Telecommuting

I’m off of my soap box for today, thanks to everyone who dropped by yesterday while I ranted about hateful blogs.  While I try to respect everyone’s opinions, sometimes it seems people just write things to agitate others- with no real point to the effort.

I am pleased to bring a few new jobs to the collection this morning, a nice combination of jobs for most of us who like to work on the web.  There is at least one thing I can say- there doesn’t seem to be any problem finding work if you can produce quality work on the web.  I can’t say the same for those poor folks at Caterpillar, Best Buy and a few other big name companies.  Lay offs are putting a lot of good people in dire straits.  If you know of anyone in this position- turn them onto working on the web- who knows?  It might help someone!

Examiner.com - still looking to flesh out their list of bloggers in dozens of areas.  This latest posting is for Denver, though I know they are looking for literally dozens of people who live in other cities as well.

AU Interactive - Technology Writer/Content Manager

Dyalogues - Bloggers wanted for beta testing - you’ll need a blogging buddy for this job

Private company - seeking financial blogger- you should already have your own finance blog as well

Who Is Hosting This - is looking for a webmaster who also happens to be a blogger

Trak Companies - looking for a Sales Consultant - Litigation Support

Dynamic Software Consultants - needs a Network Engineer - must live in the Pacific time zone

Oxyway - needs a Network Engineer with 3 years of administration experience

Private company - seeking a Data Stage Developer

Allegis Group - customer service

There is a theory on ProBlogger.com that people who write blogs, and expect longevity, should include a little spice, vitamins and a little sweetness when they write.  Basically, a little argument here and there, some real content and a little human interest- alternating these on your blog, of course.  What I notice lately (and you know who you are), is a whole lot of spice, not much content and no sweetness goes unpunished.

Since I promote a lot of blogging jobs on this particular blog, I’d like to remind people to remember to include a little of the vitamins and sweet stuff and to use a little less spice.  I’m not stupid- I know a good argument will drive people to your blog faster than a fly on a steaming pile of horse crap- but you’ll probably never “see” those people again.  The other downside is that you may actually alienate some of the people who actually do read your blog.

Keep your blogs pithy and to the point.  You’ll keep readers, maybe attract a few new ones and you’ll be less likely to receive a virus bomb in your email.

If the heat and electricity last throughout the night, I’ll be happy.  I’m in the midst of a freezing cold ice storm here in New York.  Somehow, my satellite dish for my WiFi connection is still holding out- so here goes!

I found quite a crop of blogger jobs today, so if nothing else, you can blog to your heart’s content if you land one of these jobs.

Wired Ventures - needs digital media and technology bloggers

ACP Magazines - needs a Linux blogger

Youth Sports Blogs - needs an editor/blogger

Site Point - needs a web design and development blogger

Internet Marketing Blogger - no company name listed

The Fresh Scent - blogger needed

Tap It - blogger needed for a water/going green website

Well if these don’t keep you busy for a while, I’ll be posting a bunch of other telecommuting jobs tomorrow.  Keep warm (for those of you in the North East) and see you then!

~~Gregg

I’m not sure how many of you work from home, but if you do, how many times have you heard, “But writing isn’t a real job, is it?”  My wife gets this all the time, and she works writing and editing from home full time.  I just started doing this a little over a month ago and I’m still met with, “yeah, but aren’t you looking for a real job?”

I think I’m beginning to see why women are viewed as not pulling their weight when they work from home.  It sounds like a cushy job; after all, they don’t have to punch a time clock or deal with ditzy co-workers or a difficult boss (or do they?).  However, I don’t think people really understand how difficult working from home really is.

Just consider the following (assuming there are a few kids in the picture):

• The kids are always wanting something, from food and attention to reading a book, all on demand
• When kids are around, don’t expect to make any or take any professional calls, at least until the kids can understand the words, “be quiet, or else!”
• It is hard to work when the kids are blasting the television, radio or Wii.
• Even if you have to work from home, you still have deadlines.
• You may still have to answer to a boss, even when you do work from home.
• Expect to be called on the carpet when things don’t turn out right.
• Not every client is easy to please.
• There are days when your computer is going to crash or your Internet connection is disrupted, throwing your online world into chaos.

So, based on all of this, I’d have to say unequivocally that writing is a real job, whether you do it in the comfort of your own home or from a cubicle in NYC.  It is all relevant and according to the Federal Government in the U.S., it is taxable- just like a REAL job!

I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has been encouraging me.  I guess I hit a little speed bump of doubt, but I’m back on track again!  I’m also taking everyone’s advice, and to start, I’m doing the little Entrecard “thing.”  You’ll find the little widget at the bottom right hand side of my blog.

