case for you, then don’t worry. I am sure there are other things that need to get done that don’t require a computer. Taking the time to brainstorm how you are going to go about your client’s project is always a great way to spend your time. This might include sketching down ideas or using mind mapping strategies.

Utilize Your DowntimeIf your job has downtime periods, then by all means take advantage of this free time. If you employer allows you to use the Internet during downtimes, then you are lucky and should take advantage of this for your productivity.

Avoid DistractionsThings such as the Internet, email, phone calls, TV, and friends are distractions from your work. You will need to let them know that things are busy right now and that you will give them a call when your workload lessens. As for the Internet, email, phone calls, and TV, we all know that these are all time-user-uppers. Try to only check your personal emails once or twice a day.

http://www.allfreelance.com/freelancing_blog/2009/01/11/getting-started-freelancing-while-keeping-full-time-work-position/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freelanceblog2+%28Freelance+Blog+2%29

Tip of the Day

The Star Approach to interviewing

Situation
Describe the situation in a concise and informative manner. The problem or situation could be from an education, employment, sport or volunteer situation.

Task
Explain your role. were you working on your own? were you a supervisor? working as a member of a team? what did you need to do in order to resolve the problem?

Action
What was the action you undertook? what skills did you use to resolve the situation? Did you use any skills you had learned during your training? things you learned from school?

Result
What was the result? was everyone happy? Did it result in any change? Were there any further conflicts? What was the feedback from supervisors and colleagues on how you handled the situation? What did you learn from the situation? Would you do anything differently if faced with a similar situation again?

Loyalist College Career Centre

Work Abroad Wednesday

Tips to get a job Abroad

As a college student what did you usually do during summer? Are you spending it on the beach with your family or friends? why not try something unique, memorable and worthy? Working abroad during summer is the best time to do it. Work abroad is a great way to travel great places, learn languages and new culture aside from earning. This is a great opportunity to develop your personality, being more confident, self-reliant and independent; and a great opportunity as well to explore the world while earning. If you think you can manage working abroad despite the possible risks considering the following is important.

■Proper place to stay—this is very important. If you think you don’t have the proper place to stay don’t risk it.

■Payment details—try to find out how will you get paid and how are you going to pay the taxes. Working abroad as a foreign student doesn’t mean you are exempted in paying the taxes. Because wherever you go whatever places you visit or work with, you are accountable to pay for your taxes.

■Look for someone to travel with—if you think you can’t travel alone because you are scared of some unexpected happenings, traveling with someone.


http://www.workexperienceabroad.com/blog/index.php/work-abroad-tips/work-experience-abroad-during-summer/

Tip of the Day

Interview while dining tips

What to WearDress professionally for your dinner interview, just as you would for an interview in the office. The venue has changed, but you are still interviewing for a job and it's important to make a good impression.

Mind Your MannersPlease and thank you go a long way in making a good impression. That means thanking the host or hostess who seats you, the waitstaff, and your host. Follow up with a thank you note to the interviewer which reiterates your interest in the job.

Remember Your Table MannersRemember what you mom told you about not chewing and talking at the same time, keeping your elbows off the table, and sitting up straight? Table manners are important when you're dining with a prospective employer. Don't be too casual and do pay attention to good table manners.

Engage in a ConversationDining interviews aren't one sided. They are an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you and vice versa. It's important to be engaged in a conversation with the interviewer and whomever else is there. As well as responding to questions about yourself, ask questions, and carry on a conversation. The more comfortable and relaxed everyone is, the better chance you have of moving to the next round.

To Drink or Not to DrinkThere are two schools of thought when it comes to alcohol and interviewing. The first is that it is important to not drink and to keep your wits about you. The other is that it could be awkward if the interviewer orders a bottle of wine and everyone at the table, other than you, has a glass. Of course, if you don't drink alcohol there is absolutely no need to drink just because the host is drinking. If you choose to drink alcohol, don't have more than a glass of wine or so and be very careful to stay focused on the conversation.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviews/qt/intervieweat.htm
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Mentoring Monday

Benefits Of Being A mentor

Make a Positive Impact. Working with a protege allows mentors the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the professional development of less experienced employees. It’s a win/win situation that will enhance both the individuals involved and the organization to which they belong.

Shape the Future. By volunteering to serve as a mentor, you are helping to shape the future. Your suggestions and ideas will have a lasting and broad impact when shared with a protege.

Refine Interpersonal Skills. Mentors will be challenged to develop their own interpersonal skills while working with proteges. Skills such as communication, employee motivation, and human relations will be enhanced. Those with experience as a mentor will be more valuable to their organizations.

Set Goals. By helping another employee establish and achieve meaningful and challenging goals, mentors themselves will learn the skills and value of effective goal setting techniques.

Personal Contact. Mentors relate on a personal level in what is sometimes a large and impersonal organization. Mentors add valuable personal contributions that serve to enrich the work environment of their fellow employees.

