Life as a Freelancer Archives

Often, when we hear about successful people’s career paths, “I had a mentor” is a response to the question of how they launched. This has, for better or for worse, caused the up-and-comers to think that mentorship is an automatic investment that comes in any job role, company, industry, or LinkedIn connection. As a result, people are mistakenly assigning the role of “Yoda” in their own lives, or worse, feeling let down if they don’t find one, sure that they won’t move forward without apprenticeship.

Although the desire to have someone you admire take interest in your career is valid (and can be very fruitful), there is a strategy for both knowing how to ask for a mentor and knowing what to look for in this person to maximize learning from them.

Even if you can’t control when and how you will become a mentee, here are some key things to consider when asking to learn from the best and the brightest:

Be clear about what you want to learn

There is the age-old saying, “The world isn’t waiting for you.” Just because you’re ready to jump-start your career doesn’t mean that everyone’s attention is geared in your direction. Before reaching out to the person you want to learn from, spend time thinking about the type of work you’d like to be doing, what you’ve learned from the work you’ve already done, and what you believe your innate skillsets to be. Consider the value proposition, “WIIFM (What’s In It For Me),” when reaching out to the person you want to connect with. Ask yourself: What do they get out of your relationship? You need to be able to align your desired growth with your mentor’s needs, keeping in mind that they need to find fulfillment from your relationship as well.

Don’t let your goals get in the way of learning

Being goal-oriented is, of course, important in getting things done or finding success through achievements. However, if you hyper-focus on what your bottom line is, you might just get in the way of what you’re meant to learn. Make sure you keep your mind open and your end-goal in check when working with your mentor so as to not miss the journey for the sake of the destination. It’s also possible that you will need different types of mentors at growing parts of your life.

Make room for their story

Even though you might be enthusiastic about your own pursuits, you must always prioritize learning about how others have gotten to where they are now first. Questions that encourage vulnerability always prompt a more meaningful conversation.

“What did you imagine yourself doing when you graduated college?”
“What experiences most impacted your current path?”
“How do you hope to grow from where you are now?”
“What things do you wish you had done or tried?”

Not only is this helpful in allowing someone to talk about their journey, but it also provides a nuanced perspective that not everything is linear. Especially if you are looking to someone else to provide guidance, it’s helpful to get the full story of what they thought they wanted, how they came to be where they are, and why they do what they do. Like during an interview, people are more likely to find fulfillment in the interaction if they feel visible.

Don’t forget mentors are also human beings

Whether it’s a personal trainer, a teacher, a parent, or a mentor, we all have the tendency to think those who have the wisdom, experience, or knowledge that we think we lack somehow hold superhuman abilities to give us answers when we need them. However, as we all know, no one is perfect. Remember that, like all human beings, even your mentor doesn’t have all the answers. It’s also likely that even with their success, they might be questioning their own path…or better yet, have their own mentor! With that in mind, the power to discern what works for you and what doesn’t, regardless of your mentor’s guidance, is key, as no one knows you better than yourself. Over-dependency on another person, assuming that they hold the keys to your success, only takes credit away from what you’re capable of in your own right.

Remember that they don’t work for you

A mentor-mentee relationship is a very special one as it emphasizes a journey of shared growth. Although there might be symbiosis in this dynamic, at the end of the day, your mentor does not work for you. Always remaining mindful, appreciative, and understanding of the fact that this person’s time is valuable will keep a lasting and meaningful relationship that allows for true personal growth.

In the end, it’s not about the mentor having all the answers, but rather about helping you find the confidence in your own.

Anyone have any good suggestions on how they found their mentor? Let us know in the comments!

Annie is a Creative Circle candidate and freelance creative strategist/copywriter working and living in Los Angeles. She knows digital media as well as she knows her own horoscope (she’s a Virgo), having worked at the likes of BuzzFeed and Mashable. She has created branded content strategies for the top Fortune 500 brands, which means she knows the true meaning of “going native.” If you want to work with Annie, contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.

The humble phone interview is most job seekers’ first step onto a path that leads to an employment offer. And while they’re great for a variety of reasons—you don’t have to drive anywhere, and you can do it in your bathrobe—the phone interview is a deceptively difficult skill to master. Here’s how you can stand out and make an impression, even when you’re just a voice on the phone.

