“Kids these days are all lazy and entitled ...”
BS! Everywhere I look I see hard-working, creative young people who are trying new things and finding exciting ways to earn income and gain life experience.
"Odd Jobs" will feature students and recent grads who are working unique and interesting jobs. We'll find out how they got started, the pros and cons of their gig, and what they've learned along the way.
Odd Jobs #1
Name: Adrienne Kruzer
Age: 25
Educational Background: Assoc. of Arts and Assoc. of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology
Day Job: Head Evening/Exotics Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
What is your side job?
Exotic Pets Guide for About.com.
I manage the Exotic Pets website at www.exoticpets.about.com. This means I do everything from writing blogs, responding to reader e-mails, creating content like articles, photo galleries and product reviews, working with basic HTML and checking all my links on the site (just to name a few things).
When and how did you become aware of this position?
Late summer of 2009 I found this position online. I was actually looking for jobs for my husband in a completely different field. An aunt had told me how she was applying to guide a site on About.com (but didn’t end up getting it) so I had tucked that job resource away in my brain and checked it from time to time for topics of interest to me.
Describe the interview process:
The interview process was 100% through e-mail. I never spoke to a human, only typed. It was a lengthy process that included three separate “levels” if you will. Each level had you do different tasks, like write sample articles about given topics following specific guidelines. Each one lasted a week or so. You had to pass all three levels to get the opportunity to be offered the job and I was told other people could be going through the same thing for the same position at the same time so there was definitely competition. It was nerve-racking, stressful, time-consuming and exciting to see if I passed each week.
How did you negotiate rate of pay?
No negotiating. There is a flat rate for all new Guides but you determine how much you make since you are paid on page views. You write more, you make more.
When did you actually start this job?
December 2009
Was there any training or orientation?
Yes. There were a few weeks or so of training that was unpaid, but you did receive a bonus after your site went “live” at the end of training. During training I learned how to navigate the site management system, what was required of me, and figured out how to run my site.
Describe your first few weeks:
After training, I wrote a lot of content for the site. I was nervous my editor wasn’t going to like what I wrote, or that I was doing something wrong but everything went fine. It was fun seeing my page views fluctuate from day to day and figure out what my readers liked to read about.
How are you paid and how often are you paid?
I am paid once a month by direct deposit.
Describe the arrangement you have with your employer:
I am contracted but there is no set length of time. I have the position until I don’t want it anymore, or for some reason I am fired (not managing my site, not writing enough content, etc.)
How has your education and job experience prepared you for this position?
My job experience before and after school has helped me gain knowledge in this very broad subject and my day-to-day job helps me continue to learn to improve my site. My degree definitely helped me get the job, but veterinary technician school doesn’t teach you much about exotic pets.
What personal characteristics have helped you excel at this job?
I think I’m naturally a good writer (ok, I’m sure all those English classes helped) and the facts that I enjoy research and have a passion for my subject matter help me excel.
Is there anything about this job that you have found particularly challenging?
Knowing what people want to read about and getting that information found is difficult. You can write the best article out there on a very sought after topic, but if your search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t top notch no one will ever find it to read it. Figuring out SEO and taking the time to work on it is challenging.
What are some of your favorite aspects of this job?
The freedom I have with this job is phenomenal. I can do it anywhere I have Internet access and anytime of day. I have worked on my site from a balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico on vacation and in a Starbucks in the middle of a mountain range in Colorado. I have been in my pajamas or on my break from my day job in my scrubs and no one cares. I have so much I can write about and the pay is great.
What motivated you to seek an additional employment opportunity?
Who can’t use extra money? My career path as a vet tech isn’t exactly known to bring in the big bucks but I was determined to make a name for myself and a decent living by doing what I love. Paying off bills and the desire to live more comfortably and travel were the main motivation.
How has/will this job contribute to your future career goals?
My earning potential is limitless so if I spent enough time doing it, I could make it into a full-time job and work from home. It is also a way to get my name out there for other opportunities to make a difference in the exotic pet world.
Have you been able to balance your responsibilities for this job with your day job/personal life?
Yes. Sometimes it’s tough, but I’m a busy-body. If I don’t have something to do I go crazy! I enjoy the motivation from increased page views to write more content.
Can you see yourself continuing on with this job in the future?
Definitely. I’d love to make it my full-time gig and just work hands on with the animals once or twice a week.
Do you have any advice for people who are considering freelance work in general?
Go for it! There are so many opportunities available for writers. If you aren’t afraid of your keyboard and a little research try your hand at it. Be sure to show your personality in your work. No one likes to read medical journals.
Do you have any advice for people who are considering a freelance opportunity that is similar to yours?
Again, show your personality in your writing. Readers in the About.com market are normal people. They don’t want to read scientific jargon. Be down to earth, personable and real.
Do you have a funny/interesting story to share with the readers about something having to do with this job?
Oh, several! I got in an e-mail debate over the topic of keeping poisonous snakes as pets with a reader. It was within my first month as a guide and I felt the need to defend my opinions. I remember writing several lengthy, time-consuming e-mails to this person that in the end didn’t do a darn thing for my page views, I’m sure. I don’t get so argumentative with anonymous people anymore. I also commonly get random replies to my weekly newsletter that say something like, “You’re weird,” or even a marriage proposal from someone in India. Needless to say, I have learned to just delete certain e-mails.
Thanks, Adrienne! Check out her work at www.exoticpets.about.com.
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