Forget about freelance writing boards
So you've probably seen a bunch of expensive freelance courses or read a ton of stories about some freelance writer who is working on the beach with a cocktail and a laptop about how successful they are. Maybe you got inspired by that course or article you read and decided to try freelancing for yourself. How did it go? Did you find it stressful? Was it sustainable? If it works for you, great. However, if you realize that those stories are not the norm then what you need is a more effective job search strategy to landing a job in Tech. If you're looking for a more lucrative and sustainable way of making a living using your writing skills then I want you to consider the tech industry. There is a better way:
- No need to scroll through pages and pages of gigs trying to find the right one to apply to
- No need to compete with other writers from around the world
- No need to bid for pennies on the dollar for the occasional gig
- No need to spend hours putting together a pitch
In my free mini-course, I share with you tips and strategies to help you land a writing job in Tech in a streamlined and more efficient way. There's also a handy worksheet that will make it even easier and less stressful so make sure you check it out.
The next thing you need to do before applying for a writing job in Tech is pretty obvious, but you must write. And publish what you write.
Create your portfolio
Not too long ago, a friend of mine who is working on her masters in History & Ethnic studies told me she has been feeling defeated like she wasted all this time and money in a field that doesn’t necessarily have the job opportunities she’s looking for. So I asked what kind of job she was looking for. She told me she was actually thinking of going to Business School instead so she can get a job in Marketing. I told her “If you want to get into marketing you need to start doing some marketing projects and SHOW that you have the skills.” Yes, it’s safe and comfortable and quite common to go back to school to study something we think we want to do for a living.
My advice is to actually try to get some side hustle experience and build a portfolio for yourself first. There are plenty of opportunities for you to volunteer your time for 1 small project with a startup company for example. Heck, when I wanted to showcase my WordPress skills, I built my own portfolio using WordPress; I didn’t go back to school to learn CSS or HTML.
So, if you think you want to get into writing in the Tech industry then I encourage you to write 1 or 2 technical documents for something you’re interested in. For example, if you're a fan of an app like Trello, you can write a how-to article on how to do some kind of hack that many people would find valuable, but aren't aware of.
Put your expertise out there
In tandem with showcasing your skills with a portfolio, don't be afraid to share your thoughts on a particular methodology, strategy, product, or tool relevant to the industry. For example, you can write a blog post on LinkedIn about how to using the Pomodoro technique helped improve your productivity while editing a technical manual. #nerdalert It doesn't have to be perfect, the point is to be a contributor and again, SHOW that you are passionate or at least interested in the field that you desire to work in.
Platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn makes it easy for you to demonstrate what you can bring to the table.
You can also share content created by others and share your opinion about it. Join conversations related to the portfolio piece you created. For example, if you're a fan of Evernote and they published an article that you like, why not spark conversations and leverage it to showcase your professional opinion?
These tips may seem a little unconventional, but at the end of the day, I want you to be strategic with your time when it comes to finding the right writing position. Most jobs in Tech do not rely solely on a resume anymore, you also have to prove what you can bring to the table and I believe that showcasing your skills and interest before you even think about applying is a great way to start.