Freelance on Shine

Final post, but still working this new economy

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When I started this blog in April, I knew it had an expiration date. I signed a short-term contract. I referred to myself as a guest blogger on Yahoo! Even the title, "Working the New Economy," suggested that this was a project of limited duration. After all, how long could this "new economy" last?

Now that it's time to wrap up, it's pretty clear that the new economy has become the new normal. And I can't say that I have figured out exactly how to work it. Unemployment has now topped 10%. Counting those who are underemployed, it's closer to 20%. Mass layoffs are still happening, including a round at BusinessWeek last week where several of my most respected colleagues were shown the door.

One defining feature of this not-so-new-anymore economy is that we will all need to flexible and nimble. I've worked independently for nearly a decade. And now it seems that my usual mix of contract work, freelance relationships, consulting and other kinds of affiliations has become standard in what Tina Brown so aptly dubbed the gig economy.

How to break into freelancing

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I can’t go a day without talking to someone about how to get started as a freelancer, consultant or entrepreneur. Some folks are going solo by necessity; others are betting on themselves over employers in a market where jobs are no more stable than gigs. I spent the weekend with my cousin and her fiance who had both been laid off from jobs in adventure travel. We brainstormed about how they could build careers as entrepreneurs or consultants.

A few days later I had lunch with a colleague who is in the midst of a negotiation with her boss about moving from employee to consultant because she thinks she’d have more opportunities if she diversified her client base rather than remain at one company.

Those conversations came in handy this morning when I was interviewed by Tory Johnson on how to break into freelancing for a video series promoting her new book, Fired to Hired, which will be published in early August.

Here's a summary of our chat:

Dip into freelancing while keeping your job. Start by quietly spreading the word that you are available for projects and taking on assignments that don't present a conflict with your current job. The goal is to test the waters to see whether your services are in demand and to have at least one or two clients lined up once you're completely out on your own.

Ever Considered an Adult Internship?

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Have you ever interviewed for a position that you weren’t sure what the job entailed? Have you ever asked the question, “What do you see as a typical day in this position” during the interview? If so, did you get an answer that you wanted to hear? I asked that question a…

How to write a press release that gets noticed

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I'm not a PR person, or a career coach; I'm just a journalist who gets a lot of press releases. A LOT of press releases. If I had a dime for every press release I deleted or threw in the recycling bin, I wouldn't need a second job.

I've had quite a few people ask me for advice on pitching products or events to journalists, and I found myself giving the same bits of advice over and over again -- so, this time, I wrote them down. Here are 10 tips for crafting a press release that will actually get read, from someone who is on the receiving end:

Finding the perfect part-time work

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Part-time work is on the rise, and it's no surprise. People are taking on extra jobs to make up for hours or income lost, an out-of-work partner, or even a business facing hard times. But part-time jobs can me more than a stop-gap money generator. They can also be a training ground for career reinvention or an audition for a full-time position with both parties getting a chance to try before buying.

Before you start searching for a part-time job, there are a few things to consider, especially if you already have a job and you'll be layering part-time work on top of that.

Are you really independent? (Independent Contractor vs. Employee status)

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Work Matters! by Diane Faulkner on DianeFaulkner.Blogspot.com Wednesday, February 18, 2009 In the past two days,…

Coworking workspaces: Work for yourself, but not alone

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Based on my reading across the laidoff-scape, it appears the idea of working for yourself is the next-next thing in 2009. Enough of working for the man and being at the mercy of an employer who can hire and fire you. But what if you miss the camaraderie of the workplace? Community plays a big part…

Visit Me!

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Hello all! I will try and keep this thing updated, but who knows, we will see. I am a graphic designer and also do some web design as well. If you are looking for any help or need some stuff designed for your business, feel free to contact me. I am located in Jacksonville FL, but with the net, can…