1. Do your homework.

Learn as much as you can about the company and the position that’s being offered. Study the job ad and prepare yourself to answer questions about your resume. Obviously, this could be traditional research about what the company does to stand out, basic capacities, and leadership, but don’t forget to check social media to get an idea of the company’s brand and culture. The more you know, the easier it will be to tailor your answers and impress your interviewer.

2. If you’re a creative, send a portfolio PDF in addition to a URL.

Even when you have a killer portfolio filled with award-winning work, nothing beats the opportunity to sell it by carefully walking the interviewer through it, which you often don’t get during a phone interview. You’ve probably already listed your URL on your resume or the online job forms, but also send a carefully designed PDF that showcases only your best and most relevant work. On each page, add a rationale, or a brief blurb that summarizes the problem you solved, the thinking behind the solution, and your role in the project. You still may not get the chance to review it, but your interviewer will be impressed with your effort.

3. Get comfortable in a quiet environment.

This is one situation where you don’t want to multitask. It’s super-unprofessional to have a dog barking in the background or a barista announcing that Michael’s half-caff latte is ready. And even if you’re at home, go to a place where you won’t allow yourself to be distracted (i.e., no TV, family, or even a computer competing for your attention).

4. Resist the temptation to do a phone interview in sweats and flip-flops.

We can’t emphasize it enough: your clothing choices influence how you see yourself and how you present yourself, even in speech. Put on something that reminds you of what an awesome professional you are—maybe it’s a black turtleneck and jeans à la Steve Jobs, or maybe it IS a 3-piece suit, as long as it’s whatever you feel.

5. Front-load all of the important information.

Your interviewer will never be more attentive than when they finish their introduction and turn the conversation over to you. This is the perfect time to go to your elevator speech—not only is it a succinct summary of your qualifications, it’s your best opportunity to demonstrate your personal brand. Better still, edit it in advance so you’re including the employer’s keywords and anything else that makes you uniquely qualified for that specific job.

6. Repeat what your interviewer asked you.

Starting your answers using the exact same words will buy you time to collect your thoughts, and this “echo effect” is an ingenious little social hack that’s been proven in studies to build feeling of safety, trust, and rapport. Use it sparingly though, or else the hiring manager may start to get a weird feeling about the interview!

7. BREATHE.

Don’t just take little sips of air, but breathe deeply from your belly or diaphragm. Diaphragm breathing gives you a deeper supply of oxygen, forces you to slow your speech down, and can actually calm your nerves since those frequent, shallow lung gulps are part of the body’s “fight or flight” reaction. When you make it to the face-to-face interview, it will improve your posture and help you sit up straighter, so it’s a win all the way around.

8. Ask plenty of questions.

A carefully planned set of questions can do two things: they can help you look engaged and further cement a winning impression, and they can also help get a better picture of the job since you don’t have any visual cues. Ask about the working environment, the culture, and the number of employees located in the office.

9. Then do everything you’d do after a face-to-face interview.

Even if you don’t want the job, send a thank-you note: after all, other jobs may become available at the company and that recruiter or hiring manager might end up at another company later, so it pays to do the simple things that lead to a favorable impression. If you really did want the job, follow up, but wait at least a week. It’s likely that your interviewer is at the stage where they’re still swamped in resumes, so if you don’t hear from them, it may reveal a lack of time rather than a lack of interest.

It may take a few tries before you really feel in your element during a phone interview. But like anything else, the more you practice, the better you get, and soon you’ll have to start thinking about what to wear.

Lisa is a Creative Circle candidate and seasoned advertising copywriter who lives in Los Angeles. Her background includes both in-house and agency work on Fortune 500 and global accounts in the consumer and healthcare/pharmaceutical fields. She excels at words, fashion, and cats. If you want to work with Lisa, contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.

One of the most crucial elements in attaining work/life balance is making sure you maintain clear boundaries, so your job doesn’t spill over and eat up the rest of your life. And with smartphones, home offices, flex time, and all the other “conveniences” (yup, that’s mild sarcasm) of the modern workplace, it often feels like we’re working 18 hours a day.