Gain Career Perspective. Mentors will gain perspective on their own goals and performance. Mentors will also be able to measure their own achievements and contributions made to their organization.

http://www.usphsengineers.org/Mentoring/mentorinfo.htm#benefits
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Freelance Friday

Brand yourself

One of the first things you will need to do as a freelancer is decide on a brand for yourself. It might be your name or something more grand. Whatever it is you will need a business identity to work under and for clients to know you as.

Along with your new name you will need a logo, business cards and a website. Remember that you are now a business and all your materials need to be polished and professional. It’s nice to be personal, but don’t let your hobbies, rants or photos into the picture, particularly on your website.

If you’re not a designer yourself, invest the money in someone who knows what they are doing as the difference is immeasurable and the impact of looking professional can make the crucial difference when your potential client hasn’t yet had the chance to know you by your quality of work.

http://freelanceswitch.com/start/a-comprehensive-guide-to-starting-your-freelance-career/
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Tip of the Day

Practice Interviewing

Taking the time to review typical interview questions you will probably be asked during a job interview will help give you a framework for your responses and will help calm your nerves, because you won't be scrambling for an answer while you're in the interview hot seat. Practice interviewing with a friend or family member ahead of time and it will be much easier when you're actually in a job interview.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviews/tp/jobinterviewtips.htm
http://www.google.ca/imgres?

Work abroad Wednesday

Coping With Culture Shock

Many people who travel or live overseas experience what is commonly referred to as “culture shock.” Although its intensity varies from one individual to another, most people experience a period of adjustment.

During the first stage, often described as the "honeymoon," most encounters are perceived as exciting and positive. But in the second stage, known as "culture shock," foreigners feel a sense of dislocation and general unease. Symptoms include:

•feelings of anger, discomfort, confusion, frustration or irritability and loss of a sense of humour;
•withdrawal, spending excessive amounts of time alone, spending time only With other foreigners and avoiding contact with locals;
•negative feelings about the people and culture of the host country;
•compulsive eating and drinking or a need for excessive amounts of sleep; and
•boredom, fatigue and an inability to concentrate or work effectively.
During the third and final stage, called "adjustment," foreigners start to accept their new surroundings and make a compromise between the “honeymoon” and “culture shock” phases.

To cope with culture shock, learn to recognize its symptoms.

Also be aware that you might experience “reverse culture shock” after living abroad. Be prepared for a period of readjustment when you return Back Home.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/abroad_a-letranger/culture-shock_choc-culturel-eng.asp
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Tip of the Day

Look for work options that allow you to use your natural way of Working

Identify and find work activities that are engaging and satisfying. For example, are you at your best when you are creating, organizing, serving customers, researching, solving problems, convincing others, or coordinating people or resources? make sure you are having fun and look forward to going to work everyday.

http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/10-tips-for-finding-your-ideal-career/
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Mentoring Monday

Tips for Finding a good mentor

•Research the field and find out about the people who are in it.
•Create a list of people who seem like good fits for you.
•Start contacting them slowly at first - a polite and formal email, for example - and see who responds.
•Try to form a relationship, and get to know their personalities even as you try to exhibit yours. Like so many other things, when you find the right mentor, you'll know it.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/careeradviceresources/a/career-mentor.htm
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Freelance Friday

Work on your computer skills


You must be able to work independently and meet project deadlines to successful at freelancing and to actually make money online from it. You are the boss in this job and show your skills and qualifications that you have. For doing these jobs, all that you need to have a little bit knowledge about computers and the Internet. And for some jobs it is a little bit high like operating systems and software skills.

This computer literacy will decide what freelance job categories you are qualified for. You can join to number of job sites to bid for freelance jobs to make money online. Lots of web sites are offering these services for free of cost, once you win a bid and accept the project; you need to pay few dollars that you can pay for monthly or yearly basis.

http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/freelance-jobs-the-best-tips-to-make-money-online-1612954.html

Tip of the Day

Dressing for a job interview

In addition to following the general rules for dressing for work,this advice may help when preparing for a job interview:

•Adhere to the employer's dress code: find out whether it's formal (suit and tie) or casual by asking around or by observing employees arriving for work.

•Dress slightly better than you would if you were an employee. For example, if the dress code is very casual, you should take it up a notch.

•Cover up tattoos and remove body jewelry until you know whether they are acceptable at that particular workplace.

http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/dressingforwork/a/dress_success.htm

Work Abroad Wednesday

Consider your Finances

Think about the financial aspect of moving abroad very seriously. Even if you have a job lined up for when you arrive or you intend to bum around and don’t care if you earn all that much, you will have an initial outlay at least for accommodation. So you will need some money behind you before you even leave home and what’s more, you should always have a little in reserve for a flight home in case it doesn’t work out and you don’t like living and working overseas.

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/ten-working-abroad-tips

Tip of the Day

Gather Evidence of your Achievements

Always try and gather information of Times when you have done a job particularly well and received positive feedback. This may be letters or emails from your boss or colleagues praising your work, sales or budget figures, or samples of work you have produced.
Not only will this boost your confidence and remind you of your successes, you will have these examples at your fingertips in interviews, or in that all important appraisal when you want to impress your boss.

http://www.aboutcareereducation.com/pages/practical-building.php