Freelancing is hard. In addition to finding work, chasing down invoices, and managing sudden changes in income, freelancing typically comes without automatic access to the benefits that full-time employees receive.

Let’s take a look at the benefits freelancers have to make up for with their own time, money, and resourcefulness, and go over our options.

Disclaimer: I do not advise or endorse any of these options. I am not qualified to give health, financial, or legal advice. I also don’t endorse any of the organizations mentioned by name. They are just examples. This is just a simple informational layout to get you started.

Health Insurance

Because the United States is one of the only wealthy nations without single-payer healthcare, most Americans rely on their employers for health insurance. In fact, in a study of the healthcare systems of the 11 wealthiest nations, the United States came in dead last… by a lot. A big reason for this is a lack of equitable access and the fact that navigating the wild world of insurance policies can feel like wading through a Boschian hellscape.

Having a solid insurance provider can mean the difference between saving for retirement and bankruptcy, if not life and death. So what’s a freelancer to do?

The absolute easiest way to have health insurance is to have a spouse or domestic partner with a workplace plan. Doesn’t scream “independence,” but if you’re in a stable relationship and it works for you, it makes life a lot easier.

If you’re 26 or under, you can also remain on your parents’ insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Again, not for everyone, especially if you can’t rely on your parents, but another easier option if it’s available to you.

You can also qualify for Medicaid if you meet the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) requirements or other need-based requirements or Medicare if you are 65+ years old.

Beyond that, it’s a wild world of marketplaces. You can use the public marketplace through the Affordable Care Act, private marketplaces through individual insurers, or a health sharing network which usually is religious in nature (but there might be a secular one out there).

You can also use something like Oscar Insurance, which is a private insurance company that offers more affordable options, or Freelancers Union which is an organizational network of freelancers that offers a range of benefits with the cost of membership. There’s also COBRA if you’re leaving a full-time role to freelance and want to continue your current plan (although it can be pretty pricey).

Creative Circle freelancers also have access to a range of plans through a vendor called Benefits in a Card (BIC) throughout assignments. The details are emailed to every CC freelancer upon accepting an assignment.

All that said, plenty of people opt out of insurance coverage and pay out of pocket whenever they need something. That strategy is obviously dicey though, especially in the event of an unanticipated emergency.

TL;DR — here are some of your top options:

• Get married or domestic partnered to someone with insurance.
• Stay on your parents’ insurance if you can.
• Check if you qualify for Medicare or Medicaid.
• Shop for public insurance at healthcare.gov.
• Check out insurance options through an organization like Freelancers Union.
• Shop for private insurance or try a consumer-focused alternative like Oscar.
• If you’ve left a full-time role, use COBRA to extend your benefits.
• Look into a health-sharing network.
• If you’re freelancing for Creative Circle, you’ll have access to plans through Benefits in a Card.
• Go without and use out-of-pocket payment plans and discounts if anything comes up.

For a more in-depth look at healthcare options for freelancers, check out this nifty blog post.

Indemnity + Liability Insurance

Depending on what you do, you may need some kind of professional liability and/or indemnity insurance. The purpose of liability and indemnity insurance is to protect you if someone tries to sue you, whether you make an error or they’re injured in your office space. There’s a lot of debate as to whether you really need it, but it all comes down to what you do and what your risk tolerance is. Most folks arguing for liability insurance are trying to sell it to you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re wrong. Even for freelancers with solid engagement agreements and disclaimers, a signature may not protect you everywhere.

For more info, check out Freelancers Union.

More Insurance?

There’s also media insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and business interruption insurance. What?? But if you want to be covered for every kind of scenario, I guess you have options. In researching for this piece I came across this article about a freelance journalist who got sued. Luckily the publication he wrote for defended him, but if you’re writing about touchy subjects and people who might take offense to your words, media insurance may be something to consider.

Check out more solid advice here. And, of course, you can consult with a lawyer, accountant, or other professional to see what your specific needs might be.

Sick Pay, Paid Time Off, + Unemployment

The great part of freelancing is you can choose your time off. The downside, of course, is you don’t get paid for it. While some sick pay options were granted during peak COVID in the form of tax breaks, that seems to be over permanently. Ditto for unemployment benefits which were offered to a certain extent under the CARES Act as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, in addition to PPP loans which played a similar role in replacing lost wages. However, now that those funds and programs are running out, we’ll probably land right where we started.

Some states do have sick leave laws, so you’ll have to check to see if your location qualifies you for any sort of compensation (which Creative Circle does apply to its candidates in those states), but if you’re contracting or working with your own private clients, it likely won’t apply to you either way.

The solution for the average freelancer is to make sure your rates are high enough to cover yourself when you fall ill or want to take a vacation. However, places like Freelancer’s Union now offer plans you can pay into to receive paid leave benefits.