I’ll be honest- I haven’t a clue how this thing is going to work for me.  It took me quite a while just to figure out how to put the Entrecard widget on my blog page!  A techie, I’m not.  If anyone wants to drop me a comment about how this has worked for them, please do so- I’m dying to know what the secret is.

As always, here are the latest job postings from the Internet for the past 48 hours.  I’m glad some of you have reported landing a few of these jobs!

Freelance Contract Writer - Prestige Creative Management Services

Freelance Anchor/Reporter - New York City area

Writer/Photographer/Editor - for Savvy.mn- deadline to apply is January 30

Art, Politics and Features Editor - Culture 11 (see below)

OUR FEATURES EDITOR seeks exceptional non-fiction, ideally with a narrative element — 1,000 to 3,000 words, a premium put on great reportage, skillful storytelling and fresh ideas. Also considered: personal essays, idea driven arguments and dispatches that make an argument about what a place is like (see our Pins on a Map feature). Some writers who execute the kind of feature pieces in which we’re interested include Michael Lewis, Tom Wolfe, Heather MacDonald, Malcolm Gladwell, Joan Didion, Jack Hitt, Josh Levin, Susan Orlean, Lawrence Weschler, Ian Frazier, Clive Thompson, Lawrence Wright, Ted Conover and Chris Anderson. Send pitches and/or submissions to conor@culture11.com — any e-mail you send me should have at least one idea for a piece.

OUR POLITICS EDITOR seeks confident, thoughtful reported stories and ideas commentary, 700 to 1600 words. Emphasis is on direct, firsthand experience; a premium is placed on your ability to contextualize big, important issues within a framework that your experience creates. Think Hunter Thompson on the ‘68 Convention, Christopher Hitchens on Cyprus, David Rieff, Rebecca West, Taki, David Brooks. Direct pitches and submissions to conor@culture11.com and put POLITICS in the subject line. Pitches must be clearly, concisely, and thoroughly detailed, unless they are brilliant, in which case they may be of whatever length or detail. The editor is willing to take risks and even wing it but is not to be trifled with.

OUR ARTS EDITOR seeks informed criticism and reported essays on the state of pop culture in the 800-1500 word range. A wide range of subjects will be considered: Movies, television, video games, music, celebrity culture, popular fiction, technology, and Internet trends are all areas of interest. Tonally, pieces will vary — some will be enthusiastic, some critical, some serious, others frivolous — but they’ll all share a strong curiosity about how Americans interact with the world of technology and pop culture. So if you’ve got innovative ideas, clear prose, humor, and a strong grasp of the pop landscape, send your pitches (2-3 paragraphs) to peter@culture11.com.

Have fun with these, and if you land any, please drop me a line.  I’d love to hear your success stories!

~~Gregg

Okay, after some positive reinforcements, I’m willing to continue bringing you the latest telecommuting jobs on the web, at least until I get the boot!  I’ve joined entrecard at the urging of some of my readers, and here’s hoping for the best.  I’m also going to try a few other marketing ideas and we’ll see what happens.

So, without further ado, here are the latest telecommuting postings I’ve found.  They were posted on the web in the last 48 hours:

Featured Travel Blogger - for Vagabondish.com

Freelance Writer/Blogger - for Examiner.com in Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Nashville plus a boatload more cities across the U.S.  I guess this is one business that is growing!

Freelance Energy Writer - for Smart Brief Inc.  5 years experience necessary.

Communications Contractor - for BzzAgent, part-time

Product Sales Executive - McKesson Corporation- part-time telecommute/part time in office - in San Francisco

Recruiter - telecommute most of the time in Ellicott City, MD

Hope someone finds a job from these listings!  As always, don’t forget to check out other online job sites (free ones, of course, like Telecommuting4you.com), Elance, ODesk, Yahoo Jobs, Monster.com and others.  I’ve yet to find a paid site that doesn’t just list the free jobs from these other no-fee job listing sites.

This may well be the last month you’ll find this blog on Today.com.  While I know technology is ever changing, the majority of us bloggers will be lost in the dust with the new main page format of Today.com.  The only blogs that will be highlighted are those that are either snarky or have been in the top 10 forever, and they’ll stay in the top ten because their links are on the main page.

I understand that we all must plug our blogs elsewhere, and I haven’t had much time to get this done before the new format change.  This is a new blog.  I’m afraid that even if I do get more ads and links up on other websites, it will be too late.