The difficulty factor is greater for people who work in communications industries, such as advertising, marketing, and design. The deadlines! Clients in other time zones! A work environment that already has a lot of fuzziness between where work stops and your personal life begins!

Thankfully, we have a few foolproof tips for keeping work at work so you can feel like you have a life. Even better, many of these tips will also help you be more productive.

1. Start out each day with a to-do list.

After you’ve fired up your computer and looked at your email (but before you start doing any work), make a list of priorities. What do you absolutely, positively have to get done today? The first step to work/life balance is making a list and keeping it somewhere you can see it; it’s great if you can check off tasks as you do them, but if you can’t, check in with the list during lunch and then before you leave. Since so many of us worry about keeping productive, this gives you a record of just how much you accomplish each day. And if you check all of these “gotta do it today!” items off your list, you can start over tomorrow.

You can find plenty of software out there to assist you with to-do list management. Some examples include: Google Keep, Evernote, LifeRPG (available on the Google Play Store), and Wunderlist (for iPhone).

2. Manage your creative time.

If you’re an art director, designer, or writer, getting to be creative for an assignment is the best part of your job. It’s the part you’ll indulge in, pushing everything else onto the back burner until it comes back to haunt you.

Try breaking your ideation tasks down into chunks — for example, look through magazines and annuals for inspiration, brainstorming, evaluating and choosing ideas to keep pushing. Then give yourself a time budget, and stick to it. Initially, you may feel like you’re abandoning your children, but you’ll be surprised at how fast your brain adapts to the technique.

If you don’t already have one, start a swipe file or collection of great work you’ve ripped out of magazines and saved for future reference. Doing so can help you fire up your creativity at a moment’s notice.

3. Be strict with yourself when you work from home.

Some people think working from home is a great perk — you don’t have to drive anywhere, you can stay in bed longer, and you’re in control of your environment. But for many of us, the 9-to-6 weekday starts becoming more like 8-to-8. Studies often suggest we get more stuff done in less time at home, and some of that is because we’re working 11-hour days but only record eight on our time sheets. It’s easy to forget how hard and how long you’re working when you don’t have others around to give you visual clues.

If you have a lot of flexibility, try to schedule your work for your peak productivity hours, and then fill up the time in between with your own projects. Otherwise, set an alarm to indicate when you absolutely, positively, need to step away from the computer. Despite putting yourself in position for perfect work/life balance, you can cost yourself the privilege of a lifestyle you truly desire.

Peak Productivity Hours

4. If you work from home, set up a dedicated space.

This is about literally corralling one part of your life so it’s separate from another. Set up a dedicated office (if you can’t manage an office, then a nook, desk or bookshelf is fine). Not only will this keep you better organized, it helps you close the door on the workday by not having work paraphernalia cluttering the dining room table.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, ugly, or take up a lot of room. Check out some of these compact office spaces that do double-decor duty.

5. If you can, avoid company devices.

We recently presented different types of people you meet in advertising and here’s one more: that person who juggles a latte in one hand and two cell phones in the other, consistently books status calls at 7 a.m., and expects you to get on the phone even before then. Do everything you can to keep them at arm’s length to sustain your work/life balance. Politely declining a company-furnished smartphone or tablet is a subtle way to protect your boundaries. You still may have to check emails or take the occasional phone calls at odd hours, but it’s another psychological barrier you can use to protect your privacy and personal life.

6. Don’t let your job stop you from taking a vacation.

Overwork and burnout are real things with real consequences including anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression — all of which can derail you both in the office and in life. Recharge regularly with vacations in which you really go somewhere! The act of simply planning a vacation can bring you as much joy as actually taking the trip. Put the dates in writing and GO.

Even if you have an understanding boss who does their best to protect their employees’ work/life balance, it’s up to you to set your own boundaries and make sure they’re honored. (Be diplomatic about it, of course!) If you get pushback from anyone, just remind them that taking care of yourself benefits the company, too.

Not winning contracts?

Be that special snowflake. Really.

One of the toughest parts of being a freelancer is “landing” — that is, getting that first assignment that gets you on the radar. No matter how good you are or how polished your resume is, you still face the harsh reality that you have a ton of competition out there.

To give you some idea: When I advertise my workshops for freelancers, I have an email that gets sent out to a few hundred writers in the St. Louis area alone. That’s a lot of people all hoping to win the same gigs.