Parental Leave

When it comes to parental leave, freelancers will have to make hard choices about how they want to manage their business. Reducing clients, ending projects, and taking time off to care for a little one without even a partial paycheck to balance the load can be stressful and intimidating. Unfortunately, the United States has no mandated protections in place for expecting contractors, and few if any companies offer any sort of benefits to freelancers or part-time employees. (They aren’t even required to pay their full-time employees on paternity leave, just guarantee they will have a job upon their return after 12 weeks. And that’s just for the birthing parent.) All we can do is our best to plan and save for any intended leave of absence.

Tax Withholdings

Odds are when you’re freelancing, you’ll get a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC (this differentiation is new) at the end of the year instead of a W-2 which is what someone employed full-time would get. (Why are tax forms so complicated??) That means you don’t automatically pay your taxes with each paycheck. My first freelancing gig in 2012 had me on a 1099 and I, a fresh out of college financially illiterate noob had no idea I was supposed to save some of those paychecks for tax time. I got slapped with a hefty bill and was very freaked out.

We live, we learn, and now I meticulously calculate every little thing. I keep a running spreadsheet that tracks my income, business expenses by category, quarterly estimated tax payments, and more. Some folks with larger businesses might prefer a more automated system like QuickBooks; others may hire their own bookkeeper. It all depends on how much you make and how much time you have. There are tons of financial planners and accountants that can help you make the best decision for your business if you are like me and didn’t get the tax 101 in your younger years.

Here’s a more in-depth look from TurboTax. But remember, there are FREE sources for filing taxes online if you want to do this yourself and not pay for TurboTax. There is an episode of Hasan Minaj’s Patriot Act that dives deep into TurboTax.

Note: If you’re freelancing for Creative Circle, you’ll actually receive a W-2, so as long as you fill in the right deductions, you won’t have to worry about withholdings while on assignment.

Retirement Savings

Another arena where freelancers are on their own is when it comes to retirement savings. While some salaried roles may offer a pension (which is unfortunately way less common for non-government jobs these days) or a 401K plan (hopefully one they match), a freelancer must save on their own. The most common options would be a Traditional or Roth IRA, and there are also some folks who can put together their own 401K plan if they make enough. Consulting with a financial professional would be a good option if you don’t know where to start. Many institutions like Fidelity also offer assistance to prospective account holders.

Wellness + Transportation

While this one is more of a perk, it’s important to consider how much money you’re spending in these areas. Some wellness costs like gym memberships can be offset through health plans. Meanwhile, transportation should either be factored into your rates or negotiated into a contract if you have to travel onsite for meetings and projects, especially with rising gas prices.

Are you a freelancer? Do you have more tips or questions about navigating the wild world of our unhinged and unsupported reality? I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email me: acalderin@creativcircle.com

 

About the author. 
Alessandra is your friendly neighborhood writer, coach, and facilitator with a varied history of experience from digital agencies and corporations to yoga studios and gyms. Her expertise and interests range from fitness and wellness to self-care and personal development to intersectionality and justice to science and creative cultivation. She has worked on and off with Creative Circle since 2014, originally as an NYC recruiter, later as an internal sourcer, and currently as a community wellness and culture specialist as well as a contributing writer for this here blog. You can find up-to-date offerings or sign up for her newsletter at alessandracalderin.com.

When you work as freelance creative, certain things are a given. Such as setting your own schedule (aka mastering the art of the consolidated, color-coded calendar), preparing for a very eventful tax season, and, of course, working with difficult clients — a particularly delicate situation when you are technically your own boss.

For the most part, there are ways to manage troublesome clients and make sure everyone ends up satisfied. All it takes is patience, transparency, professionalism, more patience, and a strong ability to say no.

Here are my top tips, from experience.

Be Careful Who You Work For

The top way to manage vexing clients is to avoid them altogether. Be sure to vet your clients thoroughly before you agree to work with them and/or sign any contract with them, keeping an eye out for certain red flags:

• The client doesn’t actually know what they want. If the client is very vague in explaining the work you’ll be doing — whether it’s deliverables, the purpose and goal of a project you are managing, or a seemingly endless timeline — it’s not a good look. You are there to complete a specific task, so entering into a work agreement that does not clearly delineate what that task is will only lead to frustration on both ends.
• They don’t want to pay you what you’re worth. Negotiating pay is part of the freelance process, and it can start to feel uncomfortable if your clients consistently try to lowball you or get free work out of you. Set your rate and stick to it. If they even begin to utter anything about the project being “great for exposure,” run for the hills.
• The client has unrealistic asks. Some clients know exactly what they want, which normally is great. But if they are asking for something that seems impossible, like a wild list of deliverables and/or a ridiculous timeline, think twice. Of course, if you are up for a quick turnaround, be sure to tack on that premium rush fee.
• The client doesn’t do what they say they’re going to do. This red flag goes for friends, bandmates, and group project prospects along with clients. If in early talks your client says they’re going to send you materials, and you do not receive them, even after several reminders, it’s probably a good preview of working with them will be like.

