Tag Archives: skills

Survival Strategies , , , 2 Comments

Who’s Getting Paid

by

Freelancers who design Power Point presentations,  write reports and perform accounting functions are the big winners in Freelance Nation right now.  A recent review of 2Q 2013 data on 300,000 job postings by freelancer.com. revealed the results.  According to freelancer.com,  business owners are hiring Freelance workers to perform core functions,  jobs that once were the domain of permanent employees.

Demand for Power Point slide design and production increased 35%  from 1Q 2013 to 2Q 2013;  requests for accounting services jumped 23% and report writing 20% between the first and second quarters of this year.  By contrast,  demand for copyediting during this period fell by 14%.  The survey indicates that demand for Freelance skills that are mission-critical and require sophisticated and specific knowledge are on the rise.

Freelance graphic designers,  especially those proficient in website and Power Point slide production,  and content marketing writers are in demand.  Employers are backing away from pricey advertising agencies and are continuing the transition to Freelance labor,  a trend that started in the 1990s.  Requests for Freelance illustration was 20%  higher from 1Q 2013 to 2Q 2013 and Freelance Photoshop design increased by nearly the same amount.  Banner design assignments increased by 14%  and logo design projects were 9%  more plentiful in 2Q 2013 than they were in the first quarter of the year.  Speaking of design,  3D imaging’s depth and sophistication caused demand for 3D printing to shoot up by 17% in the second quarter of this year,  over the first.

In a 2012 global survey of 3,000 Freelance professionals conducted by Elance,  the online employment marketplace,   respondents were queried on the types of assignments they were receiving.  Web programming,  website design,  mobile app development,  graphic design,  online marketing and content writing were the predominant assignments and Elance predicted that the trend would continue into 2013.  Results of the freelance.com survey support that prediction.   Both surveys indicate that graphic designers,  accountants,  certain techies and writers are raking in most of the money in 2013.

Plan to succeed in the gig economy by identifying which of your skills clients will pay to obtain,  how to package and present those skills and how to connect with paying clients.  On your website and in all marketing materials,  demonstrate that you are a top-of-the-line professional who exceeds expectations and works with recognizable clients.  The latter may not be immediately possible,  but those who provide visual products should post a portfolio that makes it known to prospective clients that your work is distinctive and not cookie cutter.  Providers of intangible services should include case studies.  Every website should include client testimonials.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Survival Strategies , Leave a comment

What’s Your Problem-Solving Style?

by

Problem-solving skills are hugely important,  in our business and our personal lives.   How we approach and resolve problems provides revealing insights into our character,  our priorities and our insecurities.   What does your problem-solving style say about you?  Check out these four examples and discover what your clients,  colleagues,  friends and family see.

The Blamer

Chances are you’ve had the misfortune of encountering this type before,   known to attack first and check facts later.   Whatever goes wrong has to be someone’s fault,  meaning someone other than him/herself.  Rather than addressing the problem straight away,  this individual becomes defensive and wastes precious time accusing others of various sins and failings that  “allowed” the problem to occur.  

Playing an aggressive blame game is the weakest and most detrimental problem-solving style.  Feelings get hurt and resentments breed as a result.  Blamers are immature and irresponsible.  They shift the onus to others and are unable to admit that perhaps they screwed up,  or even acknowledge that the adverse event that gave rise to the problem was random and beyond anyone’s control.

Analysis paralysis

These folks talk rather than act.   They’ll call a meeting to discuss the problem.  They will then schedule another meeting at which time a committee is selected,  to further study the problem.  Perhaps a report will be written,  to document the problem and identify possible solutions.   Over-analyzers may be thorough researchers,  but they are procrastinators in disguise.   They would like to solve the problem,  but are incapable of taking action.  They’ll check the facts,  but moving forward and crafting a solution anytime soon is not in their DNA.

Quick fixers

Polar opposites of the analysis paralysis team,   the Quick Fixers are ready to right the wrong right away.   Yet they take a slapdash approach and fail to think things through or do the research that would reveal the root cause of the problem and allow for the development of a credible solution.   Part of the problem may be solved,   but because a proper examination was not made,   they  (or you)  may have to deal with it all over again.   Any of us may resort to a quick fix when short of time,   but for others half-baked   “solutions”  are a way of life.   Maybe they have ADD  (Attention Deficit Disorder)?

