Even with a two-income family, finances can be tough, especially with little children. Professionals with college degrees are no longer averse to looking for part-time jobs to pay the bills. There's the mortgage hanging over your head, credit card bills that are long overdue, and food to put on the table everyday.
A part-time job is the only way out of the pickle, especially if you've got no money to put up a little business. For an extra $500 a month, you can work 8 hours a week, depending on the type of job you have found. Sometimes those jobs on the side can give you more money if you work extra hours.
Job Search
Landing a part time job may take awhile. For online searches, try CareerBuilders.com or MonsterJobs.com. You can narrow down the search to location and type of part-time job. The available jobs are from various industries like hospitality, pharmaceutical and medical, construction, maintenance, insurance, research, retail, science, and accounting. A job search in the neighborhood can begin with a casual conversation with your local grocery store or pharmacy. Or, if you find a help wanted sign in a bar, restaurant, or bakery, check if you are fit for the job.
The newspaper is another good source for 'help wanted' ads. Don't give up hope scanning the classifieds daily. There is always bound to be something that will catch your interest.
The grapevine or the network is always a reliable and faster route to find part-time jobs. Talk to friends about your job search. There is always someone who knows someone who needs an extra pair of hands for a shop. Always make sure your business card holder is filled with extra business cards just in case.
Always apply in person if you find a help wanted sign. Dress appropriately for the interview and be ready with your resume and cover letter. It pays to have a little background information on the business establishment that is hiring. This will help you ace the job interview. However, not all jobs will require a resume, but the employers will always do a quick background check on all job applicants.
Extra Jobs and Family
You should discuss the implications of working more hours away from home with your partner. You can always talk things over your partner to balance the household chores and bank account. If the extra compensation can pay the bills and a babysitter, that would be ideal.
The children should be prepped for a change in daily routine. You will have to adjust to the changes too, and as a couple, you'll take on additional responsibilities to make the home atmosphere as normal as you can. For the sake of the children, couples should work in shifts. One can get weekend jobs, while the significant other can take on a weekday job.
Looking for part-time jobs should not be a daunting task. When extra money is needed, you have to be persistent when looking for that additional source of income. Nowadays, people have to work double time to live decently.
How To Find Part Time Job
So permit me to give you my very considered perspective on the question "Can I transition into copywriting by moonlighting?"
I'm happy to report that the answer to that question is "yes"...but with caveats.
Many people who want to transition into copywriting hold full time jobs and have the responsibility of families. That doesn't leave much time for copywriting, and copywriting is time-intensive.
Although I frequently advise my coaching students to look for national and international clients, I'd advise a moonlighting copywriter to look for local clients.
It's often easier to land a local client simply because you can meet with him. (This eventually becomes a liability, however, because meetings are unnecessary time-wasters, and the client will often tell you to "stop by and pick up the check.")
Another question you'll need to ask yourself if you want to moonlight is whether you can communicate with your client during working hours.
If you're absolutely unable to return a call or respond to an email during regular working hours, it's going to be really tough to create a relationship that works.
That said, most people have at least a lunch break where communication needs can be handled.
Another reason I suggest local clients for the moonlighter is that to work for non-local companies you need good marketing materials, and today it's almost essential to have a Web site. By working locally you can get by with letterhead and business cards.
If you're thinking about just "throwing a site together," don't do it! A hastily conceived site will look it, and will damage your "portfolio"... because it's a reflection of the kind of work you'll do for the client. Best to do it right the first time.
Many new copywriters fail to think of people they know who have businesses that could use a Web site or sales letter.
Friends and family are more likely to be flexible and understanding about time and career-transition issues. So be sure to consider opportunities that are even "closer to home" than local prospects if you want to moonlight.
I've also been asked if there are particular markets that have longer turn-around times so a copywriter would feel confident about never missing a deadline.
My Answer: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) copywriting has more order-generating work than Business-to-Business (B2B), and that usually requires longer copy.
Companies that need long copy to sell their product or service usually understand that it will take weeks or months to compete a large project.
But you still have to put the hours in. And it's a lot harder to estimate your time on a large job than a small one.
What's a small job?
There's lots of jobs you can do in direct response copywriting that you can do in a day or two. For instance, in the Business-to-Business space, you'll find a preponderance of lead-generating work.
Lead-generation work is much lighter work because all you have to do is get the prospect to raise her hand. In fact, there's a rule of thumb to tell only enough to get interest...you don't want to give so much information that the prospect can decide without the aid of a "next step" (usually contact by a salesperson).
You can get paid a tidy sum for a 2-page lead-gen sales letter (say $2,000) and knock it out in a day or two.
The most important thing to remember when you pick up moonlighting jobs is to estimate your time, and then double it.
Both Bradlley Mckoy & Chris Marlow are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Bradlley Mckoy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education, Public Relations and Careers and Job Hunting. Network to gain the right impression when looking for a part-time job. Start with a smart to store business cards. Bradlley Mckoy's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
Chris Marlow has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing, Ezine Articles and Certified Public Accountants. Award-winning copywriter Chris Marlow publishes a free newsletter for freelancers who want to build a successful business. Visit:
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