Common Challenges

One of the most common issues you may bump into with clients comes down to them not having a clear picture of what they want in the first place. You know, the kind of client who shuts down your ideas without providing something constructive that would help you get closer to what they want, but somehow expects you to pull the perfect idea out like a magician. Related to this are clients that give you too much freedom to do what you want — what seems like a dream hands-off gig can actually be neglectful as you are not sure what it is you’re meant to do.

Another common issue with clients is them assuming that your time belongs to them. The client may send you emails at all hours of the night or weekend and expect you to respond or turn work around outside your working hours.

There’s also the scope-creeper, the client who starts to incorporate other ideas and deliverables outside of the scope of work you agreed upon, asking to you to squeeze other mini-projects into the timeline or putting something they were responsible for onto your plate.

Hand-in-hand with the scope creeper is the “money-conscious” client who is constantly trying to get as much work out of you for as little money as possible.

The Best Offense Is a Good Defense

In general, the best time to confront these issues is actually at the beginning of your work with them. Talk in depth to get an understanding of what they want, translate that into what exactly you will be delivering, incorporate feedback opportunities, tie payment to the specific deliverables, and codify it into your contract with them. This will help protect you in the future and give you something to point to if your client deviates from the plan.

But if you already signed an unspecific contract, or your clients are still being difficult, it’s time to sit down, get real (professionally), and get on the same page with them.

Working Through It

Sometimes getting back on track is simply a matter of transparency, translation, and taking charge.

In any creative work, your biggest asset is knowing exactly what you need. That goes for the client and you, so come to the conversation prepared with a list of your needs so that the client can understand where you’re coming from. Do you need certain specs? A deadline? Do you need a communication strategy for the team?

From there, listen to the client and acknowledge their frustration. Clients get frustrated because they feel unheard, and it is your job to listen to their needs. Of course, chances are, if you have to revisit expectations, they may not be the best at expressing their needs in the first place, so you may have to do some translating and interpreting to understand what it is they really want. Acknowledging and validating your client works best when you also come to the table prepared with tangible solutions. You may be doing the heavy lifting of coming up with a path forward, but that is part of the gig.

The foundation of being able to do any of this is making sure you have firm boundaries. In fact, firm boundaries can help you come up with even more creative solutions. Is a client’s budget under your typical rate? Do your homework, acknowledge the budget, and let them know what they would get with their budget vs what they would get with your proposed one.

Of course, if a client is becoming extremely disrespectful or you have reached a real impasse, don’t be afraid to call it quits. Ideally, you would do so professionally and leave things on a positive note.

Calling in Backup
When a client gets out of hand, it’s nice to be able to bring in a manager who can back you up and help find a resolution. Of course, when you’re freelance, you often have to stand up for yourself, but freelancers who work with a firm do have the added comfort of having an advocate. Staffing agencies can step in to help navigate tough conversations with difficult clients — and make sure you get paid.

Dealing with difficult clients gracefully and having tough conversations is not fun. But they are part of the reality of being a freelancer, and they are valuable skillsets that will serve you well in your career and beyond.

About the author. 
Sam Mani writes about work, creativity, wellness, and equity — when she’s not cooking, binging television, or annoying her cat. 

It comes up a lot in conversation. When I say I’m a freelance writer, the next thing I hear is: “What’s it like?” Most of the time the question is from a person with an interest in writing, someone who writes a lot and has some talent. Okay, that’s one thing. But writing on demand for a living is another. It’s a profession and doing that on a freelance basis is a business and often a tough one.  

So here’s my story. It addresses the major issues, considerations and lines of inquiry entailed in this career path. 

Why did you decide to be a freelancer vs. take a full-time job?

Some people are born to be freelance writers. That’s what they want to do and they’re off and writing. I’m not one of them. 

I aspired to be a full-time corporate writer and set out on that path with jobs that I (mostly) loved. I did, however, augment that work with occasional side jobs as a freelance writer, which proved to my advantage. That’s because, as life would have it, through various crises, such as downsizings, mergers and acquisitions, reorgs, economic downturns and performance, some of those around me would be out not on their own accord. For a long run, I held on and kept producing. That is, until I didn’t. I exited the sanctified office front doors with boxes filled but then unpacked them somewhere else and started all over again. 

However, at some point, I didn’t seek to bounce back that way. Enough! I needed and wanted to do this role on my own. So after many years of solid experience, a huge mortgage and then teenage son to support, I entered the land of freelance writing.  

 What are the hardest parts of being a freelancer?

The big three are: finding suitable work, managing your time, and getting paid. 

