Allison Hemming

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Freelancers: How Do You Make Sure You Get Paid?

Allison Hemming on February 9, 2012

Freelancer Payment Protection Act, Freelancer's Union, freelancers, freelancing Comment

Earlier this week we asked you to familiarize yourself with the Freelancer Payment Protection Act and the Freelancers Union’s petition in support of it.

We ended up getting some great comments about it, and also got a whole lotta Twitter love. It seemed as if just about all of you had a story about getting stiffed as a freelancer — unfortunately, it almost goes with the territory. On the plus side, you’ve also given us some great ideas about how to avoid ever getting stiffed again, from basics about knowing your client to more advanced methods involving loan documents and copyright law (more on those later).

We’re not done yet, though — we also want ideas from The Hired Guns community-at-large. After all, it’s a pretty sure bet that all of us are going to spend some time in the free agent seat if we haven’t already. So let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter:

What tactics do you use to make sure you get paid for the work you do as a freelancer?

Please take a minute to post your best-kept secret for how to get paid by a client who’s holding back the Benjamins and keeping you from putting food on the table. We’ll review the results and post a story that features the very best ideas!

“Job Creation” in 2012: What You Can Do

Allison Hemming on December 22, 2011

New Year's, The Hired Guns, unemployment Comment

Dearest Guns,

Here at The Hired Guns, I love ending the year with an offer letter going out to a deserving Gun — that just happened about five minutes ago.

This candidate did what seemed impossible: against all odds, she got hired in December. She did it by being extremely patient and a smart negotiator. She’s getting to go on her holiday break with a deal in hand and a great new job for January. And as her agents, we had her back.

I don’t know about you, but I find it deeply distressing that these days hardly anyone seems to have the back of the American worker. Congress was supposed to extend the payroll tax cut that would put a few extra greenbacks in our wallets and extend the number of weeks of benefits to our unemployed brethren. That didn’t happen.

Why Great References Are the Gift That Keeps on Giving

Allison Hemming on November 14, 2011

job hunting, job references Comment

References are gold. You can expect to hold ten or more jobs between college graduation and retirement, and that means that you’re likely to be asking references to vouch for you a lot over the duration of your career. Keeping track of your references and staying in a relationship with them for the long haul isn’t just good networking, it’s just about a necessity for getting hired in the future.

“What’s Your Story?”: Master Your Message with Larry Smith on Oct 27

Allison Hemming on October 19, 2011

jobs, Larry Smith, storytelling Comment

The world of work’s not quite so friendly anymore (just ask the Occupy Wall Street folks), and knowing who you are and what to say when (and to whom) has never been more important to your career. Having a clear, consistent message is essential to landing — and keeping — your job.

That’s why on Thursday, Oct 27, back by popular demand, the Hired Guns Academy will be hosting “What’s Your Story?,” our popular class on storytelling and elevator pitches. It’s taught by Larry Smith, the creator of Smith magazine and Six Word Memoirs.

At the Hired Guns, we don’t do programming as usual. This course isn’t just about being able to glad-hand people at a cocktail party (though you will get to do that as an exercise during class).
It’s about learning your story and how to “flex” it so that you can handle any common workplace situation, including what to do when you get a new boss imposed on you. Check out how The Office‘s Dwight Schrute got sized up in two seconds flat by the new CEO, Robert California:

Terrified after watching? Good, then this class is for you. Book a slot — they’re going fast!

“Your time is limited”: Remembering Steve Jobs

Allison Hemming on October 6, 2011

Apple, innovation, Steve Jobs Comment

I was at the Business Insider Silicon Alley 100 event last night when news of Steve Jobs’s death hushed the room. People began to whip out their Macs and iPhones and stared at the news in disbelief while the glow of the very devices that Steve Jobs created washed over them. After the initial shock, the conversation quickly turned to the impact he made on the world and on individual lives.

Right now, with all the economic despair in the air, the European debt crisis gyrating daily, and Wall Street being occupied by the unemployed, it’s natural to feel paralyzed and out of control. And it’s easy to look at the loss of a leader like Steve Jobs and think that this really is the end of days for innovation in America. What’s next?

Job Hunting? Get Ready for Q4 and the Hiring Bump It’s Bringing

Allison Hemming on September 29, 2011

hiring, job hunting Comment

The gloom and doom about the state of the job market, the economy, and the political sphere are enough to send even the most optimistic job hunter over the edge these days. Well, friends, I am here to tell you to get back on track and to tune into what’s happening in your field. Today in Digital, hiring is what’s happening. Now that Q4 is here, it’s going to get a little nutty. Why?

The great standoff in Washington basically slowed the hiring process in August and much of September to a standstill. Our politicians are to blame, not the companies. Businesses did what they needed to do to survive — they were cautious, putting roles on hold and taking a wait-and-see attitude. But jobs are slowly getting reapproved, and we see conditions improving all around.

