Overview

Here, “finding work” is defined as getting a full-time contract. Though, the methods here would work for a salary job search too. Just can’t credit any success there.

I’ve been a contractor, usually full-time, for different projects/clients, since 2014. I would prefer to have a salaried role, but it’s not how the cookie has crumbled for me. Like many Creative Technologists, I don’t really fit into a neat box, so I’m difficult to hire, but usually once I’m hired, I stick around a long time and cover a lot of different roles and responsibilities. 

My more-or-less consistent work can be credited to a few factors:

1. Doing a good job and being a good team player
2. Trying to be nice, honorable, consistent
3. Networking
4. Connections
5. Continuing creative practice and keeping things moving
6. Keeping my portfolio up to date
7. Bringing more gear to the job than I need to – to help other folks out and to save some time
8. Occasionally looking at LinkedIn and the rest of the internet - ugh - no thanks
   

Points 1 and 2 are well covered in the welcome and ethics area, and the remaining points are broken down in appropriately named sections following this one. One very large caveat; these techniques have worked for me, but they don’t always work. It’s just a good way to think through things and to fight depression when you’re feeling under-valued or unemployed.