Month: December 2019

How To Become A Runway Model: Guide To Success

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Runway modeling certainly looks like a glamorous job.

Models get to wear fancy dresses, travel to exotic locations, meet celebrities and powerful people, and work with the biggest names in the fashion industry.

Yes, it’s all that, but you have to meet stringent physical requirements, work hard for long hours, and have a Plan B or a strategy for life after runway modeling.

In today’s blog post, we discuss how to become a runway model: the skills involved, how much you can possibly make, and what careers you can go into after runway modeling.

How To Become A Runway Model

Below is a list of tips to follow to break into the modeling industry and launch your career as a runway model.

1. Make sure you meet the physical requirements.

Generally, fashion houses and modeling agencies look for female models 16 to 21 years old, 5 foot 8 inches and above in height.

Officially, there aren’t exact weight requirements, but most international runway models weigh between 110 to 130 pounds. With that kind of height, it’s quite logical that you’ll have to be quite lean and skinny.

If you’re below 18 years old, you’ll need to have a parent or legal guardian sign your contract, and you might need to have a work permit depending on where you want to work.

2. Take care of yourself.

Runway model diet

Take care of your body and your general health. Modeling is all about how you look, and if you’re not taking care of yourself inside and out, it will show on your skin, your hair, and your figure.

Plus, modeling is hard work. You’ll need to be at your healthiest if you don’t want to get sick while you endure the long hours, physical exertion, and mental load of being a runway model.

Assess your lifestyle and make the necessary changes for a more wholesome one.

Eat fewer empty calories and more fruits and vegetables, and keep yourself hydrated.

If you don’t already have a skincare regimen, develop one. The most basic one you can do is cleanse, tone, and moisturize every morning and every night before you go to sleep.

Always wear sunscreen even when you’re staying indoors, and never go to sleep with your makeup on.

Start an exercise regimen that you’re likely to stick to, especially those that strengthen your core and legs, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking and standing up.

Stay away from alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. You’ll need to be as healthy as you can be because it shows in your appearance.

3. Work on your walk.

Becoming a runway model entails having a commanding runway walk.

Pull your shoulders down and back. This pulls up your head automatically, but keeping it up takes conscious effort.

This straight posture comes naturally to some, but others would need to practice this by balancing a book on top of their head and walking around. Yoga also helps.

Keep your eyes straight ahead and relax your jaw. You want to look aloof but not tense.

Your arms should swing naturally, your toes should point forward, and your hips should sway confidently. Don’t exaggerate your movements.

Runway model walk

When you get to the end of the walk, wait for a beat then strike a pose by leaning on one hip. Hold the pose for a couple of seconds, then walk back to your starting point.

Practice by taping off a 6 inch by 15 feet rectangle on your floor, or on a wooden plank with the same dimensions (sand it off, no one wants splinters) and place a mirror at the very end so you can see yourself.

Practice your walk to different songs with different rhythms, wearing different types of clothes (swimwear/lingerie, loungewear, casual, athleisure, couture, winter wear), in different types of shoes (ballet flats, sandals, stilettos, kitty heels, wedges).

The next level is developing your own style, like Naomi Campbell’s strut or Gisele Bündchen’s horse walk. As you practice and as you do actual runway jobs, you’ll find your walk.

4. Practice different poses in front of the camera.

Aside from your walk, what makes you stand out as a runway model are your poses at the end of the runway walk.

Practice your poses in front of the mirror. The usual pose at the end of the runway is standing with one hand on your hip and leaning into that hip, but try playing around with your pose.

It helps to have a photographer work with you so you can review how your poses look. If you can’t afford a photographer, set up a tripod with a camera and set it on burst to capture your poses.

Practice your facial expressions as well. Experiment with a sexy look, a fierce stare, or a smize. Look distant, happy, or blank. Try a half-smile, close-mouthed smile, and the biggest smile you can muster.

5. Study, study, study.

There are plenty of modeling books to peruse on everything from the history of fashion, to supermodel biographies, and instructional books.

If you don’t want to spring for books, watch free videos of runway models on YouTube and even FashionTV, if you have cable.

Study how to do your own makeup as well. Educate yourself about your skin, what products and ingredients work with it, and which ones to avoid.

6. Get an excellent modeling portfolio.

Your modeling portfolio is essentially your résumé and calling card.

It’s the first thing modeling agencies and clients look at when you want to be considered for a job or a gig.

To make a great first impression, what you want is a modeling portfolio showing high-quality, stunning photos that capture the entire range of your looks and what makes you unique from every other model.

Hire a professional photographer who already has experience taking photos of models for editorials, commercials, or catalog shoots. Choose a photographer whose work you like and matches your style.

Go over your contract with the photographer thoroughly. Be very clear on how much you need to pay and what’s included in the package. Make sure you get the digital copies of your photos as well.

Modeling portfolio

You’ll want up to 20 photos total, with headshots, profile poses, full-body shots, and back shots. Include a variety of facial expressions as well; serious, smiling, pensive, laughing.

Mix up your look with a variety of hair and makeup looks, from a very minimal look to couture makeup. Hire a professional makeup artist and a hairstylist to help you achieve this range of looks.

Wear simple clothing that shows off your figure, as that’s what agencies want to see. A good outfit is a crisp button-down shirt that fits well, figure-hugging (but not too tight) jeans, no jewelry, and dressy shoes.

Work on both an online version and a printed version of your modeling portfolio. The online version is for sharing with your digital contacts and so that you can be searched online, while the printed version is for handing to someone you meet personally.

7. Look for a modeling agency.

Here are a couple of lists of the top modeling agencies in the US and the top international modeling agencies to get you started.

You can also do a good old-fashioned Google search for modeling agencies near you or where you want to work.

Do your research on the modeling agencies you’re interested in: their clients, their culture, any news items about them, reviews and testimonials from their models, and all the information you can gather.

Their application guidelines are likely to be published on their website as well. Review them and make sure you understand them before starting the application process.

When you’re satisfied that the modeling agencies you’re interested in are legitimate and are a good fit for you, reach out to them through their contact information and submit your online portfolio if you can.

If you’re contacted back and asked to meet with an agency, do your best to give a great first impression. Don’t overdo your hair and makeup; keep everything clean, well-groomed, tidy, and neutral. Wear clothes that show off your figure tastefully.

Show up on time, having done your background research beforehand. Also make sure you’re up to date with the currently popular designers and models, recent issues and events, and fashion trends.

Exude confidence and sincerity. Answer questions truthfully but tactfully.

Never sign up with agencies that sell you modeling classes or photo sessions, or ask for money upfront.

8. Grow a thick skin.

As I’ve pointed out, the modeling industry is a highly competitive one. You will be rejected, criticized, and even insulted.

If you let this get into your head, you’ll probably quit in a few days. So do what you need to do to toughen yourself up and let all the harsh words roll off your back.

Eventually, you’ll be assigned to a job that is perfect for your look and personality. Think of each rejection as one step closer to the right job for you.

Aside from this, the demands of the job will eventually take its toll on you.

Being a runway model means early call times for jobs that stretch into the night, going from waiting around the whole day to hectic backstage prep and runway shows, to partying and socializing till the wee hours of the morning, then getting only a few hours of sleep before you have to do everything all over again.

You’ll also likely be traveling a lot; the constant jet lag and homesickness can chip away at you physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Lonely travel

Avoid temptations to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, and instead work on maintaining your healthy lifestyle, and find hobbies you can do during your downtime to avoid feeling too overwhelmed.

Find yourself a support system that you can trust to influence you to make good decisions, and seek professional help if you feel you need it.

9. Be a professional.

Runway modeling is far from a conventional job, but it still is a job.

Treat it like one.

Never be late, always answer phone calls, and always reply to emails. If you can’t, return the phone call or email as soon as you can.

When you commit to an assignment, do all you can to fulfill your end of the contract.

Regard everyone with the same respect, from makeup artists to photographers to designers.

This also means respecting yourself. You’re a human being with thoughts and feelings. There are times when you’ll be asked to do something that you’re uncomfortable with or crosses a moral, ethical, or legal line.

Know when to speak up and make your opinions known. No career should be more important than your integrity.

10. Keep yourself safe.

You are most vulnerable when you’re only starting out. Always have your guard up and protect yourself.

It bears repeating that you DO NOT need to pay any money for modeling school, lessons, training, or test shoots. Your agency should be taking care of all that.

Get yourself a lawyer to look over contracts so you don’t get any unpleasant surprises and everything is fair.

You may be lured to join fake go-sees, modeling contests, or free photography sessions designed to scam you, rob you, take advantage of free labor, or worse. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Do your best to always have someone with you when going to photoshoots, go-sees, or shows in places you’re unfamiliar with and with people you don’t know.

Maintain a few contacts with whom you continually update your whereabouts and what’s been happening with your modeling career.

How Much You Can Make As A Runway Model

Supermodels earn millions of dollars every year. Top-earning model Kendall Jenner earned $40 million in 2021, and the top 10 highest-paid models collectively earned $284 million the same year.

But these amounts include what these models make from endorsement deals and other business partnerships, and does not include tax and fees to agents and managers.

Relatively unknown runway models, however, have a wildly variable salary; they can make anywhere from $0 to $20,000 or more for a single show. Yes, starting from $0.

Sadly, it’s not unheard of for runway models to be paid nothing for a show and being rewarded instead with exposure; sometimes free food, clothing, or other merchandise.

Runway models would sometimes have to choose jobs that aren’t very high-profile but paid cash, or prestigious shows that offer very little but exposure and opportunities to mingle with the movers and shakers in the modeling industry.

It’s a tough industry to break into and earn a lot, but if you persevere and keep working hard and reaching out to the right people, you’re going closer to your target wage.

Common Modeling Scams to Avoid

If you’re just a beginner in runway modeling, unfortunately, you are the prime target of modeling scams.

At best, these scams can cost you a lot of money, but at worst, they can cost you your safety and even your life.

Here are some modeling scams to be aware of and how to avoid them.

Bogus agencies. Unfortunately, fake modeling agencies have grown alongside legitimate ones.

So how do you know if a modeling agency is fake?

The first red flag to look for is in their business hours. Real modeling agencies operate during usual business hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If you’re contacted by a modeling agency to attend a so-called “open call” or “talent review” on a weekend or in the evening, be suspicious.

Before you come into their office, do your research online first. Find the company website and use their contact information to check if they have a license in their state.

You can also go to the Better Business Bureau website and check if there are any complaints against them.

Go on modeling forums online and ask around if other models have had experience with this particular modeling agency.

When you do come into their office, look at their walls. Do they have a license displayed? If not, that’s another red flag.

Legitimate modeling agencies earn money by securing work for their talents. They are paid on a commission basis and are paid only after they get work for their talents, and not before.

If they ask for money upfront to represent you, run.

Modeling agencies also shouldn’t be pushing an “exclusive” photographer to do your test shots. You should be given recommendations, but who you hire should be your own decision. If the agency requires you to go to one specific photographer, they’re likely to be getting kickbacks.