The Listener

 Listeners have the most highly developed problem-solving skills and it’s their style we ought to emulate.  Listeners are willing to truly hear  the details of the problem.  They ask questions to elicit relevant information and they cut through the drama that problems often cause by remaining as calm as possible and keeping their wits about them,  as they confirm what has transpired.   Because they hear what must be heard,  Listeners are then able to realistically assess the problem and get a sense of who can best resolve it,   whether it is the Listener him/herself,  or someone with specific expertise.  

 Listeners are able to analyze the problem because they do the research and think things through.   They are able to act quickly to resolve a problem,  but they will not be reckless or half-baked.  Most of all,   Listeners will not succumb to the trap of blaming,  even if the problem was caused by someone’s negligence.   Instead,   the Listener will take steps to correct the oversight,  learn from the mistake and move forward,  wiser and better prepared.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Marketing , , , , 1 Comment

LinkedIn Profile Refresh

by

Happy Year of the Dragon!  The New Year vibe is still rolling,  so I wonder if you’d like to keep-up the self-improvement kick and take a fresh look at your LinkedIn profile?  Usually,  I revisit mine about once a year.  Last year,  I pared down my rather long and complicated summary section. 

 I realized that in certain instances,  less is more and simplified my statement.  About  every 12-18 months,  I think it’s useful to make sure that my LinkedIn profile aligns with how I’m positioning myself and what I’m saying in the verbal package that is my elevator pitch.   So let’s do a little housekeeping.

Purge the clutter

Comb through your job history and weed out or streamline whatever does not support and enhance your professional goals.  Retain several years of your employment history,  but limit non-aligned jobs to title,  company and a one-sentence description of your responsibilities.  Use you employment and volunteer experience to reflect your brand and professional aspirations.

Add keywords

The headline of your profile is the critical factor in search results.  Choose your most relevant keywords carefully and add to your headline.  Be mindful of the subtle difference between keywords that are vital for your business / career and terms that are frequently searched.  If you provide services for a select market those keywords should reflect that market,  even if they are searched less often. 

 Judiciously embed relevant descriptive keywords that are associated with your business category into your headline and summary sections.   Visit Google Keywords Tool and identify popular keywords that will attract a sufficiently broad audience in local searches and then drill down to target your niche by discovering keywords that industry insiders might  search.

Add apps

Install Slide Share and upload a Power Point presentation to your profile that will communicate more specific details about your services.  I use WordPress Blog Link to invite connections and visitors to my page to read weekly blog postings.  I always write an excerpt that I hope connections will find tempting when LinkedIn Updates announces the arrival of a new post.

As of last week,  visitors to my profile will now find the app that was rolled out just a few months ago,  the Skills App.  The nice feature about  Skills is that you’ll receive data on groups that focus on that skill;  companies where that skill is common;  posted jobs requiring that skill;  and the size and growth trends of other professionals who hold that skill. 

Other free apps that may serve you well include Events,  that will let connections know the meet-ups and conferences where you will speak;  Portfolio Display,  that allows creative types to showcase their work;  and Reading List,  that allows you to share with connections the professional development books you’ve read and get ideas on additional books that you might find useful.  All of the apps will appear on your profile page.

Get recommendations

Recommendations are testimonials that provide third-party verification of your expertise and further support your professional goals and brand.  Ask a professional colleague who can vouch for your work to detail your contributions to a project that went especially well. 

 Specific,  quantifiable information that highlights your impact on company objectives enhances your credibility and is more believable than effusive compliments that merely tell people how talented you are.  Always return the favor and write a recommendation for those who produce testimonials for you.  In fact,  get the process started by  “spontaneously”  writing a recommendation for a colleague so that you can receive one in return.

LinkedIn is about creating and nurturing relationships,  so do your part and engage in conversations.  Congratulate your connections when an update comes through that heralds an achievement.   When you invite someone to join your network,  tell that person why you’re inviting them.  When someone invites you,  take the time to thank that person for his/her consideration.

Join groups appropriate for your skill set and goals and become known for posing good questions,  leading discussions and sharing timely and useful information.  Visit the  “Answers ”  forum and contribute thoughtful responses to questions that will allow you to showcase your judgment and expertise.  Utilize the free resource that is LinkedIn to position yourself as a go-to resource in your niche.

Thanks for reading,

Kim