The Hired Guns Book Club: Part 3 of The Accidental Creative

Allison Hemming on September 5, 2011

Accidental Creative, creativity, Todd Henry Comment

Welcome to part 3 of The Hired Guns book club, which covers chapters 8 through 10 of Todd Henry’s The Accidental Creative. This week’s section is about helping you keep hitting your “creative rhythm” by showing you how to tie together the practices that were covered earlier.

(Just joining us? Head to our introductory post about the book.)

In the video below, Todd talks about the use of “checkpoints”—periodic check-ins you schedule with yourself to ensure that all the practices you started are still working. It’s also a time to see if there are any new practices you need to add to your routine. Hint: it’s not about deciding whether or not to take on a new organization system you’ve happened to hear about—it’s about thinking about all the new projects on the horizon and figuring out to make sure you have enough time and energy to accomplish everything that’s important, in your personal as well as professional life.

After you check out Todd’s video, you can post questions for him on Twitter, in the comments below, or on our Facebook page. He’ll be checking in from time to time, and he’d love to hear what you have to say!

Next week, on Monday, September 12, Todd will wrap up the book club by answering any questions you may have, and also talk about ways to extend the lessons in his book.

Previously:
Announcing The Hired Guns Book Club: The Accidental Creative
The Hired Guns Book Club: Part 1 of The Accidental Creative
The Hired Guns Book Club: Part 2 of The Accidental Creative

Also by Todd:
“Be a Laser, Not a Lighthouse” & Other Creative Leadership Essentials
The Accidental Creative: Are You Taking Ground or Just Maintaining It?
“Every Hero Needs a Bad Guy”: Who Are You Fighting Against?

The Hired Guns Book Club: Part 2 of The Accidental Creative

Allison Hemming on August 29, 2011

Accidental Creative, creativity, Todd Henry Comment

Welcome to part 2 of the group read for The Accidental Creative. Hope you had a chance to get through chapters 4 through 7 during all the Irene drama, and that you remained safe and dry.

(If you’re new to the book club, first check out our intro post to see what we’re covering.)

For part 2, Todd moves into ways to deal with the “assassins of creativity” he covered in part 1. Step one: defining your job so that you’re working on what’s mission-critical, not what just seems most important or urgent.

Building relationships are also important—despite the stereotype, most creative people need a strong, vibrant network to get their work done. Also discussed: ways to keep up your energy (you may have to prune what you do!), paying attention to what feeds your creative process, and reasons that “efficiency” shouldn’t be the main deciding factor in what you decide to do next.

So please check out the video below, and post questions for Todd on Twitter, in the comments below, or on our Facebook page. He’ll be checking in from time to time.

We’re also interested in finding out what “assassins” you’ve encountered at work, and how you’ve dealt with them.

Next week, in a Labor Day post, Todd will be covering chapters 8-10, which have more ways to keep your creative rhythm going—including using “checkpoints” to keep everything moving smoothly. He will also show you how to put together all that you’ve learned—and give some direction on where to go from here.

Previously:
Announcing The Hired Guns Book Club: The Accidental Creative
The Hired Guns Book Club: Part 1 of The Accidental Creative

Come on Irene: Top 10 Ways to Ride Out the Storm

Allison Hemming on August 26, 2011

hurricane Irene, lists, productivity Comment

Weather hyperbole be damned, Irene looks like she’s going to strike the east coast but hard. Sure you could hunker down and watch a bunch of Netflix and then Facebook your face off, but why not take the next 48 hours of uninterrupted time to work on your career, your productivity, and your creativity? Here’s a list, arranged roughly from the most beneficial steps to least.

1. Gear up for your year-end review…. Now! HR consulting firm Towers Watson just announced that the best workers inside companies will get a 4.3% bump this year. Make sure you’re in the promotion class. There are just four months left in the year, and if you want a little present in the form of a raise and a promotion under your tree this year, you have to make “the ask” and justify it. Get ready by “listifying” your major achievements for the year (this list also comes in handy when you need to update your resume and go out on interviews if you don’t end up getting what you’re looking for). Then schedule a meeting with your boss for next week.

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Author Archive

Freelancers: How Do You Make Sure You Get Paid?

“Job Creation” in 2012: What You Can Do

Why Great References Are the Gift That Keeps on Giving

“What’s Your Story?”: Master Your Message with Larry Smith on Oct 27

“Your time is limited”: Remembering Steve Jobs

Job Hunting? Get Ready for Q4 and the Hiring Bump It’s Bringing

The Hired Guns Book Club: Part 3 of The Accidental Creative

The Hired Guns Book Club: Part 2 of The Accidental Creative

Come on Irene: Top 10 Ways to Ride Out the Storm

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