Today I was on a work-at-home forum that I go to a few times a week to see what people are talking about and to see what freelance writing work potential clients may post. Sometimes there are nuggets in there, but mostly there are other freelancers looking for work too and chatting about different things.
I saw that this one person had posted a question about finding new work and seemed to be somewhat disheartened at there being nothing new available from the work-at-home employers. I started commenting on it, and my reply got so long that I decided to post my answer here on my blog as well, maybe helping someone else out in the process.
Here’s the poster’s question:
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I think the jobs are definitely out there, but they’re just becoming harder to find and nail down. Employers are getting more specific in their requirements and asking for more advanced skills. Plus, the competition is way more fierce than it was 5 or 10 years ago, which means employers have a wider selection than they once did.
I would say to anyone who’s looking for work and who wants to stay in the running and relevant to any market;
- Network and make connections with people. Stay active on LinkedIn and Facebook, places where you’re likely to find and connect with decision makers.
- Stay active and participate in forums, like this one on WAHM. There are a lot of potential employers who sometimes dip in and out of here, and you never know what they may be looking for.
- Keep your skills sharpened and learn new ones if need be. Learn new software or training programs. Many online courses are free so take advantage of those resources when you can. Adjust with things as they change. My Career Quizzes is a really good site for taking tests and sharpening your skill set.
- Stay abreast with industry news, developments, changes, etc. (i.e., Google updates, new company press releases, set a Google alert for a certain topic). Knowing some things will give you indicators on who’s hiring, who’s growing, downsizing, etc.
- Update your resume and adjust it as needed. You can make a 1-page online resume or bio to send to potential employers. I always send my resume via my freelance writing link to potential clients and it has really worked for me. This can save you a lot of time when you want to apply for a job right away.
- Tell people that you are looking for work, need work, want to work, available for work…you get the idea. Don’t become a nuisance, but just keep it out there that if someone needs work, you’re ready!
Also, one of the best ways to find work is while you’re already working. Don’t neglect your employee duties while you’re on the clock, but always keep an eye and ear open for work when you don’t “need” it. Employers often don’t hire people right away (interviews, background checks, testing, drug screening, etc.), so it could conceivably take weeks and weeks for you to get the job, if you get it! Always keep your options open and something working for you in the background. Good luck!
