Write Your Way to Work

In today's economy, many qualified, intelligent individuals are finding themselves unemployed at no fault of their own.  Perhaps the most affected group is media professionals whose creative talent has been dismissed as non-essential and too costly compared to other resources.  Lack of work comes with its share of obvious trials and tribulations - downgrading one's lifestyle, inferior health insurance, debt and credit concerns, to name a few - but the less glaring repercussions can be just as debilitating.  Unemployment can take a serious toll on one's self-confidence, making it that much harder to find work in  trying times.

If you've been laid off and are finding it difficult to get motivated, one of the best things you can do with your spare time is to write about your area of expertise. There are many professional benefits to writing, including career advancement, and it's easy to get started

Build your knowledge and confidence with the following tips that will teach you how achieve career growth with the written word.

Learn to Write
If writing isn't your forte, it's never too late to learn!  Marketing and business development is all about content and thought-leadership; someone with the ability to effectively communicate is an asset to any organization.  By learning how to write, you improve your worth to a potential employer while gaining a priceless skill.  MediaBistro.com, a site dedicated to those who work with or create content, offers online writing classes taught by some of the greatest talents in journalism and media, and if you're strapped for cash many great universities offer free online writing courses.

Write to Learn
One of the most common mistakes of a latent professional is allowing oneself to lag on industry news and trends.  Don't miss out just because you aren't actively working; in the long-run this will only hurt you as you may be competing for jobs with people who are currently employed and in the know.  Instead, keep up-to-date with what's going on in your industry by reading trade publications, online magazines, and using search engines to find the latest news and conversation within your field.  For ideas, start from a relevant website or blog and see where the links take you.  When you get inspired, write short pieces (250-500 words) from opinion to commentary to how-tos to develop your style and voice.  The benefits will pay off in your next interview, when you impress your interviewer with your current knowledge and interesting articles.

Allow Your Writing to Reach Various Platforms
With the Internet at your fingertips, there are endless opportunities for publishing your work.  Try Blogger.com, WordPress.com, or TypePad.com for a free blogging platform, but remember that you'll need to write often (at least 2-3 times a week) to develop a readership.  If you don't want to commit to a blog or website of your own, there are many outlets that let you contribute and provide a proven audience.  Contribute to sites that thrive on user-generated content, like eHow.com or Suite101.com.  See if the websites you read welcome contributions from readers - some have blogging communities to which you can just sign up!  Make sure to bookmark each article you write so you can easily find and share them.

Share Your Content and Get Noticed
Once you've written something you are proud of, get out there and distribute your content.  One of the easiest and most effective ways to get started is by using social media tools like Twitter and Facebook.  Facebook has seen a 165% growth in usage amongst people 45-55 in the last year, and Twitter is dominated by users age 35-49 who use it primarily to share business-related news and commentary.  You can even use URL-shorteners like bit.ly to track the page views on your content - keep using the platforms that deliver a strong readership.  Before you know it, people will think of you when they hear of employment opportunities, ask you for advice, and offer you short-term consultancy jobs.  You'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easily you can make your mark as an expert and thought-leader.

Keep a Proud Portfolio
Print your work and save it in a portfolio or binder that you can present to potential employers and clients.  Keep it organized by date or topic and include a URL to where each essay and article can be found online.  Your portfolio is a constant work-in-progress and must look neat and professional.  Like your resume, it is an asset for interviews and other career opportunities.

BONUS TIP: You don't have to be out of work to take advantage of writing.  Use these tips and build your portfolio of well-written content to impress your coworkers, supervisors, and the rest of your field.  Start writing, improve your knowledge, and grow your career today!

For a free one-hour consultation on how to write your way to work, contact sarah@stay-comm.com.