The best (and frankly, the most ethical) thing to do is find ways to differentiate yourself. The trouble is, this is a lot harder than it sounds at first.

Differentiating yourself is not easy.

The very first thing we do in my LAUNCH workshop is an exercise to prove how difficult differentiation is.

Before the workshop, I ask everyone to spend some time thinking about their strengths, their talents, and their offerings — basically, anything that would make them a valuable resource for a client.

Then I have each person read their list in turn. As they read, I write each item on the board. I then ask the group: “Who had this on their list, too?” If at least one other person had that skill or strength on their list, I put a line through the item and continue.

Guess what happens by the end of the activity? I have a white board filled with what people “offer” — a good 30 or so strengths, skills, and services, perhaps — and about 25 of those have been crossed out because someone else in the room offered that as well.

Which means that those writers are not really that different after all.

If you’re not different, you’re competing on personality and price.

When your resume looks the same as the next 20 writers a client will see, your ability to win contracts will come down to personality and price.

You don’t want to sell on personality alone, because that is too random and unreliable a base on which to build a business.

And you don’t want to sell on price, because that’s how you end up broke and working the swing shift at Starbucks. (That’s not a bad gig, mind you. But it’s probably not where your talents nor your dreams lie.)

So what can be done?

First, you might want to do this exercise with some other writers you know. If your skills and talents sound the same, it’s time to revisit what makes you truly different.

Second, start asking “why” questions. Potential clients will often ask what you can do, but you need to communicate why what you do is important, and how it’s important to them. For example, maybe you are a writer and editor who can boast incredible attention to detail. That’s a great attribute; it doesn’t come naturally to most people. (I have to work hard at it. And I still routinely fail!)

OK, so you have great attention to detail. Who cares? Here’s who: Companies that care about how professional they look and sound in their communications. This is especially true for companies that care about word of mouth, or for companies in highly regulated industries (finance, anyone?).

Finally, think of the tasks you do that others find frustrating, irksome, or just not worth their time. Then think about what would make someone want to pay someone else to do those tasks. Love reading technical papers and blog posts, then summarizing them for the everyday reader? People will pay you to do that for their blog. Can you grind through a government RFP and not feel like gouging your eyes out afterward? Yeah, people will pay you a lot to write those for them.

If you want more ideas on how to differentiate yourself, I’m happy to help. And if you’re interested in that LAUNCH workshop I mentioned, add yourself to my subscription list for updates (and the occasional advice).

Brandon is experienced copywriter and content specialist living in St. Louis, MO. His main job is writing regular content for a number of industries and advising on all matters related to marketing; his passion, however, is providing workshops for writers and freelancers so they can grow their business. More information about these workshops and his company can be found at www.wordshaveimpact.com.

We spend nearly a third of our lives working, so taking extra care that your next job is the right fit is important. Your time is too valuable to take a job just for money. Ideally, your next job will be a proper stepping stone toward your career goals.

Consider your next job selection as a two-way street. Just as the employer will think twice (maybe three times or more) about whether you’re a good fit for them, as an incoming employee, you should make sure the company AND position are great fits for you and your career objectives. Ask yourself:

What will make me happy?

Work happiness can mean different things to different people. Many individuals don’t seek the same type of happiness at work as they do in their personal lives. For you, happiness may center around the mission of the company and not the job itself. For others, being happy may rely on the day-to-day work. In most cases, workplace happiness will likely depend on a combination of several factors like the duties of specific roles, the team dynamic, and the leadership/management style.

In the creative industry, it’s important to seek out a challenge, because entry-level positions are essentially apprenticeships (especially during your early-to-mid 20s). Sharpening your skills is paramount. An easy and high-paying job may sound enticing, but remember to choose a role that’s challenging enough to promote growth. Adding and practicing new skills now reels in the big money later.

What is the company culture like?

Every place you work has a unique company culture. Do your research and find out as much as you can about how a company operates. Is it traditional, or is it more progressive and unique? Do the company’s values match yours? How are decisions made? Will working for this company help you achieve your career goals?

Answers to these sorts of questions are easy to find on websites like Glassdoor. Take a look at the company’s reviews and listen to the personal stories shared by current and former employees. If most people have negative feedback about a company, then you probably want to steer clear of it.

