. 

.

. 

The Classic Conundrum: No Experience = No Job & Vice Versa:

.

I guess it was fitting this morning, the first anniversary of my writing business, that while listening to the radio, the classic Eagles song came on…"Johnny-come-lately, the new kid in town..." Yes, it was one year ago that I threw caution to the wind and decided, for-better-or-for-worse, to go the route of freelancer.

.

I sat at my desk that very first day and got ready to start. I turned on the computer, waited as the screen burst to life and I …froze! I was completely dumbstruck. Where was I to begin? What was I to do? The freedom from the constraints of the traditional workplace, which moments ago had seemed so invigorating and freeing, now seemed disconcerting as I contemplated closing a chapter of my life and opening another anew. Overwhelmed, I gave up, turned on FOX News, took our dog for a walk, eventually applied for some positions online and spent the remainder of the day pondering my future. Day two was much of the same as were three, four and five. Responses to my ads, applications and resumes sent? None.

.

I was stuck in the classic "New Kid on the Block Conundrum." Yes, that Catch-22 that all "Johnny-Come-Latelies" find themselves in. You need documented experience to get started and without that experience nobody will give you a chance to acquire experience.

.

As a freelancer or independent, no matter your profession, there are two things which are essential for marketing oneself to prospective clients and customers. A portfolio is a visual demonstration of work which you have performed for clients and testimonials are feedback, both written and verbal, from satisfied clients. Both of these marketing tools go far toward proving to those who might hire you that "the best indicator of future success is past success." The Catch-22 is in having no past clients or past success.

.

As a writer, I had my published literary works, but the pride I felt at having my works of fiction and poetry in print was not equaled by any marketability which they provided as pertained to my goals of writing web-content, speeches, resumes, corporate bios, etc… I was not being hired and knew in my heart that the positions which I so craved were being given to those with documented experience in the form of portfolios, testimonials and resumes which proudly contained performed jobs.

.

.

.

My solution:  Break out of the Catch-22 by Working for Free

.

If my career was going to take off and last more than a week or two, I knew I would have to take a non-traditional, unconventional approach to building up my credentials: My mind raced and...a plan was hatched. It was drastic. It was out of the ordinary. It was so absurd it just might work. I would work for free for anyone willing to give me a chance…

.

Working for free might sound like a horrible waste of time, but it need not be. It can very easily be rethought of or re-framed as an unpaid internship. For those caught in the Catch-22 it can be an extremely effective way to extricate oneself from the no-experience predicament.

.

So I began. I contacted people who were looking for a writer and offered my services for free. I stated up front that I expected no financial compensation for the completed project. But I added, if the work was deemed to be of quality workmanship by the client, compensation would be expected in the form of my being allowed to include the work in my portfolio, in my resume and by means of a glowing testimonial.

.

.

The Outcome: Doors Swinging Wide Open!

.

It took me just over a month of working for free to get things off the ground. Four projects for four clients in all which entailed an unpaid internship of approximately 75 hours. It provided me with four portfolio items, four additions to my resume and four testimonials testifying to a job-well-done.

.

In retrospect, it was time well spent. At age 40, I had been alive for over 350,000 hours...what was another 75 working for free? I would highly recommend this unconventional approach to anyone who finds him or herself bogged down in the same predicament. Temper your disappointment at not being financially compensated by thinking of an unpaid internship as a long-term investment in your professional future. If you think of your business as a solid building you hope one day to erect, then the self-imposed free internship is laying the foundation.

.

Had I not done it, today, day 365 of my business, I might still be sitting in front of my computer waiting for my first job!

.

.

As always, "Thank You" for visiting my blog and for taking the time to read what I have written! The blog, going strong for six months now, is updated twice weekly, so stop by again for regular posts on everything business! 

.

. 

All images courtesy of www.flickr.com  

.