Freelancers are particular independent contractors that set their own hourly rate and their own time schedule. As a freelancer you live on the constant feed of projects you are working on. One of the main essentials is the portfolio, all the recent projects that have been successfully completed by you.

What opportunities are out there for you? There are loads of employers out there waiting to outsource their projects to freelancers like you. As a freelancer you can choose projects that fit to your expertise. Be it SEO and Web Promotion, Web Design, Web Development or Copywriting. Furthermore you can handle as much projects at once as you want, you just need to keep the deadline.

But where to start off when there is no portfolio you can deliver to prove you work? One good answer may be: Start off by bidding on open projects that have been opened by serious employers. Such a place is called a freelancer marketplace, and it may be one of the places on the internet to quickly find projects that fit to your skills.

One of the advantages of such marketplaces is that your reputation is increasing as you complete projects. For every completed project you are being rated by the project manageremployer along with a short review. And everyone knows that better ratings bring you more valued projects… Also consider that it is also possible to freelance part-time to earn additional income to your actual job.

At WorkAsFreelancer.com you get the chance to sign up completely free and bid on any open project. If you win the project you get contact information and other details concerning your project. Also there is a possibility to open a secure escrow account for absolute secure payments. This way you cannot be tricked!

Furthermore there are several RSS feeds available for easier access to new projects. Stay up-to-date with any new project and be the first who bids on it, that, by the way, improves the likeliness that you are chosen as the final freelancer to work on the project. RSS feeds are available for any category.

Virtual Assistants provide administrative support andor specialized business services. Many Virtual Assistants were most often Administrative or Executive Assistants in traditional work environments before launching their Virtual Assistance Practices. Most Virtual Assistants work from their home office and, with the help of technology, other virtual locations. Technology has enabled Virtual Assistants to have a global client base.

Virtual Assistants: What do they do?

Ok…so now you know the answer to the question of what a Virtual Assistant is, now let’s talk about what they do.

Virtual Assistants provide much of the same services as an onsite employee, but without the added expense to employers. Some provide general services while others provide more specialized services such as a Virtual Real Estate Assistant.

Here are some services Virtual Assistants offer (this is not an exhaustive list):

- Website and Graphic Design
- Website Maintenance and Updates
- Online and Offline Marketing and Promotion
- Accounting  Bookkeeping
- Data Entry
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Advertising in Print Media
- Desktop Publishing
- Custom Ad Design for print media
- Travel Arrangements
- Writing, Editing & Researching Services
- Secretarial Services
- Word Processing
- General and Legal Transcription Services
- Database Management
- Personal Assistant Services
- Event Planning
- Technical Support
- Coaching  Consulting
- Customer Service
- Real Estate Support

These are just a few services you can offer as a Virtual Assistant. The more specialized your services are, the less saturated the market will be. Try to find a niche and target market if you have a specialized skill andor expertise.

Basic equipment and software needed can include, but is not limited to, the following:

Basic Equipment:

- Computer andor Laptop
- Cable, Satellite, or DSL Internet Service
- Modem
- Fax Machine
- Printer
- Copier
- Scanner
- Telephone with unlimited long distance service
- CD Burner

Software:

- Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Word, Outlook, Publisher)
- Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage (for web design, editing, and maintenance)
- Instant Messenger (AOL, Yahoo, MSN etc.)
- Antivirus Software
- Adobe Acrobat

While all the equipment and software above is not mandatory, they are very useful and worthwhile to learn how to use.

The Virtual Assistance industry is growing tremendously. It has enabled many to start their own business while being at home with their family. There are many great resources out there if you’re an aspiring Virtual Assistant.

Advancing with long-term career goals Microsoft certification has helped countless IT professionals work more effectively. Individuals have started quoting their valuable experiences during the Microsoft certification course on the websites available. The professionals of Microsoft certification course are very different from the IT counterparts. They not only keep on fighting the challenges of IT field but also have keep themselves a step ahead from them by developing and improving their skills. These certification processes gives one a kind of knowledge to know how to get recognized in any field.

The professionals of Microsoft certification are called at the Microsoft certified professionals or MCP. For the this Microsoft certification they have to pass current Microsoft certification exam which will proved a reliable and valid measure of professional and technical expertise. The validity of a current exam is only considered and not which is retired. Microsoft certification exams reflect how Microsoft products are used in the organization.

