Well the nibble from the recruiter last week fizzled. I suppose since she described the client as “frugal” was a big clue to me that it really wasn’t going to work out. I hate people like that…people who want a website for around $200. I can only guess that when she told them what it would probably cost (with the recruiter’s fee tacked on top) they balked. Anyway, she was interested so into my database her name will go. I’m glad she called too, even though it didn’t work out. Because it got my brain churning about what ARE my rates?? It made me really think hard about that.

Got a call from a recruiter who has a client that needs a website redesign. I thought the call went well but it really got me thinking. I’ve got to figure out my pricing. What am I going to charge? As I stated previously, working with a recruiter will mean I need to ask for a lower hourly rate as opposed to when I find the client myself. This is good. It’s really got me wondering “what am I worth.”

Still trying to figure out some ways to bring some money into my accounts. Freelancing is tough simply because clients are just lining the streets. But I’m still brainstorming ways that I could do this and am considering several options:

• Recruitment agencies – basically you work for the agency and they find you temporary and contract work. Problem is, you have to take a cut in hourly rate because the have to tack on I guess about 20% over and above your going rate.
• Obviously, my greatest strength right now is as a web designer. However, I don’t know that I want to market myself as a designer who creates custom, unique websites for each client. But there are other alternatives, like marketing website packages that I have already developed, “canned” so to speak;  and marketing/selling them to small businesses, artists and individuals. That way, the prices for the sites can be lower (because they aren’t 100% unique) so the time is also cut down on the customization – a win-win for me and the potential client. It would be sort of like buying a website “off the rack” as opposed to haute couture (made to order).
• Selling illustrations to stock photography sites

Not certain that I fully understand all the nuances on how and what to do. I’m sure there is a great deal I’m missing here. But again, I figure what the heck. Might as well go for it. I’d like to find some other options besides Monster and Career Builders. But went ahead and updated my profile and uploaded my resume on Career Builders as well. A few weeks ago I did the same on Monster.

I have actually already gotten some nibbles from recruiters from both these sites. However most of the emails are from people looking for someone to sell insurance. No thanks.

But its nice that there are actual human beings out there that saw my resume and profile. Clicked further to view my online resume and thought enough to at least inquire a little about possible jobs. I don’t expect any “dream jobs” to be found this way. But I would definitely like some temporary and contract work. I needs me some money to fill the kitty. It is almost empty now!

So I bit the bullet and finally completed my profile and resume on Monster.com. Not certain why I hesitated so much. I guess it felt like ridiculous odds, so why bother. But then I realized that it couldn’t hurt anything. Anyone searching resumes for my skills, my profile will come (along with 5000 others). But what the hay. I can at least get my name and resume “out there”. The main thing I hope to garner from this right now is work with recruiters on temporary and contract design work.