You should also be allowed to think on a contract for a few days and have an attorney or another trusted third party to do it for you. Any questions you have should be answered to your satisfaction.

If they’re rushing to get you to sign, or threaten to withdraw the offer if you don’t sign within the day, that’s a huge red flag.

Modeling school scams. As I’ve mentioned, when you’ve found a modeling agency to work with, they should be taking care of the costs of modeling classes.

You might still be tempted to enroll in a modeling school before you go into an agency to learn all the skills you’ll need.

However, industry insiders agree that instead of attending a modeling school, you’re more likely to gain the experience and training you need on the job; during test shoots, by interacting with fellow models, and through coaching from your agent.

Plus, in reality, potential clients who choose which models to book won’t care if they went to modeling school anyway.

If anything, it’s better spent on classes for a specific skill that you may be lacking.

For instance, if you’re a bit shy, enroll in public speaking classes. If you don’t know how to do your makeup, enroll in a makeup class.

Bottom line: Save your money, time, and effort and skip modeling school.

Nude photo scams. Legitimate modeling agencies and scouts will never, ever ask you for nude photos. If you do receive such a request, it’s important to report this to law enforcement; it’s likely they’ve done it before and will do it again.

Other Modeling Careers To Consider

Runway modeling simply isn’t for everyone.

It takes a certain look, body type, and height to be a runway model.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t be a model. Here are other modeling careers to consider.

Fashion/Editorial model. Editorial or print modeling refers to showcasing fashion designers and trends through a pictorial story. Modeling in these editorials is highly desired because these editorials set the current trends.

The standard height requirement for fashion models is 5 feet and 9 inches to 6 feet, as well as a lean, skinny body type.

Catalog model. The purpose of catalogs is to attract customers to purchase products or avail of their services, with catchy visuals and persuasive copy.

Thus, catalog models look more like real, everyday people to catch the buyer’s attention.

The physical requirements of catalog models aren’t as strict as those of editorial models, although they do have to have personality and a dazzling smile.

Promotional model. Also known as “promo models” or “brand ambassadors,” they interact with customers directly with the aim of attracting them to the product or service that the models are promoting.

As with all other models, promotional models have to be conventionally attractive, but more than that, they’ll have to be smart and articulate to be able to share their in-depth knowledge about the product they’re promoting to potential customers.

Promotional models are usually assigned in trade shows, events, malls, and other public spaces.

Parts model. Nope, I don’t mean car parts.

A parts model shows off a specific part of the body, such as a hand, leg, foot, facial features, chest, lips, eyes, and other body parts for editorial, commercial, and catalog work.

Hand model

The demand is mostly for attractive body parts, but there are also companies and advertisers that look for unattractive body parts, depending on the type of campaign they’re running.

Swimsuit and lingerie model. Showing off swimsuits and lingerie usually requires a model with flawless skin and a voluptuous, curvy physique due to the nature of the clothing; revealing and body-hugging.

Aside from swimsuits and lingerie, these models may also be tapped to model sleepwear, shapewear, and other undergarments.

Fitness model. If your body type is lean but more muscular than skinny, being a fitness model might be for you.

Being a fitness model for the long term is demanding; it requires models to maintain their toned physiques and body weights to continue working.

Fitness models are in demand by athletic wear, supplement, and fitness companies.

Plus-size model. The usual size for runway models and models, in general, is “tall and skinny.”

But plus-size models are now slowly making their own space in the modeling industry, with models like Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday being highly popular.

Generally speaking, plus-size models are larger than the average model, but this doesn’t automatically mean overweight or obese; they normally wear between a US size 8 to a US size 14. In fact, the majority of women in the US would be considered plus-sized.

The good news is this industry is growing; more and more fashion agencies are hiring plus-size models and redefining the standards of “beauty” in this industry.

Plus-size models are increasingly in demand in catwalks, editorials, and commercials.

Alternative model. The modeling industry seems to be obsessed with fitting into a certain look.

But nowadays, more and more companies are realizing that their target audience wants to see more models that mirror their own appearance and body types, as well as unique characteristics that have historically been viewed as “imperfections” and “flaws” in traditional modeling.

If you have unnatural hair color, tattoos, piercings, freckles, wrinkles, stretch marks, vitiligo, or any other skin markings, are aged over 40, or are simply not a conventional beauty, you don’t have to discount your dream of being a model anymore.

There are alternative modeling agencies you can find and contact to help you get your modeling career started.

Careers After Runway Modeling

Runway modeling is not a lifelong career.

While you’re reaping the benefits of your runway modeling, start thinking about your future after runway modeling.

Save yourself from the shock of a career shift by considering this early on and recognizing it as inevitable.

Here are some careers that you can consider taking up when you’re done being a runway model.

  • Fashion design
  • Fashion consultant
  • Fashion stylist
  • Fashion journalism/blogging
  • Photography
  • Makeup artist
  • Hairstylist
  • Influencer/brand ambassador
  • Fitness instructor
  • Acting/show business
  • Any passions or interests outside of fashion

The Secrets to Becoming a Successful Runway Model

Becoming a runway model seems easy and glamorous.

But as we’ve learned today, it’s actually a challenging job in a highly demanding industry.

It’s going to take plenty of discipline, hard work, and perseverance to become a successful runway model.

Hopefully, this article helped you create a strategy to get started as a runway model.

Other Resources

Here are other ways to get paid to wear clothes.

How’s Your Modeling Journey Going?

Are you determined to become a runway model? Have you started on your journey? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Here’s How To Start A Business With No Money

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“I’ve got a great idea for a business, but I just don’t have the money to get it started.”

Does this sound like you?

It’s true that starting a business is so much easier with capital, not having money shouldn’t scare you off.

Starting a business with no money might seem like a far-fetched idea at first, but I promise you it’s doable.

In today’s blog post, I discuss how to start a business with no money.

How To Start A Business Without Money

Traditionally, to build a business, you would normally start from a business idea, build it up using your capital, and earn money from it eventually.

But starting a business without capital requires a change in your mindset.

Here are the steps on how to prepare to start a business with no money.

1. Work with what you have.

Look at the resources you have and how you can use them effectively to start up your business.

Think about your skills. What fundamental skills do you have that can help you start up your business? What technical skills do you have? What personal skills do you have that can help you professionally?

Business plan prep

Next, take stock of your knowledge. What degree, training, and classes do you have under your belt that you can apply in your business?

Reflect on your experience, both professional and personal, and think about what you can offer. What have you done previously that you’re good at and can convert into a profitable business?

Consider your connections as well. Who do you know that can help you in starting your business, either as a mentor, partner, supplier, or any other role? Do the people you know possibly know other people that can help you as well?

2. Draw up a solid business plan based on the resources you have.

No matter what business idea you have, it’s always good to start with a solid plan that you can always refer to.

It’s especially important to have a business blueprint and financial plan especially when you’re starting a business with no money. Outline the fundamentals of your business and how you can obtain them with your limited resources.

Do and get everything you can do and get for free.

List down what you need for your business and figure out alternatives.

For instance, the primary requirement for an online business is a website. However, domain names and hosting cost money.

If you have absolutely no money to start up your own website at this point, figure out temporary alternatives. Can you possibly start with a free website service and then switch to a paid website later? Or maybe even use a Facebook page first?

The same goes for other marketing tools you need: tools for email marketing and autoresponders, keyword research, social media, graphics design, scheduling, accounting, communication, project management, and other such tools.

There are plenty of free tools and resources available on the internet. Some are readily available, while others require you to dig deeper than the first page of your search results.

With plenty of patience and a bit of luck, you’ll be able to get the fundamental requirements of your online business for free or for very little.

3. Don’t pass up opportunities to earn side cash.

You’ll need at least some cash to operate a business if only to pay for your food, power, and internet bills.

From everyday things you already do to things you can sell for quick cash, opportunities to make side cash are all around you.

They may not seem much if you look at them per transaction, but if you scrimp and save every single penny from these side cash endeavors, you can earn just enough to keep you afloat.

You may even earn enough extra cash to put up as capital for your business.

4. Explore your funding options.

As you build up your business, you may need more capital than just the bare minimum, especially if you want to be profitable in a few months instead of a few years.

Here are some funding options you may want to consider:

• Small business grants

Frankly, small business grants aren’t easy to apply for.

However, when you’ve got your business up and running, you can try to search for small business grants for which you can meet the minimum requirements to apply.

The influx of free cash is well worth the time and effort of searching. Hopefully, you won’t be tempted to use the cash for anything else aside from growing your business.

• Angel investors

An angel investor is typically an individual who has a high net worth and cash to spare who invests in small businesses to provide capital in exchange for a stake in the company, usually through part ownership.

They’re invested in your success, so when you get an angel investor, you not only get capital, you also get a mentor that you can go to for advice on your business.

Angel investors would typically ask for their money back within a few years, so you do have some time to grow your business such that you’re able to pay them back.

You typically find angel investors through your network, but you can also try to find an angel investor interested in your business through online angel investor networks and directories.

As with small business grants, it’s not easy to find an angel investor for your business, but it’s worth the trouble.

Angel Investor

• Peer-to-peer lending

Peer-to-peer lending is a financial practice wherein lenders lend money to borrowers via a third-party application that matches lenders to borrowers.

If you borrow money through peer-to-peer lending, you’re typically subject to stricter requirements than those who are taking out personal loans. This is because you’re eligible to borrow more money for a longer period.

The interest rates may be higher than those offered by banks or financial institutions, but the applications can be done mostly online, making it easier and quicker to get a decision on your lending needs.

• Small business loan

Applying for a small business loan from your bank is another option you can take if you can handle the requirements, the interest rates, and the repayment terms.

The main requirement of a business loan from a bank is steady cash flow; that is, your business should already be making money. If you haven’t yet started up your business, you’re not likely to get approved for a loan.

Online Businesses You Can Start With No Money

At this point, you can’t afford to start businesses that require significant capital, especially product-based businesses that involve manufacturing or reselling.

Online businesses are the most logical way to start your business without money because it requires very little of you; a computer, an internet connection, and your knowledge are enough.

Here are a few online businesses you can start with no money.

1. Service-based businesses

If you have a specific skill set, this may be the only investment you need to start your online business.

You can provide this particular service on your website and promote it on all channels available to you, and the good news is that there are plenty of websites that allow you to advertise your service for free, not to mention social media.

Here are some examples of online service-based businesses:

  • Social media management
  • Virtual assistance
  • Graphics design
  • Video editing
  • Resume/cover letter writing
  • Bookkeeping
  • Travel management
  • Website creation and design
  • Copywriting/Proofreading

 

2. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a fulfillment method wherein the retailer sells products but does not keep them in inventory.

Instead, the dropshipper offers products to buyers, collects their payment, pay third-party suppliers who then send out the products to the buyers.

Dropshipping is attractive to entrepreneurs who want to start selling products but don’t have the capital to assemble inventory.