By far the most challenging upfront issue is securing assignments. And if you’re intent on making it as a freelancer, that’s more than getting one-offs. It’s building a pipeline of projects, ideally repetitive ones, to develop a freelance practice. 

That immediately leads to another potential difficulty, which is: how do you do it all masterfully? This is a be-careful-what-you-ask-for situation playing out in real time and real stress with ideally some proper rest incorporated in your schedule. Often clients’ timelines collide — they want deliverables on the same date or close. You need to juggle responsibilities, set expectations, learn to stop and start and be flexible. Sometimes — and I still shudder at this thought— you need to say “no.” That means establishing your own terms or turning down work. 

Speaking of work, a mega issue for freelancers is receiving remuneration, especially when it’s due. People have written volumes about this for all facets of freelancing, not limited to writing, including me. For details, see my “Show Me the Money! The Problem of Nonpayment for Freelancers.”  

What are the best parts of being a freelancer?

The top items on my short list are: ownership, mobility and variety. 

As a freelancer, YOU are in charge. You’re the boss. Of course, you work for your clients and succeed by meeting or, better yet, exceeding their expectations. So, it’s not as if you operate without guardrails. You must please those who fuel your fire in a multiplicity of ways. Laissez faire this is not, but it’s your operation to mold according to your vision. 

And that vision may take you to outposts beyond your usual setting. With the proper protocols, you can work most anywhere, most any time as long as you offer access and produce the promised goods. For instance, one freelance designer with a case of wanderlust set up shop in city after city in Europe and then in Iceland. It worked! I haven’t gone as far afield, but handled assignments outside my office environs. It’s a liberating experience. 

So is the opportunity to explore vistas, subject areas, and clients through your own practice. It’s always something new or, if you prefer, not so. It’s your choice and that’s a good feeling. Other freelance writers agree. See “5 Amazing Reasons to Start Freelance Writing in 2021” and “9 Benefits of Freelance Writers as Told by Top Content Writers.” 

Does freelancing allow you to pursue projects that you care about more?

In principle, the answer is yes. Because you’re in charge of your freelance fate, you can vie for work that is meaningful to you. That, in turn, may position you as a subject matter expert in an issue or format in which you have special interest. 

When I started, I felt it was advantageous to take in a broad base of industries, focus areas and writing styles; that established me as a generalist. My thinking: that would equip me to pursue many opportunities; it also enhanced my capacity to provide tangible samples to strengthen the chances of landing projects. In taking this wide path, I built a diverse portfolio. I then found myself going from generalist to specialist in several areas, which I could pursue skillfully with different clients.  

Do you ever miss the security and predictability that comes with a full-time job?

Yes, I have at times. A full-time job is more than a paycheck, which is itself a mega factor. Right up there also are employee benefits, namely group health insurance. However, that’s become easier with options from Freelancers Union as well as with the Affordable Care Act. 

In addition to the financial aspects of freelancing, emotional ones come into play. I enjoyed being part of organizations, working alongside colleagues and participating in the corporate culture. Yet, with that come countless political, interpersonal, and business issues over which you have no control. But here’s the flip side. As a freelancer, you can develop camaraderie with clients and function as an extension of their team. That’s something to cherish; even though you’re not a member of the official inner core of a company, you serve as a valued resource and can forge rewarding relationships. And you do so without messy and ongoing uncomfortable and sometimes impossible situations.  

 What types of assignments do you seek? Why? 

It is clear that my roots are in the full-time corporate sphere. For that reason, I tend to gravitate to looking for repetitive assignments and arrangements. I like being the go-to person for a client, learning the business, and then building on that knowledge to provide value-added contributions and content. Over the years, I’ve developed such contacts, complete with signed contracts for set time periods and renewals. Often, that opens the door to getting deeper into the organization to serve several departments, functions, or publications. 

Note that I initially wrote “I tend to gravitate.” There are exceptions. One-off projects are appealing as well, especially if they are in a hot button area or something new and fascinating. At this point, with all of my experience, I can make a case for tackling such assignments. Getting an offer, completing it, and then moving onto something else is a feeling of accomplishment and freedom.    

What common qualities do you find in the best assignments? What are those in the worst? 

I’ve quoted this song title frequently: “You Can’t Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want).” Joe Jackson may be singing about love, but I apply this concept to many aspects of life, including freelance assignments. 

The best projects present a clear upfront understanding of the landscape, to do’s, and objectives. What’s the purpose? What do they want to achieve? The answers are forthcoming and to the point. The persons issuing the assignment thought it out carefully and describe it as such. They may even anticipate issues and offer examples and resources to explain what they seek in a deliverable(s) and when. That’s the basic recipe for a dream assignment. 

