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Online Freelancers 快乐的网络自由工作者

 

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For freelancers, web makes fun pursuits pay  对自由工作者而言,网络让嗜好成为赚钱之道

 

I’ve never sold anything on eBay, but I’ve often thought about it when I see how much money I have in my checking account. And when times are this bad, I know I’m not alone. But what if I want something a little steadier? Or what if I don’t want to sell my old junk?

我从未在eBay上卖过东西,但每当我看到支票帐户里的存款数字时,就常想一试。现在时机歹歹,我一定不是唯一有此想法的人。不过如果我想要有比较固定的收入的话呢?或是我不想卖掉旧东西又该怎么办呢?

 

People are turning to the web to make extra money – and not just to sell old books and jewelry. Some people are using the web to get freelance and temporary work.

人们正在网络上寻找赚外快的机会,而且不只是卖旧书和旧珠宝而已,有些人还利用网络找到了自由工作和临时工作的机会。

 

“Finding” money on the web  在网络上「找」钱

 

The Internet allows people to take hobbies and turn them into moneymaking enterprises. For example, sites like iStockphoto.com buy and sell royalty-free artwork submitted by contributors.

网际网络让人们得以将嗜好转为赚钱的生意。例如,像iStockphoto.com这样的网站会将投稿者免除版税的艺术作品拿来买卖。

 

George Peters, a graphic designer from Minnesota, started as a buyer before contributing his own work in 2007. Peters uses the site to turn the sour economy into an opportunity. His economic-themed illustrations have been snapped up by newspapers.

乔治.彼得斯是明尼苏达州的平面设计师,他一开始原本是这个网站的买家,在二00七年开始投稿自己的作品,将恶化的经济转变成契机。他以经济为主题的插画被各家报纸争相抢用。

 

“Rather than wringing my hands about it, …. I asked how I could turn this into an opportunity for myself,” he said. “They are selling well.” He declined to say how much he’s making on the web, but said iStockphoto.com is now his largest client, eclipsing all his design clients.

「与其焦虑地束手无策……我反问自己,要怎么做才能为自己创造机会,」他说:「它们卖得很好。」他拒绝说明靠网络赚了多少钱,但表示iStockphoto.com现在是他最大的客户,收益已经超越他所有设计方面的其他客户。

 

Peters is now able to write off vacations on his tax returns by shooting photos for the website. He is currently planning a trip to Mexico and is already thinking about what shots he’ll take.

彼得斯现在为网站拍照,可以在所得税申报书上扣抵度假费用。他目前正在规划一趟墨西哥之旅,而且已经在思考到墨西哥时要拍什么样的照片。

 

But don’t think there are only opportunities for the artistically inclined. More businesses are looking to fill positions with contractors these days, and there are plenty of resources for freelancers to work and network.

但别以为只有艺术工作者才有机会,因为时下有更多公司在寻找外包人力,自由工作者也有许多工作及建立人脉的来源。

 

 

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freelancer [ˋfri͵lænsɚ] n.(不受雇于人的)自由作家(或演员等)one who works independently, usually for various organizations rather than as an employee of a particular one

pay [pe] v. 生利;(工作等)有报酬

freelance [ˋfriˋlæns] n. & v. 自由工作

royalty [ˋrɔɪəltɪ] n. 专利权税;版税 a payment made especially to writers and musicians every time their books or songs bought or used by others

sour [ˋsaʊr] adj.【口】扫兴的,令人失望的

graphic designer 平面设计师 one who is trained in the profession of drawing and designing print

illustration [ɪ͵lʌsˋtreʃən] n. 插图,图表

eclipse [ɪˋklɪps] v. 使失色

write off 注销, 取消, 勾消 to deduct something for income tax purposes

tax return 纳税申报单 a declaration of personal income made annually to the tax authorities and used as a basis for assessing an individual's liability for taxation

inclined [ɪnˋklaɪnd] adj. 有…意向的; 倾向于…的

network [ˋnɛt͵wɝk] v. 沟通,互助 to interact or engage in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support.

 

 

 

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Online opportunities  网络机会

 

Elance.com for example, offers work from writing to web programming to financial management. Prospective workers bid on posted jobs that put them in contact with businesses around the world. Workers’ online profiles display reviews from previous employers and information on past projects.

