It’s the beginning of the summer and I’m continuing on with a visual diary of my day-to-day.
Photographing every day was something I used to do religiously and since 2020 I really slowed down with this.
Needless to say, I’m really enjoying just taking snapshots throughout the day and it’s lead me to ponder while I’m out walking.
Last night a thought hit me after I saw an ad for a training video on how college kids could spruce up their resumes.
In my adult life, I have never gotten a job I have applied to.
Part of this I understand I did drop out of college and I understand that on paper this could look like a lack of commitment.
The other part that I don’t understand is that I was qualified for many of these jobs.
This is something that really used to bother me.
Now I am grateful as hell that I’ve never had to work for somebody else’s dreams but I didn’t always feel this way.
At one point I applied to over 150 jobs in a single year and I can’t tell you how many times my inbox came back with “Although your resume was impressive we regret to inform you blah blah blah”
I used to feel pretty worth this from these emails.
What was I doing wrong and what was wrong with me?
Did these people even take the time to look at my work rather than just skimming my resume?
Probably not and eventually I got a full-time job that I didn’t apply to.
I was shocked as hell but after speaking with the company they found my website through my linked-in page and they loved my work.
Finally, somebody had taken the time to read these blogs and see my actual photos not just skimmed my resume.
Fast forward a few months after working with them and I hated it.
Spending 16 hours a day shooting and editing and making half of what I was making while being self-employed was not enticing to me even if they were going to pay for my health insurance.
Again it felt like I was working to fulfill someone else’s dreams rather than my own.
This made me think about a lot of things, how does one get clients, how do you keep them, do I have a problem with having a boss, etc.
To answer all of those questions the first thing you need is good relationships with people.
Helping people will get you clients and so will making good work consistently.
Let the way you treat people and your work be your resume not a piece of paper.
Secondly, you keep a client by addressing their needs.
If they say that want more motion in their photos gives them more motion.
Nobody wants a grape soda when they asked for a grape Gatorade.
Do I have a problem with having a boss and the answer to that is no I have tons of bosses being a freelancer some are reasonable and others are a total pain in the ass.
The goal here is always to make an outline or scope of work beforehand so all of these bosses can know exactly what they will be getting from you.
Communication is everything when you are working as a freelancer.
To sum this up it isn’t easy to get a job when your emailing a piece of paper people can easily say no to.
What’s most important is to build relationships in person in the industry you want to be in and to help people out.
I’ve still never been hired at a job I’ve applied to but I’ve gotten hundreds of jobs through people I‘ve given to.
All thee best,
Atticus