There are plenty of dropshipping suppliers that offer a variety of products. It’s up to you to do your research and select legitimate suppliers that offer the products you’re interested in selling.

To start dropshipping, you only need to have your marketing skills and a website or an e-commerce platform to sell your products from.

3. Consultancy

A consultant is an expert in a specific field who works with an individual or business to offer professional advice.

It sounds very vague and general, but this is to your advantage. It means anyone can start a consulting business based on their expertise, years of experience, and depth of knowledge.

Consultants assess an issue, prepare a solution usually based on process, document and present that solution, and assist in implementing that solution.

Below are some types of consulting you can go into:

  • Leadership consulting
  • Marketing consulting
  • Organization consulting
  • Efficiency consulting
  • Health and wellness consulting
  • Career consulting
  • Green living consulting
  • Image consulting
  • Financial consulting

 

4. Brokerage

People hear “brokerage” and they think “stock market” (and if you’re a day trader, you can certainly start a day trading business), but it doesn’t have to be.

A brokerage business, in general, is one that brings buyers and sellers together.

You can find brokers in many different industries, such as real estate (e.g., real estate brokers bringing property sellers and buyers), recruitment and human resources (e.g., headhunters bringing job seekers and companies that are hiring), and sports (e.g., sports agents bringing athletes and sponsors together).

Find an industry that can benefit from having an online brokering service, whether competition already exists or not.

The important skills to have in starting a brokerage business are excellent lead generation, marketing, communication, and interpersonal skills.

5. Education

You can start an online education business with no money, armed with little more than your knowledge, teaching skills, and your laptop.

You can teach people various skills, such as playing musical instruments, photography, or using certain software.

You can also tutor students in subjects such as math, science, or English.

Starting an education business is a snap, even with no money. You can schedule classes and hop on to communication platforms like Skype or Zoom to hold live classes.

Alternatively, you can upload video courses to read-only shared drives and restrict access to only those who have paid.

The Bottom Line

Starting your own business with no money sounds crazy, but it’s really not impossible.

It’s going to take more time and more effort than if you have capital, but with patience, determination, and a little luck, it’s certainly feasible.

Other Resources

There are plenty of online businesses you can launch from home. Here are 50 ways to start an online business.

What’s your story?

Ever tried to start a business from scratch? Have you succeeded? Tell us your story in the comments!

Speakwrite Review: Is this a Legit Transcription Job?

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This SpeakWrite review is for anyone looking for freelance transcription jobs that you can do in the comfort of your own home.

Is SpeakWrite legit? If it is, is it worth your time?

Can you do it from home?

Are there full-time positions? Or just side gigs?

How much does it pay?

All these questions answered in a bit, so read on to learn all about SpeakWrite and other ways you could earn transcribing from home.

History of SpeakWrite

Out of the many transcription companies (both scam and legitimate) that have introduced themselves to work-from-home people like you and I, SpeakWrite is different. It’s been around since 1997.

Just let that sink in for a minute – this company has been around a year BEFORE Google was founded.

SpeakWrite launched its company offering typing and legal transcription services mostly for law firms, insurance companies and government agencies.

Unlike transcription companies in recent years that offer online gigs, but never publish company information, SpeakWrite has always been transparent. They are based in Texas and has plenty of contact information available on the website.

SpeakWrite’s founder Richard Jackson worked as a commercial litigator for 30+ years and employed over 50 people within his own law practice. SpeakWrite was born from his company’s own needs – to produce legal documents as fast and as accurate as possible.

From its launch until today, SpeakWrite has been one of the go-to transcription service provider to the FBI, American Bar Association, and other legal and law enforcement agencies.

Speakwrite Stats

What Are the Tasks of a SpeakWrite Transcriber?

SpeakWrite has three types of transcription work available: legal transcription, general transcription, Spanish transcription (or other languages).

As a legal transcriber, you’ll be working on projects as varied as court documents to police reports. The information you deal with can be quite sensitive, so this type of work involves more requirements than general transcription.

General transcription work is perfect for beginners – those who want to try and dip their toes in the world of freelance transcription jobs. As a general transcriber, you might be involved in projects like listening to podcasts, minutes of meetings,  speeches, and so on.

Spanish transcribers (and other bilingual transcribers) can be assigned general and legal transcription projects, except the output required is in the language they are assigned with.

Speakwrite Requirements

SpeakWrite doesn’t hire just anybody. Only applicants living in Canada and the United States are accepted.

Typing Experience

In general, transcribers must be able to type at least 60 words per minute with 90% accuracy.

This company doesn’t have data entry or medical transcription jobs.

Transcription Experience

  • General and bilingual transcribers must have at least 1 year of transcribing experience within 12 months before your application.
  • Legal transcribers are required to have 2 or more years of experience within a law firm.

Skills

  • General transcribers should know how to transcribe specific projects such as interviews, speeches, and so on.
  • Bilingual transcribers must be expert in the language that they were hired to do, on top of knowing the dos and don’ts of transcription.
  • Legal transcribers are required to know legal terminology and how to transcribe court hearings and other types of legal proceedings.

Technical requirements

SpeakWrite jobs are work-from-home positions, but the company isn’t providing for computers for you to work on. As such, you should have the following hardware before applying for a job:

  • A computer (laptop or desktop) with licensed Windows 7 OS (or newer), at least 1GB RAM and sound card. Unfortunately, the SpeakWrite software isn’t compatible with Apple iOS.
  • Licensed version of Microsoft Word (2007+), Adobe Reader (8.0 or newer), Windows Media Player
  • Good-quality headphones, printer, and a comfortable chair

Background Check

Background checks are a part of the application process, especially if you’re seeking a legal transcriber position.

SpeakWrite Pay

Before we talk about how much you can earn transcribing for SpeakWrite, consider these first:

  • Contract basis: Transcribers hired work as a contractor. You won’t have benefits and you basically work for yourself. This means you are in control of your schedule and fit other transcription or online jobs if you like. As an independent contractor, you’d also need to file and pay for your own taxes.
  • Work hours: There is no set schedule given, but you can choose when/how to spread the work hours you can commit to. SpeakWrite requires at least 15 audio hours per month. You can only schedule up to 12 hours in a day.
  • Not hourly payment: SpeakWrite doesn’t pay on an hourly basis, but based on output. This means you shouldn’t expect the traditional hourly wage. Good news though for those who could type quickly, since transcription often pays per word, or per audio hour completed.

Probably a good thing about Speakwrite is that they never promise you riches when you join the company as a transcriber. But it may disappoint you to learn that you’d only earn around $.005 to $.006 per word, which totals $5 or $6 for every 1000 words transcribed.

For experienced transcribers, an average $15/hour is possible, but beginners may find it hard to make $10 an hour. Like in data entry work, as your skills improve, so does your output and average pay-per-audio hour.

Transcribers who can pick up the slack during peak hours, or take on urgent projects get a 10% bonus on top of the pay, but no specifics were mentioned on the website.

Payments are made twice a month via PayPal, direct deposit, or check. Canadian transcribers are only paid via mailed check.

Speakwrite Review: Pros and Cons of SpeakWrite

Check the Indeed.com reviews of past and current SpeakWrite transcribers to learn about the realities of working for this company.

If you’re thinking about applying to SpeakWrite, be sure to weigh these pros and cons first:

PROS

  • SpeakWrite is legitimate, and has been around for over 20 years, so you’re sure not to run out of projects to do.
  • The hiring process is long and shoos away those who aren’t serious. This means that once you are hired, there are less competition for transcription work.
  • SpeakWrite provides better opportunities (and more work hours) for transcribers who last longer than 1 year as an independent contractor for the company.
  • Flexible work schedules means you can work as much or as little as you want, from your home, at the beach, or wherever your feet takes you. Just be sure you have the hardware and internet to do the job.

CONS

  • This job isn’t for beginners. You’d be lucky to earn $5 an hour if you’re new to transcribing. Imagine getting a job with bad dictation, noisy backgrounds, and other audio issues, which all could make the job twice as hard.
  • Not available for applicants outside Canada or US.
  • Not available for applicants using Mac (Windows PC users only)

Take SpeakWrite Reviews with a Grain of Salt

If this isn’t the first SpeakWrite review you’ve read, I’d understand you completely. Like many transcription companies, the feedback of past transcribers are often a mix of good and bad.

Here’s why you should take these reviews with a grain of salt and try the job yourself:

  • Transcribing is not easy. If you’re new to this job and you think you’ll just be entering data and typing, you’ll soon realize how wrong you are.
  • It’s not all about skills. Sometimes, even if you’ve had 10 years of legal transcription experience and you receive a project that involves someone “eating his words,” with dogs barking as background noise, or the weakest voice you’ve ever heard, the job would be harder and longer than your normal transcriptions.
  • Proofreaders are the yang to the transcribers’ yin. After you’ve submitted the transcribed material, a proofreader checks your work for accuracy. The level of proofing will vary between proofreaders, so expect varying feedback to your work as well.

Lastly, the “uncaring management” problem could be 100% true, but it could also be exaggerated. Sometimes, folks who haven’t worked from home are not used to the impersonal vibe of having no boss looming around their shoulders.

Wrapping Up this Speakwrite Review

SpeakWrite is not a scam – this I’m pretty sure since people have been paid for their work in the past 2 decades. But there are worrying signs not to waste your precious time working for the company as well.

If you’re currently between jobs or have a lot of free time, I recommend you try SpeakWrite yourself and see if the issues are worth the benefits.

But if you’re interested in a job that could replace your paycheck, here are 95 legitimate work from home jobs you should seriously check out.

How to Find Photo Editor Jobs and Make Up to $80k

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Photo editor jobs have been around in the publishing industry for decades, and landing the right job can pay quite handsomely.

You might think that photo editors are involved in the actual photography.

Instead, photo editors are involved in conceptualizing visual boards, selecting the right photos for a layout, and sometimes even hiring the right photographer for a job.

In today’s article, learn what a photo editor job involves, what you need to get started, where to find photo editor jobs, and how much you can expect to earn.

What Does a Photo Editor Do?

At its most basic, photo editing involves tweaking, altering, and enhancing film, print, or digital photographs.

A photo editor examines a photograph and makes adjustments to correct any errors in it, such as red eyes, incorrect color tint, or glare.

Photo editing also involves manipulating and retouching an image to suit the purposes of a specific job or photo campaign. For instance, if a photograph is for an advertising campaign, it would require more editing than if it was an accompanying image for a news article.

Photo editing used to be done by hand on the negatives themselves; editors would scrape, draw, or paint on the negatives, sometimes even pasting multiple negatives together to create a single print.

Nowadays, nearly all photo editing is done using computer software, such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.

Photo editor jobs can also involve creating visual boards or storyboards and determining the photos that are needed for a specific job, as well as scouting for locations, producing and directing photoshoot sessions, and sometimes even hiring photographers.

Photo editors are in demand in the publishing industry, as well as other industries including marketing, advertising, website development, and the arts.