Microsoft certification exams are developed from the inputs received from the IT industry professionals. The independent testing organizations administer these exams. There is one very big reason why IT professionals and developers become Microsoft certified professionals is that they all know that their clients, peers, employees and the IT industry shall acknowledge their expertise in working with the Microsoft products and technologies.

There are various steps towards obtaining Microsoft certification. Firstly, one should decide which Microsoft certification is correct for the person. As Microsoft offers a vast variety of professions within the IT industry one should understand which course would be the best for him. One should also get handy with the Microsoft products, which can be done only after working in the IT industry. Experience should be expanded with training by taking advantage of the training resources.

For obtaining Microsoft certification, it is also better to know what to expect in the exam. Previous question papers or taking consultation from those who have appeared or cleared the test is always a good choice. Taking helps from the help guides for Microsoft certification exams is also an added advantage. These help provide guidelines and suggestions to the person appearing for the exam. It is also suggested to take trial tests before appearing for the final exam. The test center should be selected from the worldwide locations. Also certain details like area of study, testing program and region etc should be mentioned.

Even after polishing our skills set Microsoft certification provides other specific advantages. They are like the recognition of our knowledge and proficiency in the industry. One can also be accessed as MCP member on the websites and can obtain various offers and discounts on products and services. One can also get career information and simultaneously get invitations to conferences, special events and training sessions.

A Microsoft certification shows technical leadership over other peers as well as ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for any organizations or clients.

Choosing the best virtual assistant:

Outsourcing work to virtual assistants is very common these days, but it is essential to know if the virtual assistants are skilled and qualified to do the job.  Below given are the practical points, which need to be considered while choosing the virtual assistants:

Methods of checking the professionalism and competence:

Since almost all the virtual assistants work from a distance, they need to have an online presence in the form of website which provides the necessary information.  The websites provide clues on their professionalism and competence as it can be checked for its content, presentation, explanation of concept, navigation if easy or organized, well written without any spelling and grammar mistakes etc.  A website with improper structure and misspelling lets the client know the proficiency in language, the way the concept is explained and whether the virtual assistant is serious about her business or not.

Methods of checking the skills, attitude and expertise of the virtual assistant:

Once the web presence is checked and satisfied, the attitude, skills and expertise can be checked by calling the virtual assistant over phone or by meeting in person.  The response is checked for how well he responds to the enquiries, if timely or not, is he professional over the phone, how good he is in picking a call etc.

Checking for professionalism and finesse:  The virtual assistant chosen should not only deliver services on time with expertise, but should also be in a position to exhibit business sense.  The client should know the modality of work, processes involved, services provided, values and expectations etc for working together.

Checking for personality and professional traits:  If a virtual assistant has to be relied on business activities, he should be good enough to handle the business and hence he needs to be checked for confidence, articulation and trustworthiness and to see how well the client can connect with him, if he listens carefully and exhibits interest and curiosity, if he is smart and if he asks purposeful questions etc.

Experience in the particular field, testimonials which are presented in the website and pricing – if it is competitive or not, are all-important constraints in the selection process of virtual assistants.

Advantages for the employer due to telecommuting:

The overhead expenses involved in running the office is minimized to a greater extent, as they will have to spend only lesser amounts towards electricity charges, minimum car parking facility, smaller work space which in turn reduces the rent of the office building, less number of computers in the work place, etc.  The employer also benefits by not having to spend on a manager or supervisor to monitor the employees.  The ultimate aim of the employer is to get the work done on time and with greater accuracy, which can be got by having weekly meetings with the telecommuters. Also, the employer saves money by not spending on factors like traveling expenses and leave salary.  Some of the telecommuters even would like to take the job with a lesser salary as they get the benefit of working from home. Thus telecommuting benefits the employer by all the means.

As employees, the telecommuters get the flexibility of doing the job from home.  They can do their personal work and at the same time can complete the job on time by putting more effort during leisure time.  For example, a mother would like to work, when her kid is off to school and telecommuting makes it possible.  There is no need to go for work daily; hence it saves time, money and energy of the telecommuter.  Also, the Telecommuter need not compulsorily own a business; he can also work for company situated anywhere in the world.   Telecommuting jobs like the mystery shopper, restaurant spy and online photographer give a satisfaction to the people who are passionate about shopping, eating and taking photography.

