The Fourth of July is coming up, and for many creative professionals it may spark thoughts of career independence. According to Dave Willmer, executive director of The Creative Group, a specialized staffing firm that provides creative, advertising, marketing and web professionals on a project basis, the demand for interim professionals continues to grow, making it an opportune time to pursue the freedom of freelance work.

"Many people are attracted to the flexible lifestyle that comes with a freelance career, but they may not realize just how accessible this career path is," said Willmer. "An increasing number of companies are hiring freelancers to supplement their core teams, and this translates into added opportunities for project professionals."

Added Willmer, "The thought of having to line up new projects and promote themselves can be off-putting to many creative professionals. That's where specialized staffing firms can assist -- freelancers who work with these firms are able to focus on the creative side, while staffing specialists market their services and handle administrative tasks, such as making sure people are paid on time."

Willmer noted that creative professionals should be selective when choosing a staffing firm. "It's wise to target staffing firms that are truly specialized in the industry because they typically have stronger ties within the creative community and a greater understanding of each professional's talents," he said.

Willmer offered the following five tips for working with a specialized staffing firm:

  -- Be wary of fees.  You should not have to pay the staffing firm for its
     services.  Nearly all legitimate staffing firms receive their fees from
     clients, not freelancers.

  -- Find the right one.  Work with a staffing specialist who understands
     your abilities and with whom you feel a good rapport.  Remember that
     this person will promote you to his or her business contacts, so you
     want to make sure the staffing specialist has a strong understanding of
     the value you can provide businesses.  If one firm doesn't feel right
     to you, look for an alternative.

  -- Speak candidly.  Give as much information as possible about the types
     of projects and companies that appeal to you, as well as the ones that
     don't.  The more specifically you can describe your preferences, the
     more likely it is you will be matched with the assignments you want.

  -- Show the breadth and depth of your work.  Include a diverse range of
     project samples in your portfolio when meeting with a staffing
     specialist.  This will help him or her to understand all of your
     skills.

  -- Check in frequently.  Let the staffing specialist know how the project
     is going, especially if you hit any bumps in the road; a good firm will
     help you work out any problems.  Also, let your contact know as soon as
     possible when a project is ending so he or she can start lining up new
     assignments.

The Creative Group has offices in major markets across the United States and in Canada, and offers online job search services at http://www.creativegroup.com/.

Source: The Creative Group