Jobs on Shine

Final post, but still working this new economy

nospam@example.com ()

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.

Facebook: Are your friends trusted sources or naggy noisemakers?

nospam@example.com ()

People have been worrying for a long time about mixing business and pleasure on Facebook. Much of the conversation centers around how much of their personal lives people want to

How to critique someone's writing

nospam@example.com ()

As a person who makes my living with words, I'm regularly asked to read people's writing and give feedback. A business plan. A resume. Website copy. A grad school application essay. A profile for an online dating site. I usually say some variation of yes to the request. But giving feedback…