You’re graduating from college and now you have to decide what to do next. Do you continue your studies, or do you take the plunge and start your career? There are hundreds of jobs out there but how do you decide which one is right for you? What do you need to do to get started?
A lot of times, you’ll go through a few different job applications before you get a feel for which one is the best fit. Sometimes you may even have to take a stab at putting together your own resume. Even then, there are numerous companies that will hire you even if you don’t put together the perfect application. The key is to be persistent and keep trying different approaches.
The Best Place To Find Your First Freelance Writing Job
You’ll have to decide whether you want to become a freelancer or work for someone else full-time. If you decide to go the freelance route, the sky is the limit as to the jobs you could land. You could become an online freelancer, create your own blog for money, or get a position with a newspaper or magazine. The key is to figure out what you’re best at, develop your skills, and then go out and find the job that suits you.
Newspapers And Magazines
One of the best places to find your first freelance writing job is in newspapers and magazines. If you’re looking for an excuse to write, there are thousands of journals and newspapers that need content. The great thing about writing for these outlets is that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to pitch your articles. Even better, many of these publications will sometimes pay better than you’d expect for online content.
The downside is that these are often times very demanding occupations. You’ll have to put in a lot of long hours, and if you want to make a decent chunk of change, you’ll have to charge a pretty penny for your work. For instance, the New York Times pays about $15,000 for a full-time staff writer, and that’s one of the best-paying gigs you’ll ever get if you’re just getting started. Keep in mind that many of these publications will only give you an assignment if they feel you’re able to deliver high-quality content regularly.
Blogs And Online Journals
There is a wide range of online journals and blogs where you can get your first gig as a freelancer. The advantages of doing this is that you’ll have the freedom to work on your own schedule. You’ll get to choose the topics you want to write about and the type of articles you want to create. The downside is that this can be a very competitive field. If you want to make a good living, you’ll have to land some high-quality pieces consistently. Otherwise, you’ll likely have to take on additional work to make up the difference.
There are hundreds of different blogs and online journals out there, so it can be difficult to know where to begin. The key is to explore the different types of blogs and online journals, figure out what draws the most interest to you, and then create content that fits these specifications.
Create Your Own Blog
If none of the above seem like a good fit, then you should consider creating your own blog. There are a number of different platforms where you can do this, ranging from the free Blogger.com to expensive services like WordPress.com. The advantage of a blog is that it’s a fairly easy way to get your name out there and build credibility. Once you have a growing audience, you can then move into freelance writing and make money off your content.
Creating a blog isn’t just about writing about what you know; it’s about having an open dialog with your audience. You can ask questions and get advice from readers on your blog, which in turn, can increase the likelihood of getting hired for a freelance writing job. In addition, many professional blogging platforms like WordPress.com offer affiliate marketing opportunities – the more you blog, the more you’ll make!
Freelance Writing As A Second Career
If you’ve always dreamed about being a writer, this is the perfect opportunity to explore that dream. Many people get into freelance writing as a second career, especially after completing their education. Those who have a background in journalism or English typically have an advantage in this field. If you’ve always had an interest in writing, why not give it a try? You may just surprise yourself at how much you enjoy it.