Pull the tablecloth out from underneath this beautiful place setting and you have the assignment from hell. These nightmares have open areas and issues, no plan or vision. Those doling it out don’t have a cohesive sense of the desired end product. They may think giving a freelancer complete free reign is a good thing — they’ll know if it’s right on when they receive the goods. But it’s hard for the freelancer to navigate the path forward through the fog. Expect revisits and rewrites. Pass on it.   

How do you find assignments, and what search tips can you give other freelancers? 

Here’s another song, one that fits this theme: “Here, There and Everywhere” by the Beatles. That’s my motto. I’ve looked for work in all the right places and wrong ones too (well, not exactly). The point is that, when starting out and during dry spells, I have barely left a stone unturned. I talked my skills up in just about every situation: at the gym, with neighbors, family, friends, acquaintances, social gatherings, athletic activities, dates, and even with clients for the purpose of getting other clients. Then there’s also formal networking. I looked for and joined industry and special interest groups, including those for business and general writers, public relations. I attended meetings galore. As an active member of International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Westfair Chapter, I wrote a monthly jobs newsletter for members on a volunteer basis for seven years. I also set up job alerts through online job boards, LinkedIn and organizations, which come to my email inbox. Here again, I wrote on this topic for Creative Circle in a post entitled: “Virtual Networking: For Before, During, and After COVID.” It contains a lot of handy tips. 

Does being a freelancer make it harder to plan and handle finances? 

In general, yes. It takes some getting used to, but there are ways to strengthen your cycle of payments. Imperative: calculate your monthly fixed costs. I knew my set recurring expenses and estimates of others. Yes, emergencies arise, but so do extra freelance projects. It’s a balancing act. Go ahead and establish a budget. Then start a slush fund. Put money left over at the end of a period to the best possible use — save it. Get an income tax refund? Resist temptation to spend and instead sock at least some of it away. It’s a cushion to help you get through difficult times. 

I find getting freelance gigs through Creative Circle an avenue to plan and handle finances. You fill out a timecard for project(s) you’re on and the firm pays you on a weekly basis and takes out taxes. So you’re receiving remuneration as you work, which is similar to having a full-time job. If you’re actively engaged with Creative Circle, you also have the opportunity to apply for a range of benefits, including a 401(k) with company match. For more, see “How to Manage Your Money as a Freelancer” and “How These Two Freelancers Built Financial Security and Started Saving for Retirement.”  

Would you ever give up being a freelancer writer to take a full-time job?

Some years ago, I became friendly with a colleague at the firm we were at, who left to form her own specialty consulting practice. She had a successful go at working on her own but then took an offer to return to the full-time job world. But she learned she was a go-it-on-her-own person and ended up leaving that position to build back her own thing. She was outstanding in her field, highly regarded globally, and an astute business person. How smart was she? She engaged me as a freelancer to provide her content marketing needs. Then there was an uncomfortable silent spell. When she emerged, she told me she had accepted an offer to merge her practice into a large organization. She was going back into the full-time corporate world. Surprise! 

I haven’t taken that zigzag path but, in my 12+ years of being at the helm of Write Results LLC, NY, I would have signed on as employee with a large organization where I served as a freelance writing contractor. Interestingly, many of those I worked with there are elsewhere now for reasons not of their own. Some landed corporate jobs and others are freelancing. As for me, I’m holding steady and delighted to address this issue and many others as a freelance writer.  

About the author. 
You name it, she covers it. That’s the can-do attitude Sherry M. Adler brings to the craft of writing. A polished marketing and communications professional, she has a passion for learning and the world at large. She uses it plus the power of words to inform and energize stakeholders of all kinds. And to show how all of this can make a difference, she calls her business WriteResults NY, LLC. 

2022 has arrived and with it, more pandemic-hued bedlam, coloring almost every aspect of our lives with Covid-colored crayons. As we continue to reckon with our new (pathogenic) normal, certain realities have only etched themselves deeper. You’ve heard this before, and we’re saying it again: The pandemic has disproportionately affected women. Their health, work, and economic well-being have been negatively impacted. Women in general are carrying more of the burden in terms of domestic responsibilities — remote schooling, housework, managing the health and wellness of their families, and more. A September 2021 McKinsey study found that mothers are now more than three times as likely as fathers to meet the majority of household and caregiving demands. “Other (industrialized) countries have social safety nets; the U.S. has women,” shared sociologist Jessica Calarco.

For many women, maintaining full-time careers while simultaneously handling all these pandemic extras has become, well… too much. Women in the Workplace is the most extensive study on the state of women in corporate America, based on data from 423 companies employing 12 million people. It found that the percentage of women considering leaving the workforce or slowing down their careers has grown since the pandemic started. Women feel more burned out now than they were a year ago, and burnout is considerably more prevalent among women than men. As of September 2021, one in three women were considering downshifting or stepping away from their career, compared to one in four who said this several months into the pandemic.