What should the next job pay?

Money isn’t everything when it comes to finding the right job for you, but after a while, too little pay and inadequate benefits can start to wear on you. You want your salary to match your experience and what you bring to your next job. You owe it to yourself to make sure your pay and benefits are fair. That being said, some might choose to make a lateral move or even take less pay to do a job that is more in line with their career goals. Whatever the case may be, take your time to help ensure your choice is worth your while.

Will this job get me closer to my career goals?

Make sure you aren’t leaving your current position just to get out. You want to think about the bigger picture, and sometimes that means sticking with a job you don’t like until a really good fit comes along. It is worth it for your career to gain experience in the types of work you want to be doing. If you have that in your current job, think twice about leaving. Always continue to look for opportunities though; being proactive is how people get into the type of work they love.
Having a solid idea of what you want is a good start, but being too focused on a certain job can limit your possibilities and lead to a longer and more frustrating job search, especially in the creative field. Certain jobs may not be exactly what you want, but they will get you to where you want to be. Take that approach at your new job, and improve your awareness of opportunities for career expansion.

Remember, your career can become a series of great jobs, average jobs, and not-so-great jobs if you’re not careful. Doing the work ahead of time to know what you want will give you the best chance to find a position that you believe is right for you.

Krista is a Creative Circle candidate, creative writer and content creator in Los Angeles. Her background includes news, marketing, copywriting and editing. If you are interested in working with Krista, please contact Creative Circle Los Angeles.

One balmy day in March, I got a panicked call from a colleague. Turns out she had lost four good, retainer-paying clients since the start of year. Three of them left in the same month.

Needless to say, she was freaking out.

None of these clients left because her service was bad. The reasons varied: One brought her services in-house. One client was closing up shop. Another was pooling company talents after a merge and wanted to review again in six months.

Still, even if it’s not your fault, losing clients can make you panic. It’s never fun to begin with, plus there’s the added stress of things like, you know, paying the rent and whatnot.

That’s why I’m going to share a secret with you.

At least four times in my career, I have lost my best client. And when I say my best client, I mean a client who was spending more than the next three best clients combined.

I don’t panic about it now. Here’s why: Every year that I’ve been out on my own (save for one), I’ve always made more than previous years. And even the exception was within 5% of my peak.

In short, I’ve always managed to keep the opportunities rolling in. Whenever a “good” client left, there were always two to three more ready to step up and take their place. So I thanked those good clients for the time we spent together, made a note to check in with them in six months, and moved on.

I’m betting you would love to be that nonchalant. (OK, full honesty here, I do panic … but for all of three minutes. See below.) It’s hard work to be in a place where you can afford (literally) to be that carefree. Here’s what you have to do:

Always be working on your “funnel.” Always set aside some time each week to drum up new business. Even if this just means taking a referral partner to lunch or asking a current client for a recommendation. Getting new work takes time, so you need to start well before you lose any business.
Leverage the clients you have. This is technically part of working on your funnel, but it deserves its own bullet point. Can you sell more to existing clients? Can you get a warm introduction from them? Or maybe a testimonial? Always find ways to use your network to grow your business.
Don’t burn bridges. There have been plenty of times when someone I’ve worked with leaves for a new company. If we’ve left things on a good note, they will use me again. Be professional, and it will pay off.
Have a money buffer. I keep roughly two months of salary in my bank account with a big “DO NOT TOUCH” sign on it. (Not literally. What would that even mean?) There are always flush months and hungry months, and it’s good to know that you have the money saved to get you through the lean times.
Have a backup plan. No, don’t literally plan on bailing (not yet). This is strictly psychological: I’ve noticed that people tend to calm down and think through their tough times more rationally if they know, deep down, that they have a Plan B. So formulate your backup plan. Then tell yourself, “OK, if this doesn’t work out in three months, I know I can fall back on this!” You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to grow your business when you don’t have that “do-or-die” mentality holding you back.
Be positive, but take the emotion out. Really, all of the above points boil down to these two: Keep a positive attitude and don’t make rash decisions based on your emotions. Indeed, losing business means some extra time to reflect and make your business even better.

