What: WorkingNotWorking connects writers, editors, designers, illustrators, developers, animators, photographers, directors, and producers with companies that want to hire them.

Expected pay: $20 to $150 per hour

Husl$core: $$$$$

Commissions & fees: None for creatives; hiring companies pay an annual subscription cost of $250 or more.

Where: Nationwide

Requirements: Be over the age of 18, able to sign a legal contract, or have parental permission sent to the site. Be an experienced creative

Review:

WorkingNotWorking connects creatives in the entertainment, media, marketing, consumer services and a variety of other industries directly with companies that want to hire them.  The idea is to avoid agency fees and commissions levied on the talent. This site puts the cost of hiring on the company seeking work. At a time when Hollywood writers have fired their agents en masse, it’s a site whose time may have come.

How it works for creatives is relatively simple. You sign up; upload a bio, resume, and portfolio and list your skills and references. The site uses both computer modeling and a board of advisors to determine where your information shows up in any given employment search. Although there is no guarantee you’ll get a job — or even be accepted to list — there’s no cost to try. If you don’t have sufficient experience, however, the site may not list your profile at all. WorkingNotWorking also reserves the right to take profiles down for cause — or based on the sole discretion of the site. The site suggests that you set your pay expectations between $50 and $150 per hour in the U.S.

Once you apply for a position, the arrangement is solely between you and the company that’s doing the hiring. WorkingNotWorking is not involved in that process; doesn’t guarantee payment; and doesn’t take a commission from you for providing the connection.

The only complaints we found about the site were from people who said they got no work from their free listing. The site is testing an option that would allow creatives to pay to elevate their listing. The cost depends on the job and is disclosed before you are asked to pay. It is not clear whether elevating your listing provides improved results. 

Other highly recommended sites for professional writers, editors, illustrators, marketers and designers are: FreeeUp, Onward Search and FlexProfessionals.

What their users say (from Reddit)

I’m like around member ~5,000 on there. The job board and the type of clients posting jobs are really good. Much better than just going on LinkedIn or somewhere else to find a job. Recruiters also love WNW cause there’s a vetting process to get in or get invited. For me, as someone that needs to find people while it’s not an immediately stamp of approval, I consider someone with a WNW profile to be someone I should notice over other candidates.

But that doesn’t necessarily translate towards said candidate being a good candidate. Met a lot of people who had profiles on there who were dicks. Met a couple who had inaccurate portfolios. But that sort of is per the course of creatives in our industry.

 I’ve not had any work come through the site so I’m not sure listing there will be of much help. Though they do have a job board for those looking for full time and part time positions.