Creative Job Hunter: Danielle Bullen
by Danielle Bullen, 1 Aug 2009

Danielle is a communications professional in the greater Philadelphia area and is always on the lookout for new freelance opportunities. She has a MA in Writing Studies from Saint Joseph's University.

Visit her online at http://daniellebullenwriting.weebly.com

I was one of the lucky ones. I had a job that I enjoyed going to everyday. I worked as Communications and Marketing Coordinator at a local non-profit/museum, helping to spread the word about their magazines, podcasts, lectures, exhibits, awards, etc. Seeing people walk through the building and thinking that maybe they were there because of an email I sent or ad I posted was a great feeling. There was a sense that everyone mattered, not just the head honchos.

I also had a parallel career as a contributor to some local web sites and magazines. There was one in particular that I wrote bi-monthly style columns for. I had the freedom to choose my topics, so I exercised my creative muscle in writing about fashion in a friendly, accessible way. I'm a people person and interviewing boutique owners and getting their unique take on style was my favorite part of the gig.

As people say though, all good things must come to an end. One February morning I was called into my boss' office and she and the CFO told me that I, along with fifteen percent of my co-workers, were being laid off. They emphasized that it was strictly a budget thing. Non-profits live and die by their endowments and theirs was an unfortunate victim of the downward economy.

Of course, I was shocked. I wallowed for a bit, but then realized that asking why me is a waste of time. These days, sadly, no industry is safe from layoffs. I decided to be positive. I'm young, energetic, well-educated, and a good writer. A new job is waiting for me. This is merely a career detour.

Creativity has always been in my blood. So, it was no surprise that I recently turned to PhillyCreativeJobs.com to look for a new position. I had been reading the Innovation Philadelphia newsletter for a while. I liked learning about people in the area with artistic careers.

I remembered that the Innovation Philadelphia web site has a jobs link, so I surfed over and clicked. It was then I met PhillyCreativeJobs.com. I don't want to relocate, so having a site dedicated to creative careers in the Philly area is ideal The best part about the site is that I don't have to sift through hundreds of listings to find the ones in Communications or Editorial or Marketing like I do with mega-job sites. Although I check other localized job sites, I've been lucky to find openings on PhillyCreativeJobs.com that weren't posted anywhere else. And that's the ticket in this market--finding the hidden gems and being first in there with your resume.

If I could create my next job, it would be a permanent position where writing is a large part of my regular responsibilities. Most importantly, I want another job where I feel like I'm making a contribution to the company. I've explored freelance opportunities and while they're great for keeping my writing skills fresh and maybe making some money, in my heart, I want a full-time position. The water-cooler camaraderie of an office setting is something I miss. I like the stability of going to the same place everyday and working with the same people towards a common goal.

Hopefully, with the help of PhillyCreativeJobs.com, I'll be able to find that perfect job for me and stop this career detour.