"Helping you gain
.control of your career"

In this issue we look at the personal skills you need to be a successful copywriter; whether proofreading might be a possible career choice and how to ensure prospective employers don’t hit the ‘delete’ button when they get your CV.

• Editor's Desk
• Bite 1
• Bite 2
• Bite 3
• Working Web
• Last Word

In difficult economic times, many people start considering how great it would be to run their own business. Just think... no more having to put up with a grumpy, demanding boss; being able to organise your own routine; not having to worry about being made redundant etc. There are, of course, the minus points. Running your own business can be very demanding; there’s no guaranteed salary at the end of each month and it can be quite lonely and stressful. You definitely have to weigh-up the pros and cons carefully before making any decision, and look at all the options.

But if you’ve ever thought about trying your hand at starting a business, why not join our Facebook discussion. Share your dreams with others; or, who knows, their suggestions might trigger an idea that you could follow up.

One business you could consider is being a freelance copywriter and our first article this month looks at the skills and aptitudes required for success. Another possibility is working as a proofreader. The Society for Editors and Proofreaders give an excellent insight into what proofreaders are expected to do, the type of person who would be suited to the job, and what isn’t expected as part of the remit!

Finally, as we said earlier, not everyone wants to work for themselves. So this week our Chairman, Susan Metcalfe, starts a series in her blog that looks at how to get a better job – once you’ve decided that it really is time to move on. Most companies now expect you to submit your CV electronically, so we’ve some tips on doing this in a professional manner.

I hope you’ll join in the discussion on Facebook and, as usual, your comments would be most welcome!

Diana Nadin
Editor