Photo Editor Job Requirements

How to Get Started as a Photo Editor

If being a photo editor sounds interesting to you, here are some of the things and skills you’ll need to get started.

Education. Many employers prefer to hire photo editors who have bachelor’s degrees in photography, photojournalism, visual arts, and similar subjects.

Even though having a college degree is more preferable, it’s possible to become a photo editor with only a high school degree or a GED.

Equipment. You’ll need a computer, monitor, pointing device, and an output device.

You can start with a laptop computer, as long as it has a high-definition display, a high-speed processor, and a huge storage space.

Tablets are also becoming a popular choice, especially for those who prefer working with a stylus with variable pressure that software responds to.

The best equipment is one that will load your photo editing software and enable you to do the functions you need comfortably and without any hassle.

Depending on the job, you’ll need to have a way to print out the image using a high-quality inkjet printer or to export the image onto a portable hard drive.

Software. Employers are usually looking for photo editors who know how to use Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign, Illustrator, and Bridge.

It may be worth buying the latest edition of Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite, as it has all the Adobe editing software you’ll need and more.

A good grasp of photography concepts. knowledge of the hardware and software is useless if you don’t have a good grasp of photography concepts, such as contrast, exposure levels, lighting, color correction, retouching, and cropping.

A creative eye. The whole point of a photo editor’s job is to improve on an existing photograph or photographs and make them aesthetically pleasing.

You must also have an eye for the type of photos appropriate for specific industries and jobs. For instance, if the photo is for a travel magazine, you need to know what kind of colors should pop out on a type of scenery and how to select photos that aren’t only gorgeous but inviting to tourists.

Portfolio. Employers would want to look at the portfolio of your previous editing work that showcases your style, range, and skills.

Have both a digital portfolio (on your own website) and a physical portfolio with actual, tangible prints.

A portfolio on iPad is an emerging popular choice for portfolios. It’s a great supplement for your print portfolio, but having a print portfolio is more impactful.

Make sure the first and last photos are striking; you want to make a memorable first and last impression.

Communication skills. You’ll be working with photographers and coordinating with art directors to decide on the look and feel of the photos that you want to achieve, so you’ll need to be able to effectively express your ideas through words.

Organization skills. Part of your responsibilities is putting together a campaign and organizing photoshoots. If you can’t handle the logistics, you’re going to have a difficult time.

Time management skills. You’ll be faced with tight deadlines in projects and jobs that can quickly change. Meeting those deadlines while maintaining the quality of your work is an important requirement for the job.

Passion for photography. This is perhaps the determining factor of whether you’re going to be a successful photo editor. If your heart is just not in it, it will show in your work.

Where Can You Find Photo Editor Jobs?

In the past, photo editors and photographers were the same people. The photographer-slash-photo editor does everything from conceptualizing a photoshoot to the actual picture-taking, then picking from the pile and editing final pieces.

In recent years, the roles of a photo editor and photographer had to be separated because of how quickly information is being gathered and published.

A great example of this is how digital magazines began as monthly subscriptions and have gradually moved to bimonthly, weekly, and even daily.

Nowadays, the specialized expertise and trained eye of photo editors help make the jobs of photographers, digital artists, copywriters, and graphic designers easier, more organized, and more in line with the task at hand.

You can find photo editor jobs in traditional newsrooms, magazines, big or small publishing houses, greeting card companies, advertising agencies, and other media-related companies.

And because almost every company maintains a website, newsletter, and social media accounts, photo editor jobs are also available at non-profit organizations, IT companies, government agencies, and other companies across a wide range of industries.

Stock Photo Sites

The biggest chunk of photo editor jobs can be found in stock photo agencies.

Take for example New York-based company Shutterstock.com, one of the most popular resources for stock photos.

Check out their Career page and click “View all jobs” to find current openings for photo editor jobs.

Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform making it simple for small, medium, and big-time entrepreneurs take their retail business online.

They offer a Shopify Partners Program wherein merchants and sellers on Shopify can hire freelancers with different specialties to help them grow their businesses.

Freelance photo editors are in demand by sellers whose homepage photos and product photos need work to be more compelling.

Job Boards

If you’re looking for online photo editing jobs, your best bet is to FlexJobs, where you can find flexible, both work-from-home and office-based opportunities.

Sites like Working Nomads or Hubstaff Talent can also be good resources for remote positions.

Other job boards such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter also have various photo editor job openings.

How Much Can You Get Paid to Edit Photos?

Office-based photo editor salaries start at around $30,000 annually, but the average salary is more like $45,000 a year.

Senior-level photo editors can earn up to $80,000 a year.

A huge advantage of working as an employee of stock photo agencies and other corporations is that benefits like health insurance and paid vacation time are included on top of the salary. Plus, they are mostly paid higher than their work-from-home counterparts.

Self-employed photo editors may have flexible work schedules, but they often earn minimum wage (from $10 to $15 an hour) in exchange for the flexibility afforded by this setup.

As you may soon discover, online photo editing is usually exclusive to the editing part of the job. If you do land a work-from-home job, don’t expect to lead a campaign’s photo direction (as with traditional photo editing positions).

Final Thoughts: Are Photo Editor Jobs Right for You?

Of course, like most skill-specific jobs, becoming a photo editor isn’t for everybody. You do need to have the eye to spot a perfect photo composition, pick the best photos from a batch, edit the components of an image, and oversee a bunch of small tasks to arrive at an end-product to match the concepts made at the start of every campaign.

But for those who think photo editing is perfect for them, here’s some good news: the outlook for this job is on the rise for a couple of reasons.

First, photographers are passionate about their craft, so switching their mental gears to a job that doesn’t require them to go behind the lens isn’t very appealing to most photographers. As a result, the percentage of photographers who decide to take the route of a photo editor is very low.

Second, more and more companies are publishing regular content for their products or services on websites, newsletters, social media, phone apps, and other media. Photo editing jobs are no longer exclusive to the print industry, which means you’ll have more opportunities available beyond magazines and newspapers.

Aside from photo editing, here’s how other people make money with photography, and how anybody could use their phones to take photos and sell them for $5 each.

Are you looking for photo editor jobs? Do you think you have what it takes? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Where To Sell Baby Clothes Online For Cash

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If you’re a parent, you probably already know this, but babies outgrow their clothes very quickly and you can actually sell baby clothes back and recoup some of that cash.

You’ll find yourself with bags of clothes every few months; some worn out, others barely worn, others still with the tags attached, but all don’t fit your little one anymore.

Unless you have other family members you can hand over these clothes to, or you’re planning to have another baby, these clothes will probably just find themselves in a landfill.

Why not sell these baby clothes online?

Sure, you can donate these clothes, but why pass up the chance to help other parents get baby clothes in good condition for a reduced price, while making some side cash that can go to your kid’s new clothes?

In today’s blog post, I run down some of the places where you can sell your baby clothes online for cash, as well as some tips for you to be able to sell them.

Where To Sell Baby Clothes Online For Cash

Here is a list of some online marketplaces where you can sell baby clothes as well as items such as baby shoes, jackets, or coats. Note that this list is in random order and not ranked by any criteria.

1. thredUP

Thred Up Homepage

They claim to be the largest online consignment and thrift shop, thredUP accepts secondhand clothes, any secondhand clothes, including baby clothes as long as they’re high-quality, in almost new condition.

A benefit of using thredUP is that it’s very likely that they’ll accept your items because they accept over 35,000 brands. Plus, they take your items on consignment, meaning they’ll pay you after the items you ship to them are sold.

If you’re selling to them, they can either send you a Clean Out bag where you put your items for sale, or you can print out a prepaid shipping label from their site and use your own packaging to send your items to thredUP.

thredUP sells the item on their site for a listing price that they determine based on factors like its retail price, age, quality, and whether they have the same item in stock and which sizes they have. You get a percentage based on their payout table.

When someone buys your item, you can cash out your profit after the return period has passed.

In case your item doesn’t get sold, you’re given a specific time to claim your items back so you can sell them with another marketplace.

2. Kidizen

Kidizen Home Page

Kidizen is a marketplace, community, and platform all in one, where you can sell preloved baby and kids’ clothing.

You can start selling in minutes; create an account, click on “Sell” on the toolbar, and you can create your first listing.

Upload pictures of the item, fill out the form with the details, such as size, category, gender, and other information to make it easier for shoppers to find your listed items.

Set your price (with shipping), and the website will let you know how much you get to keep.

If doing it yourself doesn’t seem appealing, Kidizen also has Style Scouts (available in only 10 states) who make house calls to consult with you and advise you how to price your baby clothes to sell your items as quickly as possible and with the maximum return on your investment.

When you have an account with Kidizen, you also get access to a community that allows you to connect with other parents and sellers on the site and swap secrets and tips on selling your baby clothes online.

3. Josie’s Friends

Josies Friends Home page

Josie’s Friends is an online consignment store created to solve the need for convenient consignment for busy parents of babies and kids while aiding impoverished children worldwide.

Request a bag from them, send your baby clothes, accessories, or footwear to them for free. They prep, photograph, and market your items on their site.

Once an item sells, you get 50% of the listed price via PayPal after a specific return period.

If they don’t accept any of your items, they can ship it back to you for a fee or donate the items in a charity of their choosing.

Your items don’t expire, meaning they’ll continue to keep your items on their site for sale. But they do reserve the right to donate your items after a year if the items have declined in quality.

4. Once Upon A Child

Once Upon a Child

Known as America’s #1 national franchise specializing in reselling gently used clothing, shoes, toys, and baby gear, Once Upon A Child is a network of physical locations where you can walk in and sell your baby clothes.

This is not an online option, but I included it here because it has plenty of stores where you can drop off your items.

Package the items you want to sell, with clothes clean and folded; no hangers or garbage bags. Go into the store and have a store employee review your items.

They’ll make an offer based on style, quality, and condition. If you accept the offer, they’ll give you cash on the spot.

This is a good option if you prefer dealing with someone in person and getting the cash immediately.

5. TOYCYCLE

Toycycle

Currently, their consignment service is only available in the San Francisco Bay Area, so if you live in this area, this is a great option for you.

All you have to do is to gather the baby clothes, toys, and baby gear that you want to sell. Toycycle will pick them up for you and process them for selling on their website.

When your items sell, you have the option of taking cash payouts, which range from 15% to 80% of the listed price on the website, or store credit, which nets you a higher percentage, but you can only use that in the website.

6. OfferUp

Offerup Logo

OfferUp is a basic buying and selling app that allows you to sell your baby clothes to someone who needs them locally.

Start by simply downloading the OfferUp app on your phone and creating your listings. You can even have your first buyer in minutes.

It’s free to use if you’re meeting up with the buyer and the payment actually changes hands, but if you’re shipping the items and use their payment system, OfferUp takes 9.9% percent per transaction plus payment fees.

To be absolutely safe during a meetup, go to SafeTradeSpots and look for a place near you where you can meet with your buyers under surveillance. This assures the safety of both sellers and buyers.