例如,Elance.com提供的工作机会从写作、网络程序撰写到财务管理都有。有意工作者可以和世界各地的企业联系,争取网上贴出的工作机会。工作者的在线履历会显示以前雇主的评语,以及过去工作项目的信息。

 

The site deducts between 6.75 and 8.76 percent of the freelancer’s earnings to cover service fees and payment processing costs. Freelancers must join a membership plan, which can range from a free basic account to more inclusive plans that start at $9.95 a month.

网站会扣除自由工作者报酬的百分之六点七五到八点七五做为服务费及付款手续费。自由工作者必须加入会员制度,其方式从免费的基本服务账户到每个月会费自九点九五美元起跳的涵盖范围更广的服务方案都有。

 

At iStockphoto, contributors earn a percentage of the download price – starting at a 20 percent base royalty rate. That means for photos, earnings can range from 30 cents to more than $8 per download on a pay-as-you-go plan. The amount earned depends on the size of the photo. The rest of the money goes to the site.

iStockphoto网站的投稿者可以赚取下载作品费用中一定成数的金额,最少是基本使用费的两成。就照片而言,每次下载可赚取三十美分到超过八美元不等,而且是使用即付。投稿者赚取的报酬视照片尺寸而定,剩余的使用费则归网站所有。

 

Worker beware  工作者需注意

 

But people looking for online work should be wary. Online identity thefts are increasing as the down economy makes people more vulnerable, according to Yahoo! Web Life Expert Heather Cabot.

但寻找网络工作的人应该要小心。根据雅虎网络生活达人海瑟.凯芭的说法,经济不景气让一般人更容易受害,盗用网络身分的案例愈来愈多。

 

“People are not as keen as they would be if times were better,” she said. “And criminals know that.”

「人们不像在景气好时那么有警觉心,」她说:「而为非作歹者也深知此点。」

 

For example, a site that asks for personal information should raise red flags. Payment should be clear; money transfers made through credited sites like PayPal are a safe bet. Cabot advised avoiding sites that ask for payments upfront.

举例来说,对要求提供个人资料的网站就应有所警觉。付款方式应当清楚明白,汇款透过如PayPal等有信用的网站就很安全。凯芭建议避开那些一开始就要求付费的网站。

 

“If someone is telling you that you have to pay to get a job, it’s probably not legitimate,” she said.

她说:「如果有人告诉你,你得付钱才能有工作,那可能就是非法的。」

 

But the legitimate opportunities are out there – whether you’re looking for some extra cash to get that fancy toy or to pay some of the bills. And you don’t have to rummage through the attic to get paid.

不过合法的机会无所不在,不论你是想赚点外快去买那个花俏玩具,或只是想付一些账单(,都不难找到赚钱的机会),而且你用不着在阁楼翻箱倒柜(译注:指找旧东西好上网出售)才赚得到钱。

 

by Andrew Newman

 

 

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deduct [dɪˋdʌkt] v. 扣除,减除

pay-as-you-go 当场付款 of or relating to a system or policy of paying bills when due or of paying for goods and services when purchased

keen [kin] adj. 敏锐的,敏捷的 alert, awake

safe bet 肯定成功, 万无一失 something that is perceived to be a sure thing or very likely to happen or result in success

upfront [ˋʌp͵frʌnt] adj. 预付的

legitimate [lɪˋdʒɪtəmɪt] adj. 正当的; 合理的; 合法的

rummage [ˋrʌmɪdʒ] v. 翻找出,搜查出

attic [ˋætɪk] n. 顶楼,阁楼

 

 

 

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enterprise [ˋɛntɚ͵praɪz] n.(有一定冒险性的)事业; 企业 a difficult and important plan, especially one that will earn money

snap up 抢购 to buy or get something quickly because it is very cheap or because it is exactly what you want

wring [rɪŋ] (one’s) hands 搓双手(以示焦急、难过或绝望) to show that you are very sad or anxious about a situation but do nothing to improve it

prospective [prəˋspɛktɪv] adj. 预期的,盼望中的;未来的 likely or expected

inclusive [ɪnˋklusɪv] adj. 包括一切费用在内的 referring to a price or amount that includes everything

wary [ˋwɛrɪ] adj. 小心翼翼的;警惕的 not completely trusting or certain about something or someone

red flag 红旗,危险信号 something that serves to indicate danger or potential problems; a warning signal.

 

 

 

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