The society too benefits from telecommuting job. Wondering how?  Traffic congestions are minimized, pollution is reduced and fuel usage is minimized.  The productivity too increases as the time wasted in commuting is reduced.

Outsourcing is a necessity for many businesses who are either not large enough to house a complete IT department or cannot find qualified individuals to hire for large scale, multilevel IT tasks, such as software installations, client server monitoring and local area or wide area network security. The reason outsourcing has become such a major issue for many of these companies has to do with the quality of services rendered and the economic implications of not being familiar with the pound value of the work performed. The problem of IT department managers outsourcing specific tasks as a means of avoiding having to gain at least a rudimentary understanding of them can have disastrous consequences on productivity and the bottom line.

Recognizing the need for training in the area of outsourcing has led many colleges and universities to promote outsourcing related coursework to a position of prominence in their overall administrative IT degree programs.
Open source technology can be a godsend for many industries yet almost always presents major problems for IT administrators, especially those who must monitor an environment where open source and commercial technologies coexist. Licensing issues and the tendency for open source programs to be modified extensively can wreak havoc on system fluidity and make the job of managing multiple platforms difficult.

Integration strategies for IT administrators are a type of training that many in the industry feel is long overdue. Educational institutions are beginning to see the need for such training and, although it is not yet covered as in-depth as outsourcing strategies, many have begun offering it as non-required curriculum.
Changes in the IT landscape are quick to find their way into educational programs that are currently producing the next generation of IT managers and administrators. In an industry that changes from week to week, it’s become a necessity.

Innovations in technology are always raising the bar for multimedia experts. Significant demand exists for technically skilled professionals who can design superior and aesthetically enjoyable graphic and multimedia content. A degree in graphics and multimedia can help you build on the knowledge necessary to create graphic-intensive content that helps to make attractive Web pages.  Experts in graphics and web design will teach students who pursue this specialized training.  A visual communications degree can leave you with a sound knowledge of the latest professional tools used for graphic design, graphics animation and image processing.

The evolution of the Internet and our media intensive society will continue to raise the demand for visual communications specialists.  Now is the time to become an expert in visual communications field and secure a job for your future.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 30,210 employed in this rapidly growing sector. The median annual salary is £57,520 (BLS, May 2004). If your interests are to study a greatly diverse combination of media areas, you should further investigate a degree in multimedia and visual communications.

Melissa Steele, <a target=”_new” href=”http:www.EducationGuys.comCollege Degrees @ EducationGuys.com

Taking MCP courses and passing MCP exams for your certification is perhaps the best and only way to let prospective bosses know that you grasp and thoroughly understand the most up to date technology and products to come from Microsoft. Without going through formal MCP training, you would have a pretty tough time relaying your knowledge to your current manager or future employers. They like to see those formal little letters like MCP on your resume. These employers seem to trust that a Microsoft certification.

So who typically goes through the MCP courses? The answer: Individuals who are most likely to need a broad range of technological knowledge. This could be salesman pushing software or other technical products. Consultants, product designers and even trainers can benefit as an MCP. Even people with other certifications like the MCSE benefit. They are usually network administrators and engineers or technicians providing support to end-users. Your MCP training in the MCP courses will show proficiency with one Microsoft operating system like Windows 2000 or Window XP.

The cool thing about the MCP is that you have to pass just one certification test from current Microsoft material. That means you cannot test on anything outdated. And one caveat is that the test cannot be on networking basics. This still leaves the field wide open on any number of MCP exams to choose from. Does your company have SQL database servers? Perhaps you might consider one of several exams on designing or administering SQL servers.

Maybe your dream job entails e-commerce or web site design. Take a look into MCP training in the topic of site servers or commerce servers. If you are customer service minded, take MCP exams in troubleshooting desktop systems for users or supporting mail servers. Keep in mind that experts in the technology sector help develop these exams, so you will be tested on the latest and greatest in technology.

When you get an MCP, you are showing your technological versatility. There are also advantages that come with passing those MCP exams. You are updated with the latest information through newsletters and you will also get invitations to special round table groups, training classes and conferences. This is also a perfect networking tool!