Unlike online consignment apps, you’re going to have to be the one to photograph, list, and price your items.

7. Bagsy

Bagsy

Bagsy was founded by three moms who have a passion for fashion for their kids and wanted to make it easier for other parents to sell their gently used baby’s clothes to other parents.

To be a consigner with Bagsy, simply sign up online and request a Bagsy Consignment Bag to have it shipped to you for free.

Fill the bag up with your clean, good condition, gently used baby clothes, give the sealed bag to your postman or post office, and they’ll take care of the rest.

If you want Bagsy to return unacceptable items to you, order “Return Service” as well when you order a consignment bag from them. Otherwise, they’ll donate the items that they decide they can’t sell.

They’ll keep trying to sell items for 180 days, after which they’ll either return the items to you (if you purchased Return Service) or donate them.

Bagsy only accepts certain brands, so check their brands list first before you order a consignment bag.

8. Poshmark

Poshmark is mostly known for women’s clothing, but it’s actually one of the best ways to sell baby clothes online.

Simply download the Poshmark app, take pictures of the items you’ll sell, and upload your collection in minutes.

When someone buys your item, Poshmark provides a prepaid label for you to ship the item, and you get paid as soon as the package is delivered to the buyer.

The commission works simply, for sales below $15, you get paid $2.95, while for sales $15 and above, you get paid 20%.

For more details, read this review of Poshmark.

Tips On Selling Baby Clothes Online For Cash

Before you go ahead and list your baby clothes on one of the above marketplaces, here are some tips to help you sell them quickly at the best possible price.

1. Know how to price your baby clothes.

Competitive research is key; know how much the same or similar clothing is priced on other shops so you’d have an estimate of how much customers are willing to pay for the clothes you’re selling.

Also, take shipping and handling into consideration when deciding your price.

2. Freshen them up…

No one will want to buy wrinkled, dusty clothes. Wash them first and remove stains as best as you can.

3. …But be honest.

There are just some stains that you can’t get rid of, and there’s some damage to clothing that you can’t mend. Include it in the product description as full disclosure.

4. Learn how to take clear photos.

You don’t have to have next-level skills to photograph your clothes. Laying them flat and lighting them carefully to remove shadows vastly improves photo quality.

5. Package your product with care.

Clothes aren’t really handled carefully by couriers and delivery men, so it’s up to you to make sure that the clothes are protected from rough handling, moisture, and all other external things that can damage your clothes.

You can even take it to the next level by including a personal note, or even just by using special wrapping paper. It’s a good way to make your customers remember this customer experience as a good one.

6. Know when to sell selected items.

Certain types of clothes sell more quickly during certain times of the year.

January to February is a great time to run a sale on winter wear and red and heart-print items in time for Valentine’s Day.

March to May is a good time to sell pastels, florals, and spring/summer-appropriate wear.

June to July is generally a slow month, except for Fourth of July items (red, white, and blue items, stars and stripes patterns, etc.).

August to September is when fall-related wear is most in demand. Sweaters, cardigans, leggings, and thick socks are popular.

October is perfect for Halloween costumes and festive Thanksgiving outfits. It’s also perfect to start listing snow gear, like mittens, boots, and hats, if you have them.

November to December is when to list your unused, new with tag items for shoppers who are looking for holiday presents and stocking stuffers. Winter wear and knits are popular starting in November.

Selling more than baby clothes? Check out these other sites to sell clothes online.

Are you interested in selling baby clothes? Or have you ever tried to sell baby clothes online for cash? Share your story in the comments below!

How To Be A Freelance Video Editor And Work From Home

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How To Be A Freelance Video Editor And Work From Home

As a result of the high demand for video in content marketing, the advancements in technology that make remote work a cinch, and the popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle, this is the perfect time to consider being a freelance video editor.

Working from home, or from anywhere, really, is attractive to a lot of people who can’t or choose not to live the 9-to-5 life in an office because of various reasons, such as lack of childcare, a disability or illness, or simply the lack of flexibility in an office job.

In today’s article, learn all about what a freelance video editor does, how to become one, and the best places to find freelance video editor jobs.

What Is a Freelance Video Editor?

So, what is a freelance video editor?

A video editor is someone who applies production and post-production changes to a film or digital video, with the aim of telling a story in the most compelling way.

When a video editor is working freelance, this means that they’re not tied to a single production company and can accept projects from anyone or any company.

A video editor works closely with the director to maintain integrity, edit scenes, select angles and points of view (POVs), and implement post-production enhancements.

The video editor works closely with the director to make changes that help keep the viewer’s attention and provide them with the information needed to understand the film while retaining the director’s vision.

Video editing usually involves cutting and rearranging scenes so that the final length of the film is reasonable in context with the subject and the viewers’ attention span.

If applicable, the video editor also makes decisions about which angles and POVs are used in certain scenes, keeping in mind the viewer experience and whether it adds or detracts from the story the film is trying to tell.

Remote Video Editing

The post-production phase involves incorporating CGI or other enhancements, such as lighting, sound, and other special effects, into the film to achieve a certain appearance, again, in the service of the story.

Video Editing Workflow

Think of video editing as a process that starts with raw footage, alternates between addition and reduction, and results in the final product that is a work of art. Here’s how a typical workflow goes when you’re working on a project.

1. Organize the clips.

The start of a project is usually marked by a file dump of raw footage.

It may be overwhelming at first, but you’ll make your work easier down the line by organizing the files first.

Label each file and sort them into folders so you’ll know where to get them and they’re easier to retrieve.

2. Create a rough cut.

Making a rough cut involves laying out the basic structure and sequence of scenes in the video.

This is the most tedious step but the most important, as this is where the story takes shape.

The rough cut starts with the script; use this as a guide to establishing the story that will be told. From the script, you can begin selecting clips and placing them in order according to the timeline indicated in the script.

When you’ve done the first pass of assembling the clips, watch the whole thing through and make sure that it makes sense, there are no holes in the narrative, and there are no shots that are out of place.

Have the director watch the rough cut and give feedback on it. You might go through a few rounds of revision and feedback before your rough cut gets approved.

3. Produce the fine cut.

When your rough cut is complete and approved, you can start with your fine cut.

This involves placing and timing each shot and each cut so that it’s at a pace that presents the story and delivers the right emotions at the same time.

The resulting fine cut should have every shot in its proper place, set in the right timeline.

Again, have the director watch it and give feedback, no matter how many rounds it takes. You’ll need their total, 100% approval to move on to the next phase.

4. Go into picture lock mode.

Once the fine cut is approved, the edit is in picture lock, meaning the sequence, timing, and the footage are set.

Picture lock is the time to clean up any stray clips from the scene and organize audio cues and sound effects to make the sound mixing seamless.

5. Finalize the video.

Clean up the audio tracks; make sure dialogue, sound effects, and score are mixed seamlessly with the corresponding video.

Color correction and color grading are done in this stage, as well as visual effects and CGI, when applicable.

Video Editing color grading

You’ll probably go through another few cycles of revision and feedback here before the final product is rendered.

When you’ve got final approval, deliver the video to the client in their desired format.

How much should you charge for video editing?

Given your responsibilities and the typical workflow, how much should you be charging your clients?

The average hourly rate of video editors is around $17 to $20 (Source: Salary.com), but you can charge lower or higher depending on many factors.

Factors that affect your wage include the amount of footage you have to sort through, the expected length of the final product, the complexity of the project, the scope of work, and your skills and experience.

One way to decide what you should charge is to look at job seekers’ profiles that are similar to yours (e.g., the same level of education, experience, technical knowledge, etc.) and find out how much they charge per hour.

If you’re only starting with video editing, your pay might not be perfectly in line with the rate you’re looking for.

When you take on more projects, you’ll eventually learn how long certain steps of the editing process take, which will help you more effectively set the price of a project such that you’re paid your target hourly wage.

How To Become a Video Editor

Now that you know what a freelance video editor does, here are the steps to pursuing this career path.

1. Take video editing classes.

Most video editors take up a bachelor’s degree in a field related to filmmaking, broadcasting, communications, or multimedia and video production.

A film school is perhaps the best place to get a degree, aside from universities and colleges, and even community colleges that offer film courses.

If attending school isn’t an option for you for whatever reason, you can also study video editing online.

Massive open online courses (MOOCs), like Udemy, Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer online courses that you can normally take at your own pace before a certain deadline.

The courses range from the fundamentals of video editing to software-specific courses; that is, detailed instructions on how to edit footage using specific software.

Vimeo Video School is a collection of articles that are good video editing resources covering a variety of topics.

Taking up additional courses in related skills, such as scriptwriting, directing, lighting, and audio will give you an edge over other video editors in terms of knowing what it takes to make a film.

2. Gather your equipment.

Here are just some of the hardware that you’ll need to do video editing.

Computer. A desktop PC that’s good for gamers is recommended for video editing.

If you have a set budget, buying a desktop PC gets you more processing power and built-in storage than buying a laptop at the same price range, and power and storage are everything when you’re working with videos.

Also, desktop PCs that are made for gamers have superior GPUs (graphics processing units) than those that are geared for normal office work.

If you absolutely must have a laptop for portability, prepare to fork out more money for the same specs below.

For your CPU, aim for at least an Intel Core i7 or i9 processor (or its equivalent), 16 GB RAM, an Nvidia or AMD GPU with at least 4GB VRAM, 1 TB SSD, and complete ports: headphone jack, SDXC card slot, Ethernet, USB 3.0, and HDMI connectors.

As much as possible, get CPUs that are expandable for when technology becomes more advanced.

For your display monitor, aim to have at least a 30-inch monitor with a 4K display, sRGB and Adobe RGB support, and IPS panel technology.

As for your peripherals, using a standard computer mouse is ok, but most professional video editors swear by using a tablet/stylus system, especially the Wacom brand ones.

Video Editing Equipment

External hard drives. Yes, plural. Aside from the storage you already have for your CPU, you’ll want to be ready to back up video files that you’re working on at any given time.

Choose external SSD drives instead of HDD drives, with at least 1 TB capacity, and a transfer speed of at least 500 MBps.

Headphones. You’ll want to look for high-quality monitoring headphones; that is, it’s specifically for monitoring audio so it doesn’t alter any audio coming through.

Look for one with a frequency response rate of at least 20–20,000Hz range, an impedance of 250 ohms, and comfortable, fitted ear cups (remember, you’ll be wearing these for hours at a time). Having a replaceable cord is also a plus but not really required.

3. Purchase video editing software.

When you’ve assembled your hardware, the next thing to do is to buy and download your main video editing tool: video editing software.

Here’s a list of the most popular video editing software in the industry.

You might also need post-production software, such as Adobe After Effects or Blender for 3D graphics.

4. Subscribe to cloud storage.

Freelance video editing involves plenty of back and forth between you and your clients involving different types and sizes of files. Thus, a reliable cloud storage service is essential for any video editor.

Here are the most popular cloud storage services for video editors.