All this is cause for concern — but there is reason for hope. The good news? Many women who needed to step away from full-time roles have found a new path forward with freelance work, which may be a better fit for their pandemic-infused work/life balance. The gig economy may just revolutionize the future of work to benefit women in the long run.

Businesses are increasingly adopting flexible work arrangements, like fully remote and hybrid models — taking a page from the freelance playbook. And we are also witnessing the growth of the independent contractor workforce, which includes those who freelance or consult. A recent survey of 2,000 women — most of whom were primary caregivers for their families — found that 96% felt flexibility was the primary advantage of independent work. A quarter of these women had recently left traditional employment, mainly because they needed more flexibility or time to care for children, parents, or other relatives.

Here’s why freelance work is well-suited to women. Independent workers are unique in the type of work they produce compared to traditional 9-to-5 employees. Standard employees are enmeshed with teams and have more interactive communication and coordination and a deeper level of shared responsibilities. However, freelance or independent workers provide a more individualistic and discrete contribution — think proofreading, massage therapy, or tutoring. Women entrepreneurs rule the roost at Etsy, where a whopping 87% of the sellers are women.

Recent research by Liya Palagashvili, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, substantiates this thinking, finding that: “women self-select into independent work roles where greater autonomy defines the work, where the role allows for greater freedom to make decisions and structure activities, and where the workweeks are shorter — allowing for greater temporal flexibility.” Simply put, Palagashvili says, this type of “work extends opportunities to women who would otherwise be unable to take on employment.”

Women’s shift towards independent work has been brewing for some time. Overall participation in freelance work has grown since 2000, but growth among women has been significantly more robust than for men. Using the tax data of independent contractors, an IRS study found that between 2001 and 2016, women accounted for 55% of growth in independent contracting at a time when full-time employment rates for women were relatively flat. We may be looking at a broad-based structural shift in how American women engage work, one that is ramping up dramatically thanks to the pandemic.

While independent work prospects for women are growing, challenges remain. As the number of independent contractors grows, work policies need to evolve as well. A 2020 survey found that 80% of self-employed respondents want access to flexible or portable benefits that are not tethered to a specific job or employer. (Check out the benefits available to Creative Circle freelancers here.)

The future of work is now. Even companies with a primarily full-time workforce are heeding the call for flexibility. More than 75% of senior human resources leaders say that letting employees work flexible hours has improved employee well-being. Companies are embracing flexibility and WFH at levels that would have seemed impossible just a couple of years ago — and many are also offering freelance work to those who would prefer that model to full-time employment.

We have a rare opportunity to create more inclusive workplaces that take the reality of women’s lives into more focused and thoughtful account.

About the author. 

An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist—Karina writes, produces, and edits compelling content across multiple platforms—including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Yahoo News, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties and has spanned insight pieces on psychedelic toad medicine to forecasting the future of work to why sustainability needs to become more sustainable.

If you’ve never worked with a staffing agency, you might not have any idea what a company like Creative Circle does. I certainly didn’t. In my early 20s, I had landed at a digital agency, but felt undervalued in my role and could tell things were not going well for the company. (They folded about a year later.) As I was looking for my next move, the job hunt felt all-consuming and overwhelming. My roommate at the time noticed my frustration and suggested I try Creative Circle. He had gotten a few freelance gigs through them and said it was worth a shot. Little did I know, I’d end up spending the next three years as a recruiter in the New York office.

Over those years, I learned that Creative Circle strives to be more than just a staffing agency. It’s not just about job placements, but about being partners and advocates for the candidates and clients they connect with every day.

The production team is split in two.

Account executives (AEs) connect with digital and creative teams who either don’t have internal recruiting teams or just need a little extra help for urgent projects or difficult roles.

Recruiters serve as partners to candidates, helping them best present themselves and matching them with opportunities that might be a good fit.

I spoke to a few recruiters across the country to give you an idea of what candidates can expect when working with Creative Circle.

Zach Ryan

Zach is a recruiter for the Washington, D.C. team who sees himself as a partner and advocate for every candidate he meets.

How do you approach the role?

“We want to get to know candidates professionally in terms of what someone has done, what they’re capable of, and what they want to do. The goal is matching what they’re looking for and their skillsets. From there it’s trying to position them in the best way for those opportunities.”

What’s a challenge?

“We get a ton of people who always want to be put up for everything and get frustrated when they’re not hearing responses.”

How does that show up?

“Someone might respond back to a role thinking they’re perfect, but if the client has shown me what they’re looking for in a portfolio, it’s a disservice to get someone excited about a role if their work doesn’t line up with that. I can’t submit someone if they’re not going to be a fit.”

What’s the best part of the job?

“Getting to call somebody when they land a role is the best part without question. Last week, I thought a job was for one role, and they ended up hiring both people they interviewed. That was really great.”