I’m sure many of you are in the same boat and I wish you all well.  I’ll continue to post until the end of January, and at that time I may have to move to another blog site.

Would you actually work for $2 dollars an hour?  Many people do and in the end, have little to show for their efforts.  Personally, I find it ridiculous that perfectly sane individuals line up to work for clients that only want to pay them $2 for a several hundred word article.  Please, don’t sell yourself short!  The minimum wage in the U.S. is more than double that.  If you’re going to sell yourself short you may as well work at a fast food restaurant and at least earn a minimum wage with benefits.

The reason I’m on this little rant today is because I was looking at the job postings on some of the more popular freelance work sites- like ODesk and Elance.  As long as there are people out there willing to work for a pittance, it will drive down the wages for all writers.  You deserve to get paid what your worth- and I think those reading this will agree their time is worth more than that.

I’ll get off my soapbox now and post some of the jobs I’ve located today:

Freelance Writer Blogger - the Examiner in Miami

Freelance Writer Blogger - the Examiner in Baltimore

Freelance Writer Blogger - the Examiner in Atlanta

Customer Service/Office Worker - must be located in midtown NYC; will train the right person

Article Writer/Blogger - posted on Elance- register to view this posting

Web Programming - posted on Elance - register to view this posting

*It is free to register on Elance, so if you’re having trouble viewing those postings I’ve listed, just register to view them.  When I use FireFox, I usually get an error message when I try to view those postings without signing in at Elance first.

There are so few new job postings on the Internet it is beginning to look like a ghost town in cyberspace.  I swear I actually saw a few virtual tumbleweeds blow across my screen today.  I’m going to chalk it up to people waiting until Obama took office before they starting posting job openings.  Or, perhaps it just wishful thinking on my part- if the jobs weren’t there yesterday, they probably aren’t going to be there today, tomorrow or a week from now.  Alas, it is just a depressing day searching for work.

I’ve managed to find a few SEO jobs here and there from the posts I’ve given links to in my past blogs, so perhaps there is hope for all of you out there too.  As a friend of mine used to say, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then.”

Today’s telecommuting jobs are as follows:

Soccer Blogger - if you’re passionate, opinionated and soccer-mad (yikes, stand back!), there is a job waiting for you at the Daily Soccer Blog

Work for ASP - there are so many job openings with this company, it is better to just check out this link- everything from server developers to telemarketing and HR positions

SEO Director - confidential company; must join TheLadders.com to apply (yep, that 100K job website)

Account Exec - confidential company; sales experience a must

Skilled Policy Typist - for Mortgage Board in Gainsville, FL

Senior Architect/SQL Server - 6-9 month contract

I’m sure some of you out there are thinking blogging is a harmless little hobby, a business sideline, a simple way to communicate ideas.  But are blogs really safe?  In researching the blogging biz, I’ve come up with a few real-life lessons in why blogging can be dangerous to your career and your health:

Kathy Sierra - received numerous threats of violence and death on several of her blogs.  She states:

“I do not want to be part of a culture — the Blogosphere — where this is considered acceptable,” Sierra noted on her blog. “Most of all, I now fully understand the impact of death threats. It really doesn’t make much difference whether the person intends to act on the threat … it’s the threat itself that inflicts the damage. It’s the threat that makes you question whether that ‘anonymous’ person is as disturbed as their comments and pictures suggest.”

Sri Lanken Blogger - the same happens all over the world, not just in the United States.  Depending upon your political views, you could be a target as well.  Consider the following on Shaninfor :

“Apart from threats, filth has become common in Sri Lankan blogspehere. The targets invariably are those who question the politica views of Rajapaksa regime. I receive more than my fair share. Beyond Frame, a Sinhala Blogger, who often antagonizes the Talibans, says he receives the everyday. There are also bloggers who use filth in their posts. (Avoid naming them as I have no intentions provoking them.)”

Athiest Blogger - nothing can get a good argument going like an athiest blogger versus a Catholic… only this argument ended with death threats:

“… University of Minnesota biology professor PZ Myers was flabbergasted. A leading atheist blogger, he announced that if readers sent him a consecrated host he’d “show you sacrilege, gladly, and with much fanfare.”

For many, the anoniminity is the only way they can post what they truly think in the blogosophere.  Rarely will these cyber terrorists reveal who they really are because they are quite simply, cowards.  Many bloggers, however, refuse to stop or even play possum- the thrill is in writing that post each and every day, regardless of the nay sayers and bullies.

To those that continue to post their blogs despite the threats, I raise my glass (after carefully inspecting it for poison).