3 Amazing Freelancing Opportunities for Introverts

3 Amazing Freelancing Opportunities for Introverts Marilyn Monroe once said, I restore myself when Im alone, which is classic introversion. However, with modern workplace trends of open-space offices and shared co-working spaces, finding the time and place to do your work alone is more difficult than it would seem.The good news is there are three great jobs for introverts- or for those inclined toward introversion- and with the right skills, you can find freelance opportunities in all three. But before we get into these freelance opportunities, lets look at freelancing in general and some recent statistics that support its upward trend.FreelancingIn a 2017 study conducted by independent research firm Edelman Intelligence, researchers found that 57.3 million Americans are freelancing (36 percent of the U.S. workforce), contributing approximately $1.4 trillion annually to the economy. This is an increase of nearly 30% since last year.That study also concluded that:54 percent of the U.S. workforce (freelancers and non-freelancers) said theyre not very confident that the work they do will exist in 20 years.By 2027, the majority of the U.S. workforce will freelance.63 percent of freelancers think that having a diversified portfolio of clients is more secure than one employer and have an average of 4.5 clients per month.This trend toward freelancing is great news for introverts, who prefer to work independently in their own chosen setting. Such personalities tend to find office chatter and activity to be distracting- and at times, even distressing.So, if you happen to be an introvert, or if you are interested in freelancing as an editor, content writer, or graphic designer, lets take a look at the skills youll need for each.EditorThe role of an editor will vary based on the editing services needed. An editor can offer developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, proofreading, or manuscript critiquing services, and each of these are different in their approach and the point at which they are needed for a manuscri pt.The most commonly needed editorial service is copyediting, which involves focusing on the technical issues of the copy and requires an excellent command of rules related to grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, citation formats and capitalization. A copyeditor will also need to make notes on any false or questionable information such as incorrect quotes, dates, or claims. This skill is especially useful in the publishing world, where false information could mean defamation lawsuits or a tarnished reputation.Skills youll needEditors, whether copyediting or proofreading, should demonstrate the following skills:Expert knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, citation style, spelling and syntax rules.The ability to be meticulous and careful in your work, paying close attention to details.An ability to determine macro-level problems of the copy, including consistency.Research skills related to checking facts, dates, spelling of names, and quotes. This skill doesnt always apply to editing projects, but is particularly important if you are editing for a publication that could be sued for defamation, plagiarism, or reporting false information.A genuine desire to help writers polish their work and ensure it is error-free for publication.The ability to manage multiple projects at once, with different timelines and expectations.Content writer or copywriterThe role of a content writer will vary depending on the client and project. In most cases, a content writer (or copywriter) is responsible for creating content to be published- either online, in print, or both. This content could range from social media posts and blog articles, to press releases, email marketing campaigns and YouTube scripts.In addition to having great command of the English language, a freelance content writer needs to understand the basics of Internet marketing and writing for certain audiences. While there are copywriting jobs that dont pertain to Internet marketing and publish ing, a majority do, and having the skills required to write for online audiences is crucial to selling your services.Content is king, as Bill Gates once famously wrote. Its even more important now than it was in 1996 when Gates wrote that. Youll find that businesses ranging from laundromats and distribution companies to plastic surgery centers and wellness retreats (and everything in between) need great content writers to advertise their services and increase their brand reputation.Skills youll needTo succeed as a freelance content writer/copywriter, youll need the following:Impeccable grammar, syntax, and English language skills.Knowledge of how to conduct research on various topics, and how to find valid, trustworthy sources.The ability to read about new topics, and then synthesize and summarize those topics.An engaging voice that appeals to the reader and makes them want to read more.An accommodating, professional attitude when clients ask for rewrites or changes in the draft (wh ich is an inevitable part of the job).The ability to manage multiple projects at once, with different timelines and expectations.A basic understanding of how content helps businesses grow (here is a great article showing some of the recent statistics and trends related to content marketing).Graphic designerContent isnt just words. In fact, graphic design plays an equal part in building a solid online reputation for any company or individual- whether its designing images for social media posts or creating the overall look of a website.In the world of freelance graphic design, projects run the gamut from logo creation and web design to digital art and 3D illustrations. While a degree is not necessary, having the expertise and software necessary to compete with other freelancers (who might have degrees) is crucial. As is building a stunning design portfolio.Since graphic design is so visual, a design portfolio will be your most important asset to market your freelance services. Many de signers have both a print and digital design portfolio- which you choose will depend on how you go about finding clients and the focus of your design expertise. For more tips on how to build and freshen your portfolio, this is a great resource.Skills youll needTo succeed as a freelance graphic designer, youll need the following:Excellent communication skills to articulate ideas through text and image.Excellent listening skills to understand what a client is going for in their graphic design project and what they hope the final draft will look like.The ability to think creatively and convey messages in ways that are unique and engaging. This includes ways to solve problems creatively or think outside the box in terms of messaging and meaning.Expert knowledge of the technology and software needed to design. This might include (but is certainly not limited to) Quark, InDesign, PhotoShop, and Adobe.Fluency in programming languages like HTML and CSS, as well as working knowledge of conte nt management systems (CMS) like WordPress.The ability to manage multiple projects at once, with different timelines and expectations.An understanding of, and eye for, developing legible type through a familiarity with fonts and a knowledge of line-height and tracking.A thorough understanding of color theory, knowing how colors complement and contrast with each other.Skills every freelancer needsRegardless of the line of work you do as a freelancer, there are skills you will need to be successful. Since freelancing requires marketing your own services, much of your time will be put into finding clients who need a professional, skilled graphic designer. This ability to market yourself and bid on jobs is vital if you want to find steady work.Youll find that if you do great work, many clients will return to you for additional jobs after the initial one. In fact, repeat clients will be the staple of your business, so its important to make sure that every job you do- you do it well. This will ensure that clients return to you when they need more work done.Youll also need to research pricing structures to have an understanding of what each task should cost the client. Obviously, freelancers charge a range of prices, and setting your price will likely be one of the hardest parts of the job. Set it too low and it will be hard to make a sustainable living from your freelance work. Set it too high, and you run the risk of clients seeking out another freelancer. The thing to keep in mind here is you should charge your client what you believe your work is worth. Dont under-bid other freelancers in bidding wars, as this could backfire, and you could be stuck with a task that underpays for the amount of work thats involved.Above all, freelancing offers flexibility and the opportunity to work in a comfortable setting, on your own time, and on your own- just as introverts like it.

