Frustrated with this field!!

[Jennifer Benci]

I have been working in New York for about 7 months now, and I am having so much trouble getting steady work and pay. I know the holidays just passed, but it's been like this for me since the summer. I work steady for a few weeks and then barely get any work for the next month or so. Because of that, my paychecks don't come on a regular basis and I have trouble paying my bills. Is anyone else having this problem??? I am seriously considering relocating to anywhere where I can get steady work and income!

[Judy]

Which is why you should ask BEFORE you take the job: How much? When?

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Hi Jennifer,
Make sure you join your local "Cover Depo" group over here.
You will get around 5 job offers a week (its pretty slow right now though)

[Jennifer Benci]

You know, those last minute depos really haven't come up that often for me, but thanks for all the great advice!!

[Judy]

I agree with being ready, willing and able for a last-minute add-on. That's how I got my biggest client and also how I met my husband.

[Holly]

I like Ann's advice. Also, you might want to get up every morning and be ready to run out the door for last minute "oops, we forgot to schedule a court reporter for our depo, how soon can you be here?" And maybe call around to agencies in the morning and let them know your job went off for that day and you are available for anything that comes up. They're more likely to call someone who they know is going to say yes to a job instead of the reporter who hates last-minute calls and gives them attitude.
One caution about last minute depos. I once had a call from my agency for a depo that someone forgot to schedule a court reporter. I said sure, I'll be there in about 45 minutes. I knew it'd take about 25 minutes for me to drive across town and I wanted a few minutes to spare because I had not been to this particular office yet. Well, my agency gal told the law office that I'd be there in 4 to 5 minutes, or at least that's how they interpreted it! So always say an hour, instead of 45 minutes. Then when you show up in 30, they are pleasantly surprised. Chalk it up to lesson learned for me.

[Jennifer Benci]

That's good advice. Thanks Ann!

[Ann Morales]

I know how you feel. What I do to eliminate this problem is limit the amount of agencies I freelance for. I'm also very particular as to which agencies I work for. Some do not clearly communicate when you should get paid or how much, etc, until after you start taking work for them. I don't like "not knowing." Plus when I freelance a lot, then I get the scattered income, and it makes it hard to pay bills. So what I try to do for the most part is stick to the few that do pay quick and where I have a schedule of their pay dates and cutoff dates to turn jobs in, etc. Makes life a lot easier for me.

I have my routine with these agencies, and it works out best that way. I'm also not picky, so I do take a lot of little jobs like the Workers' Comp and PI stuff, some doctor depos. I used to not like taking these type of jobs. I really like taking the more challenging stuff. But it's hard to find those jobs nowadays. A lot of reporters I know say they're really slow too. I have been keeping really busy with the small jobs.

It took me a year to figure out certain things in reporting. You're still fairly new, so hang in there. These are tough times. Trial and error has helped me eliminate some of these problems, though. Hang in there & have a nice week!