Just considering a Microsoft certification is the step in the right direction for your career. With an MCP, view it as the liberal arts degree in certifications. You can specialize with a major in MCSE or MCSD. But to take that first step, the MCP is the way to go.

“Avoid using abbreviations and acronyms in your cover letter and resume. Or at least spell it out in the first instance and give the abbreviation in parenthesis. For example, Medical Transcription (MT)” Linda S.

This is a great tip. I think many of us do abbreviate and we might not always remember to spell everything out in our cover letters and résumés, but it is important that we do.

“Don’t respond to a variety of ads by sending one email to numerous CC addresses.” Linda S.

You know I had no idea that anyone was doing this. Since I’m not an employer, I don’t have an inside view on things. I would highly suggest that if you’re doing this you do as Linda suggests and not send out a mass email to many recipients. At the VERY least make sure it’s a blind carbon copy, but I always suggest customizing each cover letter, résumé, and email to each jobcompany.

“If you are claiming “attention to detail” as one of your skills, make sure your cover letter and resume are free of typos and misspellings” Linda S.

I couldn’t agree more. When applying for a job you need to ALWAYS make sure it’s on point and you don’t have typos or misspellings. Especially if the job requires attention to detail, but even if it doesn’t you should follow this “rule” when applying to any job.

“Make sure your cover letter sounds enthusiastic about the job prospect.” Linda S.

I agree. I think that anything you can do to express your enthusiasm (in a professional manner) is a plus. I’m sure employers receive many boring emailscover letters and when one comes over that is not only professional, but enthusiastic and has your personality in it, then that is very refreshing.

“Tailor your skill summary to the advertised job. Mention specific skills that apply to the job and leave out the skills that don’t apply.” Linda S.

How glad I am to see that the advice I’ve been giving for years is truly what employers like to see. I’ve always said this and it’s now enforced by Linda. If you’re not doing this yet, start doing it right now!

“Don’t burn bridges. When you receive a letter saying you didn’t get the job, send a polite reply asking that your information be kept on file and express your interest in being considered for future openings. There is nothing to be gained by voicing any anger or resentment at not being chosen.” Linda S

I’m sad to know that this must have happened to her at some point in time. Please remember to always remain professional and friendly when communicating with an employer EVEN if you didn’t receive the job. You just never know when they will need to hire someone again and if you send an unprofessional and even hateful email then you can be sure you will never be considered for that job or any other job with that company again.

I hope this glimpse into the mind of an employer will open your eyes to what you should and should not be doing when applying and communicating with an employer. Remember to always remain professional and friendly – it will get you where you want to go.

Basically, the person responsible for making a logo or packaging design look superb and marketable is called a graphic designer. They are the ones responsible for attracting potential customers and increasing a company’s sale. In order to be a successful graphic designer, one must have excellent interpersonal skills and the knack to sell their ideas to executives.

If you wish to be a graphic designer you must be prepared to receive a college degree in advertising or fine arts focusing in graphic art and computer graphics. Although there are some who make it to the industry just by talent alone, most still need a degree or some sort of certificate to land a job as a graphic designer. Employers won’t even look at you if you lack the piece of paper that shows that you have been trained in graphic design related program. In addition, much of your competition would be graduates from college so it is better if you come prepared before plunging into the exciting world of graphic designs.

There many schools across America that offers graphic design related courses. There are courses in visual communication, graphic design, animation, advertising, and multimedia and web development among others. There are short term and long term programs offered in different schools. Short term programs are usually for one or two years while long term programs such as Bachelor of Fine Arts degree are often for three to four years. Nevertheless, both these programs offer a work placement in a business or studio during or after your studies. This can be a stepping stone for you in gaining the experience that you need to get hired.

To improve your experience in graphic designs, you can also do freelance work whenever you can. This will help you have a solid portfolio to present to your prospective employer when you get out of school and hunt for a real job. Likewise, you have to pay attention to the packaging designs and advertising trends in all forms of media to keep you updated with what is the latest in the industry.

Remember that being a graphic designer necessitates you to learn new software and be up to date on design trends constantly. There is more to being a graphic designer than sitting in front of the computer. Thus, you need to learn how to speak efficiently and learn how advertising and PR influence design decisions.