What’s your advice to candidates?

“Keep resumes brief but informative. You want to leave stuff to talk about in an interview. There needs to be balance and a focus on key words.

“Research prior to interviews. You never know what an interviewer’s expectation is, and you can use your recruiter as a research tool. Make sure you have questions.

“If a recruiter calls you about a job, there’s no harm in taking a conversation. If you have reservations, you can make sure you ask whatever questions. That way, there’s no regret or thought about whether or not you should have taken that role.”

Lauren Madden

What are the newer challenges you’re facing after COVID-19 forced so many roles to be remote?

“It’s different now because so much is remote. I have thousands of unread LinkedIn applications because people are applying to things all over the country. It’s impossible for me to get back to everyone. I think the remote workforce has really changed the way we’re recruiting.

“The landscape has opened up so many new opportunities, including opportunities to work with non-local clients. That’s great because there’s just more on the table, but it’s also really challenging from the relationship piece because I like to know my candidates. I like to know my clients and what their pain points are. But if you don’t get to know them or the hiring manager you lose that.”

How are you coping with that?

“I tend to gravitate towards people with whom I have longstanding relationships. When you don’t have face-to-face contact, we have to build trust virtually so I know I can trust them when an assignment comes up.”

What’s your advice to candidates?

“Having relationships with recruiters in multiple markets can be a way to guarantee you’re being considered.”

What makes Creative Circle different?

“We care about our clients and candidates. I know there are other staffing agencies that push resumes around, but we take the time to get to know what people want and need and help solve their problems.”

“Recently, I was working with a candidate who was somewhat newer out of school in front of a job with us and an agency on his own. The job I had was more money, but moving slower. We had a frank conversation that included questions like: What does this job do for you five years from now? What are your bigger career goals?

“I tried to be very neutral because I knew he was anxious about money in the COVID-19 landscape. It turned out the role through us ended up offering $20K more than the other company and was better for his career path. He was so happy with his choice. That’s what I love.”

Brian Pope

Brian is a senior recruiter for the Boston team. He stresses a golden rule with every candidate he meets: “If all else fails, you can reach out and course correct.” To candidates, he stresses that “We’re not doing our job if you’ve been interviewed and onboarded and don’t feel like you’re being looked out for.”

“At our best moments we are consultative with our candidates,” Brian says. “Even if I don’t get you a job, I want to help you.”

And Brian, along with many other CC recruiters, does that by consulting on resumes, portfolios, interview skills, presentation, and everything else that might come up during your job search.

“If we’re not calling folks about opportunities, it’s because we don’t feel like we can place them in a role at this point,” he says. “But, there are a ton of free resources on our website to help them hone their skills.”

Brian understands it can be frustrating to not hear back when you’re applying, because he was once there.

“My first portfolio was a bunch of sheets of paper. I had no idea what was expected. I wouldn’t have called me,” he says. So, sometimes presentation and experience can play a role. “I had to take classes and refine my portfolio,” Brian explained.

There’s always time, and a ton of resources, to get you where you want to be!

Tips and Considerations When Working with Creative Circle

If you’re a candidate working with Creative Circle, here are a few things to keep in mind.

• Remember, Creative Circle doesn’t charge candidates a fee. A staffing agency provides a service to clients who pay to outsource their recruiting needs.
• Make sure you read the entirety of the email when you apply to job listings and highlight why you’re a great fit for the position. Often, clients have very specific needs so if they’re asking for specific industry, vertical, or agency experience, make sure to highlight where you have that experience, what pieces in your portfolio are relevant, and why else you’re the right match for the role.
• If you’re getting emails that don’t seem to line up with what you’re looking for, connect with the recruiter that originally emailed you. Maybe there’s something in your file that needs to be updated.
• Remember your recruiter is your advocate, but that doesn’t mean they can submit you for everything and anything under the sun. They want to position you for roles you’ll be successful in.
• If you’re a candidate that hasn’t yet been interviewed by a recruiter within Creative Circle, here’s how you may or may not find that connection.
• Check to make sure you’re submitting your information through the proper channels and in a timely matter. A recruiter may miss your resume if they’re being inundated with responses or it’s not coming through the places they check most. Remember, recruiters are humans, too, and only have so many hours in a day to review resumes.
• If you are, and not hearing back, make sure you’re a good fit for Creative Circle. If most of your experience is in sales, finance, law, healthcare, or another industry that’s out of our core of digital, marketing, and creative, the recruiters reviewing your resume may not think they can help you and don’t want to waste your time.
• Make sure your resume and portfolio properly reflect your experience and what you’re looking for. If you’re a designer, make sure your resume shows off your style. Creatives should absolutely get creative with their resume and refrain from a standard template or a Word document.