5. Download other tools/software that help you work freelance.

You’ll need some tools to help you work from home effectively. Here are some of the essential tools that you’ll need:

6. Gather experience.

No matter what courses or training you take, the best way to learn and create excellent films is to actually do it.

Before you start looking for jobs and projects to work on, you should feel comfortable editing your own films and finishing your own projects.

Get some footage or shoot your own, choose a software, roll up your sleeves and get down to it.

Video Editing experience

7. Obtain certifications.

Professional certification is not typically required to work as a video editor, but it is a good way to attract more clients and charge higher rates.

Normally, video editing software vendors provide their own certifications. For instance, you can be an Adobe Certified Expert in Adobe Final Cut Pro CC if you pass the certification exam and meet experience requirements.

8. Set up your website and social media.

A self-hosted website is a must-have for any freelancer. This is your home base, your primary marketing tool, and where your portfolio should be displayed.

Plus, when potential clients do a web search for you, you want them to be directed to your website primarily.

Having social media profiles that are professionally geared and is all about video editing will make other people in the groups pay more attention to you because they perceive you as a serious video editor, not just a hobbyist or dilettante.

You may even want to create a separate Facebook business page so clients on your network can see samples of your work, reviews by former clients, and see samples of your work.

Take it one step further by getting a business address and listing your services on Google Business so that your new editing business shows up in local search results. Plus, it’ll give your customers a way to leave reviews, which can then help you attract even more local leads.

Freelance Video Editor Websites To Find Jobs

Now that you’re confident in your video editing skills, you’re probably raring to start on a project or two.

Here are some places to find freelance video editing jobs.

Entertainment Industry Communities

There are plenty of online communities of professionals from the entertainment and media industries that have job boards. These are the first websites you should be going to. Here are a few recommendations:

Freelance Job Marketplaces

These are the classic job marketplaces where companies and small businesses find freelancers to do certain jobs. All you need to do is look for video editor jobs and sift through the projects being offered.

Other Places to Find Freelance Video Editor Jobs

Online job boards are certainly helpful in finding opportunities, but there are other places to find video editing jobs.

Your network

It might not seem like it, but you probably know more people than you think.

Start writing down names: family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, former and present co-workers, and casual acquaintances. People you know from high school, college, your gym, your book club, or your neighborhood.

Once you’ve drawn up your list, send out some feelers and let them know that you’re looking for a job.

If you do end up getting a referral or an interview, follow up with those who helped you. Thank them for their help (preferably with a gift!) and let them know whether something came out of the referral or interview.

Wedding suppliers

The wedding industry is worth billions of dollars, and they’re always on the lookout for wedding video editors for same-day edit wedding videos as well as traditional long-form wedding videos.

The tricky thing about being a wedding video editor is the immense pressure to produce a wedding video that is not only artistic but will also conform to the personal tastes of the married couple.

Also, the wedding industry is a referral-heavy industry; it pays to have veterans vouch for you. Attend wedding fairs and befriend as many wedding videographers, planners, coordinators, and other suppliers as you possibly can.

Tips To Be a Successful Video Editor

Improve your chances for success by following these tips:

1. Have a strong demo reel online and ready to share.

When looking for jobs, you’ll need to provide proof of your editing skills. Sometimes, a friend or peer will be merely curious and ask to look at your work out of the blue.

Always be ready with a technically polished editing reel demonstrating structure, pacing, and emotion from a compilation of sections of different editing projects you’ve done.

2. Track your time.

Tracking your time gives you an idea of how long you spend on administrative tasks (e.g., replying to emails, issuing invoices), actual editing work, and how long each portion of editing actually takes.

Not only is it useful for invoices, but you get an idea of how long it takes you to edit, which will help you to estimate how much to charge future jobs.

Freelance Time Tracking

3. Be organized.

As I’ve mentioned, you’re going to face a deluge of files, and if you don’t organize them early on, you’re not going to be able to do your job efficiently.

Save yourself plenty of time by creating a folder system where all files from a project go into a specific folder and inside are subfolders to separate by file type or by timestamp, if applicable.

3. Back up your work periodically.

I wish I can tell you that computers work as expected 100% of the time.

But unexpected things happen. Your computer might crash, and your files might get corrupted or even deleted.

Set up a backup on the cloud so that you can start up your project again at any time.

4. Keep yourself updated on the latest technology.

Video editing technology advances so quickly from year to year that if you don’t continually update yourself, you’ll get left behind.

Keep your competitive edge by taking the time to read up on all the latest editing techniques and tools, as well as marketing and promotion techniques.

The Bottom Line

Becoming a freelance video editor and working from home isn’t for everyone.

But if you have the talent, you’re willing to work hard to have an excellent output for your clients, and you’re determined to continually improve, both as a freelancer and a video editor, you’re well on your way to success.

Hopefully, the post has been helpful to you as an aspiring video editor.

Other resources

Want to know about other jobs you can do from home? Here’s a list of legitimate work from home jobs you can do.

Or maybe you’d like to start a business instead. Get inspired by our list of small business ideas you can launch from home.

Peer-To-Peer Lending: How To Make Money From It

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Peer To Peer Lending: How To Make Money From It

Peer to peer lending, also called P2P lending, is a relatively new financial practice where borrowers can borrow money at lower interest rates without going through a bank or other traditional financial institutions.

So if you’re in a pinch and you can’t borrow money from the bank for some reason, you can borrow money through peer to peer lending companies or apps.

But did you know that you can also lend money and make some side cash out of it?

In today’s article, I’ll talk about peer to peer lending and how you can make money from it.

What Is Peer-To-Peer Lending?

Peer-to-peer lending is a relatively new financial practice that involves lending money to borrowers (individual or business) from lenders through online applications that match borrower to lender.

Lenders are where the funds come from, and the incentive for them to lend is that they earn interest on the amount that they lend.

What is P2P Lending

Peer-to-peer lending platforms take care of processing and accepting loan applications and payments and take a fee for originating the loan, as well as some of the interest that the borrowers pay on the loan.

Borrowers use peer-to-peer lending because it’s quicker and more accessible; it’s as simple as opening an app or internet browser. Plus, this is a good alternative if they need to borrow money for personal loans, debt consolidation, or to fund their small business.

Pros

The advantages for the borrower are more apparent. P2P lending doesn’t require the typical underwriting process, so the credit score requirements aren’t as strict as those of traditional banks or lending institutions.

Borrowers also benefit from favorable loan terms, fewer fees, and lower interest rates, plus you can look for the best P2P lending companies with the best rates without impacting their credit scores.

The peer-to-peer lending model is also favorable to lending companies because they don’t need to spend on infrastructure. Because costs are low, they can lower the fees and offer more competitive interest rates.

Because there are plenty of loans to choose from, lenders can easily pick and choose which loans to invest in and diversify their investments.

Plus, lenders get to invest in a growing market that’s estimated to be worth billions and even hundreds of billions in the next 5 years.

Cons

For borrowers who have not-so-great credit scores, the interest rates tend to be higher than others.

Also, getting a loan to cover a debt only compounds the problem if there’s no attempt to curb unnecessary spending.

For lenders, it’s an investment that is not without risks. If a borrower defaults on a loan, there’s no way you can recoup that investment because it’s not insured by the federal government.

Investing in plenty of loans sounds like a great plan in theory, but it’s not easy to keep track of multiple loans, especially when they number in the hundreds.

Types of P2P loans

Different peer-to-peer lending sites offer different loan products. Here are some examples of what they offer:

Personal Loans. Fixed-rate, unsecured (i.e., no collateral) personal loans are the most common loans offered by P2P lending companies.

Depending on the applicant’s credit score, they can borrow up to $30,000 to be paid between 3 to 5 years.

Personal loan proceeds can be used for anything from debt consolidation, home improvement, or to repay a medical debt.

Business Loans. For borrowers who need funding for their small businesses, many P2P lending companies now offer them.

The payouts are usually larger than what banks offer, although interest rates by P2P lending are also higher.

Home Improvement Loans. Some homeowners who are thinking of selling their house might want to work on the house first before they sell it. Others may simply be required to work on the house due to damages that require repairs and upgrades.

Either way, chances are they’re going to be looking for a loan as a means to work on their home.

Home Improvement

Student Loan Refinancing. Student loans are no picnic to pay, and if it’s at all possible to refinance it and negotiate a payment schedule that’s more convenient, students will look for a loan to allow them to do that.

Healthcare Loans. Taking out a personal loan to repay a medical bill is certainly an option, but some P2P lending companies offer loans that are specific to healthcare costs and medical expenses.

Auto Refinancing. Whether it’s to lower monthly payments, reduce interest rates, or adjust loan terms, car owners sometimes look to refinance their car loans.

How Do You Make Money From Peer-To-Peer Landing?

So the next thing you need to know is whether it’s possible to make money by being a peer-to-peer lender/investor.

The answer is yes, it’s possible.

And the next question is, how much?

The answer isn’t that simple.

How much you make from P2P investing depends on how much you invest, how many loans you invest in, and the type of loans you invest in.

Borrowers who are less risky qualify for lower interest rates compared to borrowers with not-so-perfect credit histories.

Thus, investing in low-risk loans gets you lower returns than high-risk ones, as with most investments.

But how do you know which borrowers are likely to default on their loans (i.e., not pay their loans)?

Banks spend millions on entire departments to calculate risks and predict which borrowers will pay them back and who won’t. But P2P lending companies don’t have this kind of manpower.

How To Balance Rewards And Risk

Even without a definite way to vet risks per borrower, it’s definitely still possible to make money from being a P2P investor.

Here are some strategies to maximize returns and minimize risks.

Spread your investment out among many different loans. Don’t keep your eggs in one basket, as the saying goes. Distribute your investment among many different loans.

For instance, if you have $1000 to invest, it’s better to invest as little as $25 in 40 different loans instead of investing the entire $1000 in a single loan.

Be prepared to invest in hundreds of loans. This way, even if you lose money on one loan, you have hundreds of others to compensate for that loss.

Diversify. It’s important to distribute your investment among many different loans, but it’s also important to distribute your investment among different types of loans.

Don’t focus on only one loan grade, such as investing only in mid-risk loans. Invest in different loan grades: low-risk, mid-risk, high-risk loans, and all the ones in between.

Although you’re more likely to earn money from personal loans, do your best to disperse your investment to different types of loans, such as business loans or student debt restructuring loans.

Don’t be afraid to also invest in loans in different lending companies, as they offer many different kinds of loans and cater to many different borrowers.

Reinvest. When you receive your loan payments in your account, you can wait for them to accrue, pull them out, and spend them.

But a much better way to maximize your returns is to immediately reinvest the loan payments you receive. The idea is to stay fully invested and give your money all the chances to grow.

If you’re able to balance your rewards and risks, it’s possible to earn annual investment returns of greater than 10% and even up to 15%, but the more common annual returns reported are in the range of 4% to 8%.

