FAQ

Your experience is great, but you have a lot of contract work …

Thank you, and yes.

When I was 20, I graduated from the University of Dallas (Irving, TX) in Politics, graduating in 3.5 years. At this point, I was pretty sure I wanted to go to graduate school, but was ready for a gap year. I worked in retail, traveled and subsequently enrolled in graduate school at the University of St. Thomas (Houston, TX).  I paid for the first two courses in cash, which really stung …after that, I decided to go on a leave of absence!

I started working professionally in marketing communications at ABS, which is when I realized that I really needed my Master’s to advance in the workplace. (It’s not required, but it’s helpful in the long run.) I planned on completing one course at a time.

I stayed at ABS just over a year and then took the plunge to finish my Master’s. As my coursework was my first priority, I admit I wasn’t very intense in my job-hunting. However if I got a call from a recruiter for a contract role I’d embrace it with arms wide-open. I often joked with friends that I had really well-paid “student jobs” or “summer jobs” even though they were well-paid professional contracts. I was very grateful to work as it enabled me to complete my studies.

In May 2014, I graduated with Honors.

What’s it like to work on independent contract projects during an oil downturn?

I’ve been a Houstonian for the past twenty years now. These days I find social topics circle to the oil price. …when oil does well, Houston thrives. Unfortunately since mid-2014 the market has been over-saturated with underemployed or laid off marketing professionals.

With the crisis, contract seems to be the norm and direct-hire is still rare.

There’s a silver lining in this right? I think the fact that I worked contract roles to pay for expenses during graduate school is coming in handy now. I’ve been very lucky and very grateful to land a stream of contract work despite the downturn. I had a recruiter tell me my resume is so easy to pitch for contract because I’m a jack of all trades. I like that!

Answering the question though … you definitely have to be open to new experiences and adaptable.

I’ve worked both on client sites and from my home office, which has gotten easier with videoconferencing and remote tools. Sometimes a client will provide a laptop and sometimes not.

I like to say that you have to be willing to make new friends all the time.

You also have to be very proactive and disciplined. Anticipating common challenges and communicating them is a sure way to make a project successful.

You also need to be more responsible and organized about money (than if you were on direct hire).  For instance, since you don’t have an employer-sponsored 401(k), you need to set up your own IRA or Roth(IRA). You’re also responsible for your own health insurance.

What are your career goals?

I hear consulting, contract and gig work might be the way of the future. I don’t know if that’s true.

What I do know is that I love: adding value for a client, working in a team, and constantly learning.

Would you ever relocate for a job?

Houston is my home, but for the right role, moving would be simple.

Would you ever be open to working abroad?

Yes, absolutely!!! I keep a passport ready to go at all times! (joke)

Seriously? For the right opportunity, why not?