CUNY LEADS: Advice to New Graduates – Creative Alternatives to Traditional Employment
It’s that time of year again! A new group of graduates are venturing out to begin a career after years of school and preparation. We would like to congratulate all of the recent graduates and wish you luck and success in your endeavors.
As you begin your job search, you may be wondering about that first career job. Where will you work, how will you travel, will you have a nice office? In the current market the answer may be very different than you have imagined. You may find yourself considering more creative work environments than one did in past years.
Although we hear and read about the sluggish job market, there are pockets of growth in a few of the evolving work areas. An article in US News and World Reports points out that according to Elance, an online web employment site, there was an area that doubled in the first quarter of 2012. Interestingly, this growth was in the arena of “online freelance workers.”
Freelance or independent online work is also known as “gigging.” This involves a person working for themselves and contracting services online to corporations or other individuals in need of that area of expertise. Companies are receptive to this concept as it provides the opportunity to purchase just the services they need without having to provide office space or other benefits associated with full-time employment.
For the jobseeker, it provides a flexibility that can permit one to complete a job on your own schedule which may be very different from the traditional 9-5 workday. This can work in conjunction with another job or for someone who needs to accommodate a family schedule.
According to US News and World Reports, the following areas are growing most rapidly:
- Video production
- Video editing
- Audio editing
- Voiceover
- Writing
- Blogging
If you have a particular skill, you may want to consider marketing yourself to companies where there are no geographical barriers. The concept of working from home can be a good temporary or permanent solution for many jobseekers.
It is important to note that this is not an easy solution as it requires strong skills, self-discipline, and the ability to manage and market oneself. Additionally, traditional health benefits are not typically covered and must be arranged independently.
With the explosion of digital services there are so many opportunities for independent workers. The job market is an ever-changing and ever-evolving one and it is in one’s best interest to keep current and try to stay one step ahead of the curve. If this is something that may work for you, we suggest that you take a look at the articles listed below and start researching the possibilities.
Whether you seek traditional employment or one of the newer digital opportunities, we wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!
Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/05/14/how-to-make-gigging-full-time-job/#ixzz1wpm3lOg6
CUNY LEADS (City University of New York Linking Employment, Academics and Disability Services) is a program of CUNY created to provide students with disabilities the skills to make realistic academic and career choices that will result in successful careers. CUNY LEADS will share job search insight on this blog on the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
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The views, opinions, or expressions provided by CUNY LEADS do not necessarily represent the views, opinions, or expressions of the City of New York and/or the New York City Department of Small Business Services.