And if you lose that prime client, go ahead and panic, just a little. Complain to a friend. Crack open a bottle of wine and, in private, rant about the client. Cry about your future prospects. Wonder out loud if you’ve chosen the right career path.

After you’re done, you will have purged your system. You’ll feel better, and then you can get back to the work of rebuilding your book of business.

You can totally do it. I’ve done it four times and counting.

Brandon Towl is an experienced copywriter and content specialist living in St. Louis, MO. His main job is writing regular content for a number of industries and advising on all matters related to marketing; his passion, however, is providing workshops for writers and freelancers so they can grow their business. More information about these workshops and his company can be found at www.wordshaveimpact.com.

You’re preparing for an interview. You’ve poured over the job description identifying all the ways you’re PERFECT for this job. You’ve researched the company, the hiring manager and others you’ll be interviewing with. All good stuff. But what have you done to prepare for the interview itself?

Many interviewers use a technique known as behavioral interviewing. To learn what that is, contrast these two types of questions:

1. How would you approach an unexpected project that has a tight deadline?
2. Tell me about a time you got an unexpected project with a tight deadline. What did you do?

Both questions ask about your ability to work fast under pressure. The first asks what you would do and the second asks what you did do. Anytime you’re asked to describe what you did in a specific past situation (#2), you’ve gotten a behavioral interview question.

Why are behavioral questions used so much? When given general or hypothetical questions (like #1), most interviewees can figure out what the interviewer is looking for. And voilà – they say what the interviewer wants to hear whether it accurately describes them or not. By focusing on real situations from the past, interviewers know that the abilities we’ve used before will be used again. Behavioral questions are a better way to determine our skills and job fit.

So, what’s the best way to respond to behavioral questions? Use the S.T.A.R. technique!

S.T.A.R.

There are four pieces to a S.T.A.R. response. For each, be succinct and specific.

S – Situation: Briefly describe the background or context. What issue, problem or opportunity did you face?
T – Task: Describe the specific task or activity you took on to address the situation. What was your job in the situation?
A – Action: Describe how you went about completing the task (your action, not the action taken by your team). What steps did you take to get it done?
R – Result: Describe the outcome. What did you accomplish? What were the results, including the impact on the company, your team, your client, etc.?

Example Question: Tell me about a time you got an unexpected project with a tight deadline. What did you do?

Example S.T.A.R. Answer: Two months ago, my team was preparing for a client presentation which was scheduled for the next day. The person who was developing it had an accident and couldn’t finish, so I was asked to pull it together. I hadn’t been involved up to that point so the first thing I did was to familiarize myself with the client. I talked to our team, researched them online, and then dove in. I solicited help to gather the information I needed, developed an outline and ran it by our client lead. He made a few tweaks, but less than I expected, and I stayed very late that night to make sure the information was accurate, clear, and that it looked great. And we won the business! Although I prefer to plan my work, I can work under tight deadlines when needed.

Stories

To use the S.T.A.R. technique effectively, have 3-5 good stories about your past work handy and ready to discuss. Pick ones that demonstrate your best skills and abilities. In the example above, this story shows initiative, collaboration, perseverance, drive, and a focus on quality results. Think beyond your technical skills when you develop your stories. The interviewer is looking for your fit with the culture as much as your ability to do the job. Prepare to describe your stories using the steps in S.T.A.R. Chances are you’ll be asked a couple of questions where one or more of these stories can be used.

Mistakes

Don’t shy away from telling interviewers about mistakes you’ve made in the past. In fact, sometimes they will ask you to describe a situation where things didn’t go well. When this happens be prepared to describe what you learned from the situation and what you would do (or have done) differently as a result of this learning. Honestly describing mistakes can demonstrate accountability, integrity, and your ability to grow.

Non-Work Situations

It’s ok to use stories from things you’ve accomplished outside of your work (e.g. volunteer activities, clubs, athletics, etc.), provided you can ie the skills or lessons learned back to how it would apply in a work situation. This is especially true if your career is just starting out.

Good luck in your interview!

Robin Elledge is the founder of Janus, a coaching and consulting firm in Los Angeles. Robin’s greatest passion is working with people to improve their ability to effect change within their company, team, and themselves. She has over 30 years of experience supporting and coaching leaders at all levels, from CEOs to those who are just beginning their management journey.