About the author. 
Alessandra is the mentor, educator, and writer behind Boneseed, a private practice devoted to deep self-inquiry through a range of physical, energetic, and mental modalities. She has over 500 hours of yoga, mentorship, and facilitation training and can be found slinging knowledge on her website, newsletter, and @bone.seed. 

Fall is in the air and Halloween is right around the corner. Spooky season is upon us, and while ghosts, monsters, and the classic horror movies will keep us shaking in our boots for the rest of the month, one scary thing might top them all: the job search. *Cue lighting striking*

Okay, looking for a job isn’t Shining-level terrifying — although, boy, did that guy take work seriously — but it can certainly be daunting. Here’s the scariest parts of finding a new job and how to overcome them!

Brushing Up the Resume

For many folks, not only is updating the resume a drag, but it can be extremely stressful. After all, how can you possibly summarize all the work you did and the impact you had in three or four bullet points? How can you decide which jobs, of all the ones you’ve worked, to highlight? How do you even create a resume that’s inviting to look at? Does anyone care where you went to college?

One thing to remember about resumes is while they are crucial, they’re not that deep. Resumes aren’t supposed to tell the whole story — they’re supposed to tell the story you really want to tell. That means you may want to tweak your resume to include the most relevant info if you’re applying to different kinds of jobs.

Also don’t be ~afraid to brag on your resume. Did you earn any recognitions at your job? Were you a top earner? Let the people know!

Asking for Recommendations

Reaching out for help in general can be scary and awkward, but asking for a job recommendation is an important and normal part of the process. The hardest thing can come down to timing. Ideally, you want to give the person you are asking for the recommendation from ample time to consider, especially if they’re writing one rather than talking to the hiring manager on the phone. Sending them a summary of your accomplishments is also crucial — make it easy for them! But no matter what, get their permission first before including their contact information on a job application.

The Cover Letter

Cover letters are often thought of as an exercise in futility, but not only do recruiters and hiring managers actually read them, but they really are your first impression. So be sure to know who you’re addressing your letter to (no To Whom It May Concerns, please!), showcase your achievements confidently, and don’t be afraid to be a bit more conversational (don’t write like you’re in a group chat, but take the opportunity to ease the formalities and let your personality show a bit).

Applying and Reaching Out

When you’ve finally come across a job that you think is a good fit, the scariest part is often reaching out. This can take a number of norms: uploading your application to a job posting site, contacting a recruiter, or reaching out directly to the company. Applying for jobs is about developing relationships — after all, these could be people you’ll be working with one day. It helps if you already have a bit of a relationship with who you’re reaching out to; setting up an informational interview or tapping your own network of mutuals to get connected can help you establish a rapport. Be brave, put your best foot forward, and reach out with confidence.

The Interview

So you’ve booked yourself an interview! Congrats! The interview may seem like the scariest part of this process, particularly because the stakes seem higher than before, but like so many other things in life, the less you stress, the easier it is. Interviews are about getting to know each other as people, not as resumes or cover letters, so the most important part is being comfortable in your own skin. Having said that, you absolutely should practice your interview responses. Do your research! Know what you’re talking about! The better prepared you are, the easier it is to let your real self shine through.

The Wait

The most nerve-wracking part of searching for a new job has to be the few days after the interview, when the excitement of knocking that question out of the park has died down and you’re simply waiting for their response. If you’ve already sent a gracious follow-up email to the person you interviewed with, unfortunately, all there is to do is wait and try not to stress too hard. Depending on the job and the company, waiting to hear back can take some time. During the interview, don’t be afraid to ask when you can expect to hear back.

The Negotiation

Getting an offer is an exhilarating feeling — but the battle’s not quite over yet. Ensuring the salary offered suits your qualifications and experience (not to mention your living costs and needs) is crucial at this point. After all, negotiating a higher starting salary is typically more effective than fighting for pay raises as you go. Do your research and understand what the going rate is for someone of your experience. Value yourself, and if their offer isn’t enough, in asking for more, be prepared to point to both industry standards and your own standards. You’ve got this.

Dealing with Rejection

Of course, the fundamental reason the job search process is scary is that you might not land an offer. It’s one thing to want something, and it’s another to really go for it. And yet, you just have to trust that you can handle the outcome, whatever it may be.

Whether you’re working a job you’re not excited about or getting back into the workforce after a while, or even looking to drastically change career paths, realizing it’s time to look for a job can be scary. Maybe you’ve realized that you’re not being valued or paid enough currently. Maybe you’ve got some unexpected bills to pay and need to take on some extra work. Maybe your current job is downsizing and you just want to be prepared. Or maybe it’s just time to move on.

Looking for a new job is all about change, and change is scary. But with some confidence and preparation, it’s a fear that you can absolutely overcome.

About the author

Sam Mani writes about work, creativity, wellness, and equity — when she’s not cooking, binging television, or annoying her cat.