After I lost my last job, I was in a funk. I didn’t know what to do. I had spent years working as a writer for some very prestigious companies. But ever since 2008, when the housing market burst and the economy collapsed, the publishing industry went down as well and I found myself (along with numerous writers, several designers, and a photo editor friend) out of work for a lengthy period.
I spent my first few years trying to make ends meet by freelancing more. However, that didn’t come as easy as it once did. Many of my contacts from other companies had lost their jobs as well. Their staff was cut loose and the work that was once freelanced out was kept in house … just like with my former publisher. It was horrible for all involved. Laid-off writers were out of a job completely. The rest (those lucky enough to stay employed) were stuck shouldering the workload of 3-5 people each.
Eventually, the industry started to recover (sort of). And during that time, blog writing began to really take off. Companies were farming out work to freelancers—but at a fraction of the pay. For a good many corporations, the need for quality writing and professionalism came second to content provision and quantity. Short SEO-based copy with lots of white space was what they required. And with that being the basis for getting a writing gig, any adult-time-deprived soccer mom, hungover Ramen-filled college student, or international individual with the barest grasp of the English language could get work.
The end result was more competition for all the unemployed “professional” copywriters. Taking a job for next to nothing was a difficult thing for a seasoned wordsmith to do—especially when we didn’t make that much money to begin with.
So, with that happening, I began dabbling in design in order to supplement my dissipating career. I knew a little bit about programs like Adobe Photoshop and Corel Paintshop from my days working alongside professional designers and my photo editor pal and threw that into the ring when trying to gain a little edge over less-qualified contenders. It really helped when vying for jobs from small businesses and web services. Eventually, I got good enough and stepped up my design skills.
Graphic Design and Photo Editor Software Programs Saved the Day
Now, with the economy better than it was back in ’08 and me with a solid base of clients, I’m doing pretty well in the freelance department. I’ve learned that in order to stay fresh, I need to learn new things. That’s why I’m always looking for the newest and best professional photo editing software programs and design software. Expanding my horizons and skills has really helped my career, and it could yours too.
For more information about how photo editing software can work for you, visit our related post: How To Create Stunning Photographs With Photo Editing Software
A nice photo sharing tool to add to the list.
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