Function of the SAT - PrepScholar 2016 Students Encyclopedia

Function of the SAT - PrepScholar 2016 Students' Encyclopedia SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many 4-year U.S. colleges and universities require SAT or ACT scores fromtheir prospective students. Admissions officers, particularly those selecting for academic ability, consider the SAT as a measurement of academic ability and potential. The SAT is meant to be a reasoning test that evaluates students' problem-solving and analytical skills, rather than their specific content knowledge. Note: this article is a series in the PrepScholar2016 Students' Encyclopedia, a free students' and parents' SAT / ACT guide that provides encyclopedic knowledge. Read all the articles here! SAT scores are not the sole criterion for admission, nor are they the only measure of academic ability within a student's college application. Scores are considered in conjunction with high school grade point average (GPA), course selection, and other indicatorsof achievement. Many admissions officers emphasize that they take a holistic view of each applicant, considering the "whole person" as evidenced by his/her grades, extracurricular involvement, recommendations, and personal essay, among other demonstrated interests, accomplishments, and goals. While most colleges do not publicize specific SAT score minimums, many share data on the average scores of their accepted students. If this data shows a range of scores from the 25th to the 75th percentile, then the higher end of the range may be more representative of the school's SAT score expectations for the majority of regular applicants. The lower end of this kind of range may reflect the scores of special interest applicants who can gain admission with lower SAT scores, like students who are recruited for athletics. While many admissions officers claim they take a holistic approach, some will not review applications that do not contain a certain minimumSAT score. Conversely, high SAT scores are rarely a guarantee of admission, especially not at selective institutions like those in the Ivy League. Studentsthat entered Harvard's class of 2017, for example, had an average SAT score of 2237. Harvard's recruited athletes, on average, scored 173 points lower on the SAT than their non-recruited classmates. In addition to sharing data on average SAT scores of incoming students, most colleges share their policies on SAT scores. Some schools "superscore" the SAT, or take students' highest section scores across all testing dates and recombine them into a maximized composite score. Popular schools that have a policy of superscoring the SAT include Boston University, Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Princeton, and the University of Connecticut. Other colleges look at a student's highest sitting on one date he/she took the SAT. Schools that consider students' "highest sitting" include Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Oregon State University, and University of Wisconsin. By researching their prospective colleges' stance on SAT scores, students may adjust their preparation and test-taking plans accordingly. An increasing number of colleges have adopted test flexible and test optional policies. These may allow students to send SAT Subject tests or AP tests in lieu of the general SATor to choose whether or not to send their SAT scores. NYU, for example,allows students to send three SAT Subject Tests or three AP tests in lieu of the SAT, among other options. While students may be able to decide whether their scores are an accurate representation of their academic ability when applying to test optional schools, those who omit their scores may be at an empirical disadvantage when compared with theirpeers who chose to include their scores. HampshireCollege is the only school thus far that has adopted a "test blind" policy, stating, "We will not consider SAT/ACT scores regardless of the score. Even if it's a perfect score, it will not weigh into our assessment of an applicant." While colleges take varied approaches to their consideration of SAT scores, College Board states that the SAT is meant to give national perspective to local data from schools on students' achievement and ability. As a standardized test, College Board maintains that the SAT measures academic ability independent from differences among students' educational experiences by school district, including variationsin curricula, school funding, and course rigor. Critics of the SAT drawon data that shows a correlation between higher SAT scores and higher levels of family income and parental education. Rather than testing students "on a level playing field," SAT critics claim that the SAT contributes to existing patterns of social and educational inequality. The changes made to the redesigned SAT, which will be administered starting in March of 2016, may have been partially motivated to address these criticismsand to make the SAT more accessible to students across income levels. The elimination of high level vocabulary words in favor of medium-range, multiple meaning words, for instance, may be one change aimed to make the test more fair and to improve its validity and predictive power. College Board also recently began a collaboration with Khan Academy to offer free videos, lessons, and sample questions for students to prepare for the new SAT. In addition to addressing the concerns of critics, College Board may have been motivated to update the SAT in order to remain competitive with its counterpart, the ACT. Historically, the majority of American students who lived on the East and West coasts took the SAT while students in Midwestern states took the ACT. In 20, the number of students who took the ACT nationwide surpassed the number that took the SAT for the first time. The redesigned SAT will more closely resemble the ACT in several ways, particularly in the format of its vocabulary questions and its newly optional essay. Read more from the SAT Encyclopedia! Further Reading Which Colleges Superscore the SAT? Colleges Requiring All SAT Scores Sent: Complete List How Can You Build the Most Versatile College Application?