How To Be A Peer-To-Peer Investor

In a nutshell, peer-to-peer lending platforms let investors buy consumer debt hoping to make some money on that transaction, and let investors pick and choose which loans they want to finance.

The specific steps may vary per company, but here are the general steps of how to be a peer-to-peer investor.

1. Check the qualifications and requirements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has some minimum standards for investors in P2P. These include:

  • At least $70,000 gross annual income (except California, where you need to have $85,000 gross annual income), and a net worth minimum of $70,000
  • Residence in an approved state; this differs depending on the P2P platform you choose to trade in
  • Bank account to receive loan payments

2. Download the apps or access them through your internet browser.
The next section includes a list of the best lending apps to start investing in.

I would recommend reading up on all of them so you can study the requirements of each lending company and find out which ones you’re eligible to invest in and which ones fit the kind of investments you’d like to make.

You don’t even have to choose just one. If you have enough funds to invest, you can certainly choose to invest through more than one lending company.

3. Browse available loans.
As I’ve mentioned, different peer-to-peer lending companies offer different loan products and different loan grades at different interest rates.

Go over the loans and the borrowers carefully, especially if this is your first time to invest.

4. Invest in your chosen loans.
The exact procedure for this varies among different P2P providers. In general, select which loan you want to invest in and input the amount you want to invest.

5. Reassess your investment strategy over time and adjust as needed.
Even if you follow the advice I gave in the previous section to balance your rewards and risk, there are still times when your specific strategy won’t work.

It seems like a lot of work, but monitor the loans that you’ve invested in so you have an idea which ones are earning and which ones have defaulted if any.

The Best Peer-To-Peer Lending Companies To Invest In

As I’ve mentioned, there are plenty of peer-to-peer lending companies to choose from. Here are the most established and popular ones that you can check out.

1. Lending Club

  • Must have a gross income and a net worth of at least $70,000 ($85,000 in CA). The income requirement is waived with a net worth of $250,000 or more
  • Minimum investment: $25 per note; $1,000 initial account balance requirement
  • Estimated APR: 6.95% to 35.89%
  • Personal loans up to $40,000
  • Loan terms of 36 or 60 months, based on loan amount
  • Fees: 1% of interest payment; $100 annual account fee for balances <$5,000
  • Assets: Invest in 30 different credit grades; Credit ratings from A1 and 55 for multiple loan types
  • Automated investment available

Lending Club is the current market leader with a 45% share.

They offer four different types of loans: personal loans, business loans, auto refinancing, and patient solutions.

They also have an automated solution for investors who don’t want to pick loans manually, allowing diversification at a click of a button (or tap of the screen).

In addition, they have a comprehensive resources page to learn more about investing with them and coming up with the right strategy to maximize your earnings.

2. Prosper

  • Must have a gross income and a net worth of at least $70,000 ($85,000 in CA). The income requirement is waived with a net worth of $250,000 or more
  • Minimum investment: $25 per note
  • Estimated APR: 6.95% to 35.99%
  • Personal loans up to $40,000
  • Loan terms of 36 or 60 months
  • Fees: 1% annually of borrowed principal balance
  • Assets: Invest in 7 different credit ratings for multiple loan types
  • Automated investment available

Founded in 2006, Prosper is the original P2P lending platform in the US.

There are 7 different risk categories, from AA (high credit rating) to HR (high-risk). You can spread out your investment across these 7 risk categories.

They offer many different types of loans; aside from the usual types, they offer baby and adoption loans, engagement ring financing, and even green loans, where you can get financing for switching to a sustainable lifestyle, such as installing solar panels, energy-efficient roofs, or a water preservation system.

3. Upstart

  • Must be an accredited investor (income of $200,000 or more in the last two years or net worth of $1 million or more)
  • Minimum investment: $100
  • Estimated APR: 21.5%
  • Personal loans up to $50,000
  • Loan terms of 36 or 60 months
  • Fees: none for investors; if loan defaults, Upstart turns the origination fee over to investors
  • Assets: Invest in personal loans with a credit rating of AAA to E
  • Automated investment available

Upstart is a relatively new company started by three former Google employees.

What makes this P2P company truly unique, though, is how they determine risk. While other P2P companies use a borrower’s FICO score, Upstart created a system that uses artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) to assess a borrower’s risk factor.

In addition to the usual FICO score determiners, such as payment history, current debt level, length of credit history, and types of credit used, Upstart’s AI/ML factors in a borrower’s educational attainment, field of study, GPA, and employment background as well.

This results in a more accurate risk assessment and mitigation. Accordingly, they have the lowest delinquency rate of the three lending platforms I’ve mentioned here, with 89% of their loans either current or paid in full.

A drawback is that investors cannot choose individual loans to invest in; investors must choose a specific loan grade or loans with specific criteria and Upstart will randomly assign you loans that meet these criteria.

The Peer-to-Peer Lending Bottom Line

In summary, investing in peer-to-peer lending can earn you some money as passive income, but as with any investment, there’s risk involved.

Minimize risk by diversifying your investments, frequently monitoring your loans, and only investing with money that you can afford to lose.

Other resources

Want to know about other ways to earn passive income? Here are 25 passive income ideas.

Or maybe you want to know about earning money without doing too much. Here are 14 everyday things that can make you some money.

We’d like to hear from you!

Do you have experience with peer-to-peer lending apps, whether as a borrower or a lender? How was it? Do you have any tips to help first-time borrowers or lenders? Share it with everyone in the comments!

These 12 Travel Jobs Will Pay You to See the World

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Best Travel Jobs That Pay You To See The World

In today’s article, get to know the best travel jobs you can apply to, as well as the requirements and how much you can expect to make.

Do you sometimes find yourself daydreaming while on your day job, thinking of all the places you want to go to but can’t because you’re at a desk working?

Do you ever go to beautiful, exotic places on your vacation and dream about staying in one of those places forever?

Or maybe wonder what it would be like to get one of those jobs that allow you to travel to these places.

Dig through the list today and see how you can get paid to travel.

12 Best Travel Jobs

These are jobs that require you to travel as part of the job requirement.

Jobs wherein traveling isn’t an integral part of the job requirements but is offered as a perk of the job aren’t included in this list.

Also, remote or work-from-home jobs aren’t included in this list; those jobs allow you to travel, for sure, but it’s different from employment that requires you to travel.

1. Flight Attendant

Being a flight attendant is one of the best jobs that let you travel to many different cities in the country and in the world, onboard lovely airplanes, and land at the best airports.

Flight attendant

There are physical requirements, though.

These vary among different airlines but the basic ones for safety are that you must be able to reach the overhead bins, your BMI needs to be within the normal range (that is, your height needs to be proportional to your weight), and your vision needs to be at least 20/30.

Other highly valued skills of a flight attendant include excellent communication skills, customer service skills, and the ability to present a well-groomed, dignified appearance in spite of jet lag, turbulence, and difficult passengers.

If you can do this job, you’ll be rewarded handsomely.

The salary range for flight attendants is normally between $62,000 to $96,000 a year, not to mention the perks, like free or discounted flights for you and your family members.

And the biggest perk of all: being paid to travel to and stay in all kinds of beautiful cities and countries.

2. Commercial Pilot

Commercial Pilot

Commercial pilots don’t just fly airlines, though many of them do.

The term “commercial pilot” means a pilot allowed by the FAA to receive money for services, so the term also includes cargo pilots, tour pilots, backcountry pilots, ferry pilots, and even flight instructors.

Learn to fly, and you can travel as much as a flight attendant does, but for a greater salary and have one of the best travel jobs imaginable.

Of course, you’ll have to assume a greater amount of responsibility.

To get a commercial pilot license, you’ll first need to be a private pilot and log at least 250 flight hours.

You’ll also need commercial pilot training, a second class medical certificate, pass the FAA written exam, and pass the check-ride.

In exchange, though, you get a salary between $117,000 to $152,000, with perks such as free accommodations, food, and expenses when staying anywhere.

3. Cruise Ship Worker

Being a cruise ship worker is a travel job that allows you to see the world, one port of call at a time while meeting plenty of tourists from all parts of the globe.

You’ll be living on the cruise ship, so you’ll have free room and board, and this is aside from the salary you’ll be getting.

Below are some of the positions you can apply for:

  • Hairdresser
  • Massage Therapist
  • Casino Dealer
  • Engineer
  • Server
  • Cook
  • Gift Shop Attendant
  • Housekeeping
  • Concierge
  • Financial Controller
  • Purser
  • Computer/Internet Technician
  • Ship Physician
  • Ship Nurse
  • Photographer
  • Videographer
  • Instructor
  • Clergy
  • Entertainer
  • Deck Officer

The requirements and salary will, of course, vary by position, but at the very least, you’ll need to be able to handle months out at sea, and you’ll need to know how to swim.

For more information, check out All Cruise Jobs, CruiseShipJob.com, or Cruise Ship Jobs Guide.

4. International Aid and Development Worker

If you want to travel to foreign cities, immerse yourself in an entirely different culture, make a difference, and get paid for it, working as a volunteer for an international aid organization may be a good fit for you.

You’ll visit countries around the world that are in the middle of wars, famine, and suffering after natural disasters and are in dire need of help and assistance.

These organizations welcome volunteers over 18, with or without experience, and they are usually looking for volunteers for missions related to health, food, social services, and infrastructure.

It’s no vacation to help those in need, even if they’re in a gorgeous country. So before you apply, do some soul-searching and figure out what matters to you.

Requirements and salary vary depending on the position you’re applying to, but you’ll need to be able to bear being without the comforts of home for months or even years at a time.

Some of the organizations you can apply to are:

 

5. Foreign Service Officer

How would you like to live and interact with people from other countries and immerse in their culture while serving and representing your country?

If the idea sounds appealing, foreign service might just be one of the best travel jobs for you.

Foreign service officers are assigned to one of 5 areas of specialization: political, economic, consular, administration, and public diplomacy.

They travel around the world working on immigration, managing refugee flows, distributing disaster aid, reporting on diplomatic issues, and conducting press conferences for ambassadors.

Foreign service officers must also be a US citizen, at least 20 years old but no older than 59, and available for worldwide service; that is, willing and ready to go at a moment’s notice to fly anywhere in the world as the state department decides.

Requirements include an oral assessment, plus a security and background check. Passing all these gets you an offer for a position and a training slot in the Foreign Service Institute.

The state department will decide where you get assigned and when you need to be transferred.

The normal salary range is between $82,000 to $109,000 a year.

6. Au Pair

If you’re an unmarried young adult with no children but good with them, and willing to stay with a host family for the entirety of your stay in a certain country, you may want to apply as an au pair.

Au Pair

An au pair is someone who travels to a foreign country for a defined period to support a host family with childcare and housework in exchange for board and lodging, as well as pocket money.

Despite this arrangement, an au pair is neither a nanny nor a housekeeper.

The primary purpose is to facilitate cultural exchange. The host family teaches the au pair about their local culture and allows the au pair to practice speaking their language.

