  |
|
|
|
Career Plans- Get There From HereHow To Take Your Career To The Level You Want
A reader asks for advice on how to further her career to the path she has set for herself.
Note: all letters are published as is, only names are changed to protect the innocents! How To Get There From HereA reader asks for help in planning a career - she knows where she wants to be, but how can she get there from where she is now? Q.> Hello Paym, I'm writing to you from my job, which I hate ha-ha. It's not difficult and my co-workers are cool to work with (for the most part) however, I'm 24 years old and this has nothing to do with what I want to do careerwise. My main goal is to end up freelancing. I'm extremely creative and love sharing information with people. I have a BA in Public Relations and I have a laid back but very outgoing personality. In 10 years I see myself freelance writing, indulging in photography and traveling. I tried to get a job at a publishing house to scoop up contacts but since I've been out of school for 2 years and haven't worked PR since then, it's hard for me to get jobs. Plus the economy isn't too great for job hunting. My resume is pretty impressive. Any ideas or tips for how to get to where I want to be? Thank you! - J Getting Ahead Of The Career GameA.> Well J - you are well ahead of the career game than most! You already know where you to be, now it's just a matter of getting there! As you mention you want to do freelance writing - the time to start is NOW! There are many opportunities on the web as well as magazines that are always looking for freelance work. Be prepared though, most of the print industry does not pay until publication. This means your story, if accepted by one magazine, cannot be promoted to another unless the first magazine lets it go (which is doubtful) AND you still wait until it is published for your money. Web publishing is a bit different: many sites such as Helium will offer you a place to promote your writing, but payment is based on factors such as hits and votes. One of the best places to start your freelance career is here at Suite101 - read the article Consider Becoming A Suite Writer. For photography - you might want to start with stock.xchng - at least you can see how many hits you are getting for your photographs, and get your name out there. If you have any hobbies, a great way to also break into the industry is to write an article accompanied by photos and send them into a local hobby magazine. It's a good idea though to first approach the magazine with a proposal of your idea - and always ask about their payment policy. Don't forget to check out Craigslist too - and not just in your own city. Freelance can be considered telecommuting - so check in other cities and states/provinces to see what pops up for telecommute or freelance. Consider starting by becoming a CW for Suite - it's a great way to get your name out there. Once you become a Feature Writer, you get business cards, leads, contacts - it's great - and a great place to begin a freelance career! __________________________________________________________________ Copyright May 23, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.
The copyright of the article Career Plans- Get There From Here in Career Planning is owned by Paym Bergson. Permission to republish Career Plans- Get There From Here in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
