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THE MONSTER.COM INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL (IP) NEWSLETTER
Monster.com is your online career home, whether you want to start a new
business, test out a new industry or strike out on your own. What's up in
the Independent Professional Zone this week?

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IN THIS ISSUE: August 6, 1999

-- Monster Talent Market Update
-- Success Story: Mark Zwick, VP, Sales and Marketing
-- MTM Tips: Managing Your Bids
-- Join the Crowd! Ask our Experts or Join the Free Agent Chat
-- Talent Market Poll: A New Trend?
-- Quick Stats: Happy Contractors

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Monster.com Talent Market Update

Over 53,000 independent contractors have already registered for the Talent
Market, with more than 18,000 current auctions. If you haven’t signed up
yet, then join this innovative auction-style environment at:
http://talentmarket.monster.com

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Success Story: Mark Zwick, VP, Sales and Marketing

Mark Zwick is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Foxman
Group Inc., an Internet Web site infrastructure and vertical Web site
owner/operator company. His firm hires contractors to help with various
types of computer programming.

How does Mark stay successful using contractors?
"Hire twice as many as you need,” he says. “If you're looking for two,
hire five and assume three are going to fall through."

To find out more about Mark, his company and his success, visit:
http://content.talentmarket.monster.com/weeklyarticle.htm

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MTM Tips: Managing Your Bids

Q. How do I accept/decline bids and find out the employer's name?

A. You must wait until your auction is over to accept or decline bids.
Once the auction is over, log into your account and click on “Auction
Activity.” You can view the “Project” by clicking on the project title.
You must select “Accept/Decline” in order to complete the auction. Once
you have accepted a bid, your contact information (business card and
references if applicable) will be sent to the employer and the employer's
contact information will be sent to you via email. All bids that you have
accepted will be placed in the “Leads” list under “Auction Activity” until
you close the “Lead.”

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Ask our Experts

Do you have questions about the perils and rewards of working on your own?
Our experts are available throughout the week in message boards and chats.
Post a question to one of our two Independent Professional Experts:

Ask the Free Agent Advisor
http://my.monster.com/forum.asp?forum=800

Ask the Work-from-Home Coach
http://my.monster.com/forum.asp?forum=801

or

Join the group discussions Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. EST at
http://content.talentmarket.monster.com/chats/index.asp?redirect=chat.asp

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The Monster.com Poll: We Asked, You Answered

Last week we asked: Do you think online employment auctions mark a new
trend in the future of independent contracting?

-- Absolutely. This technology will redefine the way we find work: 44%
-- Probably. Auctions are making it in every other market place, so why
   not in employment? 29%
-- Doubtful. Employment auctions are too complicated and require too much
   of a behavioral change: 14%
-- No way. People shouldn't put themselves up for bidding: 11%
* 341 total votes

Tune in Monday for next week's poll question:
What do you do during intense news coverage of stories like the JFK Jr.
tragedy?

http://independentprofessional.monster.com/

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Quick Stats: Happy Contractors

-- Independent contractors are a happy group -- 84% of them prefer free
   agency to traditional work arrangements.

-- Why do people go solo? Men like being their own boss; women like the
   flexibility.

-- Independent contractors are in for the long haul -- more than 40% have
   been working independently for 10 years or more.

*Current Population Survey, U.S. Department of Labor

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Comments? Suggestions? Let us know what you think about the Monster Talent
Market, the Independent Professional Zone and Monster.com. Email your
ideas and opinions to: mailto:IP@monster.com