The au pair also educates the children in his or her care and allows the children to practice the au pair’s language.

The minimum age is normally 18, but the maximum age varies per country. Program requirements and salary for au pairs also vary per country, so it’s good to check the requirements and the fine print thoroughly first before you turn in your application.

Programs do generally require a visa, a medical checkup, and a criminal background check before interviewing you.

For more information, you can consult AuPair.Com, AuPairWorld, or Great AuPair

7. Luxury Travel Advisor

Travel advisors for clients put together an itinerary, manage vacation time, and provide personalized service and advice.

But when you’re a luxury travel advisor, this goes one (or maybe even a few) steps further.

Clients who are willing to spend big money on a vacation want advisors that have first-hand experience in every aspect of the travel experience, such as flights, hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

Thus, luxury travel advisors are almost constantly traveling and in contact with their clients.

When you’re only getting started, you need to make sure that you find the right agency to work with. You’ll want an agency that’s well-connected so that you can get added amenities and benefits that you can offer your VIP clients.

Read the fine print and research how the salary and commissions work, as well as whether they’ll provide training.

The average income of a luxury travel advisor is around $47,000 a year.

8. English Teacher

If English is your native language and you know how to teach, teaching English abroad may just be the travel job for you.

ESL Teacher

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), also known as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English Language Teaching (ELT), and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) is a fast-growing educational field, presenting many opportunities for teachers who want to teach English in foreign countries.

The usual requirements to be able to teach English abroad include a Bachelor’s Degree, some teaching experience, and a TEFL/TESOL certification. Pay varies per country, but you can get as much as $78,000 a year.

You can teach English from your own home, but going to other countries and experiencing their culture firsthand is a far more enriching experience.

9. Travel Nurse

If you’re already working as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), or nurse practitioner (APRN) and would like to have some change in scenery, you can apply to be a travel nurse.

A travel nurse is a skilled healthcare professional who takes short-term assignments in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Traveling gives you the opportunity to gain more clinical experience by working in different hospitals and facilities while getting to visit new locations around the country.

If you don’t already have a degree as an RN, you need to get one, which takes 2 to 4 years to complete.

If you’re going to be a travel nurse in the United States, you can expect to make around $74,000 to $118,000 a year, while if you’re going to work overseas, the salary would depend on the country.

Other perks you could get include free board and lodging, transportation, health insurance, and possibly incentives for accepting certain high-risk or high-demand assignments.

10. Truck Driver

This is probably the least glamorous one here, but being a long-haul trucker does allow you to travel around the country and even to Canada or Mexico.

There’s currently a shortage of qualified truck drivers, and so trucking companies are willing to train and pay more truck drivers.

Truck Driver

The problem is that traditionally, long-haul truck driving is physically and mentally exhausting, not to mention the time away from their families.

But now, the industry is changing, and trucking companies are now willing to change industry standards to make truck driving attractive to younger drivers.

You can make between $30,000 to $90,000 a year as a truck driver, depending on the company and where you’re assigned to drive.

You’ll have to be above 21, obtain a commercial trucking license, attend truck driving school, pass a background check as well as a medical, drug, and alcohol test.

11. Athletic Recruiter

If you love sports and you love traveling, this might just be the job for you.

Colleges, universities, and professional sports teams hire athletic recruiters to travel to schools and sporting events around the country and find the best up-and-coming athletes in various sports.

At times, the assignment is to find coaches and other sports roles.

To be a good athletic recruiter, you’ll need to know the sport completely.

You’ll also need to know how to assess an athlete: their skills, how they can fit in a team, potential problems, and how to woo them to join your team.

Negotiating skills will also take you far in this career, as you need to deal with the athletes, their parents, their current coaches, and sometimes their agents if they have them.

Sports recruiters make around $34,000 to $50,000 a year.

12. VIP Nanny

Not all childcare jobs are created equal.

Far from the usual babysitting or stay-out nanny, VIP nannies cater to VIPs and celebrities and as such command higher pay than usual.

Being a VIP nanny becomes a travel job when their clients travel as the nannies would have to travel with them.

Aside from extensive childcare experience and rapport with children, you’d need to have at least a bachelor’s degree, certifications in child CPR, first aid, and other life-saving measures, have excellent communication skills (speaking more than one language is definitely a plus), and most importantly, the flexibility to be where they need you to be.

You’ll be paid quite handsomely—$40,000 to $84,000 is the usual range of annual income for VIP nannies—along with all the perks, but you can get paid even more if you can teach specialized skills to your wards. Music, sports, and academics are all sought-after skills in nannies.

Veterans do advise that you go through your contract very carefully; hire a lawyer if you need to. Once you sign it, do everything in your power to complete your contract.

Keep in mind, though, that competition is fierce. Only the best of the best get to do this, so get your experience, your qualifications, and keep training to be the best.

You can do a Google search for “VIP nanny,” “high profile nanny,” “celebrity nanny,” or “professional nanny.” Alternatively, some of the agencies that hire VIP nannies include:

Final Thoughts On Travel Jobs

These aren’t even half of the opportunities available for those who want to work while traveling, so it’s really not impossible to make money while traveling.

But truthfully, many of these travel jobs require prior skills and expertise, experience in the field, and perhaps most importantly, commitment.

You’re going to get homesick at some point, and you’ll need to be able to find a way to overcome your homesickness and finish out your contract.

How does working while traveling sound? Are you interested in any of these jobs at all? Tell us in the comments!

Here’s How to Land an Internship from Home

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With home-based jobs popping left and right in fields that aren’t traditionally accommodating to remote work, such as doctors or bookkeeping, it’s understandable why many college students are trying to find out if there are actually legitimate internships from home.

Who wouldn’t want to complete internship credits at the comfort of their own homes, right?

Join me as I try to investigate everything you need to know about online internships.

Do virtual internships exist?

And if so, are there paid internships from home?

The quick answer is YES.

There are virtual and paid internships, but as you might have guessed, they come few and far in between and they’re very quickly filled. Plus, not all industries are able to offer virtual internships because the work involves face-to-face interactions.

When it comes to virtual internships, the curse of social media managers remain the most important thing to watch out for. Many companies believe that for interns to be able to work remotely, the only job fit for them to perform involve manning the company’s social media accounts.

Although social media is usually one of the tasks performed by interns across all industries, internships do not have to be exclusive to this role.

Instead, internships should:

  • Give interns industry-specific skills – Studying business management in school is one thing, but actually putting what you’ve learned into action is the next step. Internships give students a platform to gain new skills and practice what they know in a real-life setting.
  • Provide interns with work experience – After graduating college, job-hunting will prove to be challenging for those who didn’t complete an internship. This is because companies prefer to hire people with experience, even if the “experience” only involves a couple of months of internship.
  • Allow interns to network within their future industry – Working as an intern gives them an opportunity to meet people and build their professional contact list.
  • Build confidence – Since interns are learning every day (either by doing or through observation) within a specific business, they gradually become more confident in their chosen field. This will show during interviews when ex-interns try to land their place in real-world jobs, as they convince certain HR folks that they’re the best one for the position.

Pros and Cons of Internships from Home

As someone who has had my fair share of working from home (and also an office-based employee of a company), I can guarantee that both set-ups have their ups and downs.

And since internships are just like regular work, the pros and cons of completing internships from home are almost the same.

Pros of Virtual Internships

The biggest advantage of virtual internships is the flexibility it gives college students.

Most often, internships are required in the junior or senior years, which is also the busiest time of their schooling.

This flexibility give you more freedom and control over your time, so you can take your courses or work part-time all while completing an internship as well.

Because you are allowed to complete your internship tasks remotely, you can do them at home, in school, or wherever your obligations need you to be during your “shift.”

When it comes to improvement of skills, doing your internships from home will develop three major skills:

  • Communication skills – Skype is there for face-to-face meetings, but most of the communication between the intern and his/her superiors would involve e-mail and messaging apps. If you’re used to communicating verbally, you can always call and video-chat instead of e-mailing and sending text messages, but as you progress with your internships, you’ll be able to notice the refinement in your communication skills.
  • Time management skills – Doing your partial (or entire) internship remotely means you’d have to plan and prioritize your tasks. Interns may not find this skill as useful now, but once they begin their careers, they’ll soon realize how juggling tasks effectively can impact their overall performance at work.
  • Computer skills – Most of the tasks involved in online internships are digitized. Although many people today are up-to-date with the latest gadgets, apps and tools, learning what is used within the industry you want to built a career on is actually useful.

Cons of Online Internships

You might think that completing your internship from home is all good, but know that this set-up isn’t for everybody.

For example, if you’re used to being around people while working, you’d feel quickly isolated without “officemates” throughout your internship stint.

There’s an easy fix for this: You can still be around family or friends as you do your internship and not feel isolated.

However, it doesn’t change the fact that as an intern working remotely, company news, memos, instructions from your superior, or other updates may not be given to you in real time.

As such, there would be times that you’ll be out of the loop or experience miscommunications.

The biggest disadvantage of virtual internships is that completing tasks on your own require discipline and self-motivation.

Most people develop this sense of discipline in school, but if you’re a late bloomer and was waiting for your first job to practice your work ethics, online internships could become a struggle for you.

Where to Find Companies Offering Internships from Home

You can find virtual internships traditionally and online.

  • Traditional sources – Referrals from your professors and your school’s career center are traditional sources of internship leads, but they require submitting applications and interviews before landing the internship program. Sometimes, internships are already part of your chosen course, so you’re lucky if you are given options for remote internships.
  • Online sources – Your first bet is to check out industry-specific career websites. For example, if you’re studying pre-law, look for law career sites and check available internship programs there.
    • Internships.com – Like InternQueen, this website has been around for a long time, even before Chegg.com acquired the original Internships.com in 2014. No matter which company owns it, the site remains one of the most comprehensive internship listings you could find.
    • InternQueen – This is Lauren Berger’s blog and she’s been helping young professionals land internships and jobs for over a decade. Aside from virtual internship leads, there are also a ton of solid advice available here.
    • LinkedIn – The cool thing about LinkedIn is that the companies themselves post internship programs, so you’re guaranteed that there are slots available.
    • VirtualInternships.com and other similar paid services – Companies like VirtualInternships are involved in the placement of interns in fields like business, legal, marketing, engineering, IT, and so on. They remove the need to dig for the best internship program for you, but their services are pretty expensive, especially for young professionals who are just starting out their careers.
  • Note that India is probably the biggest supporter of remote internships, so don’t be surprised if the results of your online search is filled with India-based companies. Stick with Internships.com, InternQueen, LinkedIn and popular career sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, Dice.com, and CareerBuilder, among others.

The Low Down on Internships from Home

You don’t have to sacrifice your part-time job, family time, or extracurricular activities while completing your internship credit requirements in school. With virtual internships and the skills needed to perform jobs remotely, you’ll be able to juggle everything your way.

If you’re finished with internships, don’t forget to explore my post about online jobs for college students, or high paying entry level jobs.