Freelance career

Today, freelancing is a trend, perhaps even the future. They dream about him at 6:00, for the third time rearranging the alarm clock 5 minutes ahead; at 8:00, in a crowded subway or minibus; at 2:00 pm, when they look sadly from the office window at the fabulous autumn park; at 17:00, when the head or lower back starts to hurt from sedentary work. They dream about him when the boss fines, or delay the salary when the manager scolds for being late or talks about new reporting rules. They dream when they can’t go on vacation at a convenient time, when they miss the next performance of the child, when they entrust a boring project.

Yes, freelancing is very tempting, maybe even utopian. However, for many not very practical and very tired from "from 9:00 to 18:00" people who feverishly quit, such a career experiment has sad consequences. Why? Because for the first month of such freelancing, you can only get 30% of your usual income, clients will not call you and offer interesting work, and a large amount of free time from work will make you feel depressed and regret such an adventure.

Therefore, in order to protect you from such disappointments, we have prepared a basic plan of action for a novice freelancer.

 

The most important

 

Do not rush to leave your permanent job. You must have a plan that is guaranteed to work, or a financial cushion. Think about the needs of the family, force majeure, utility bills. Are you sure you want to face something like this without money or a strategic reserve?

In addition, if the job you want is not your typical job, you will need time and money to take certain courses or purchase equipment, and for this your current job will come in handy.

 

Motivate yourself

 

Give yourself a clear answer to the question “why?”. Why do you want to change your current job? Perhaps you just need to relax and you are actually satisfied with your activity itself? Or you don’t like the team or the boss, but your industry and schedule are comfortable for you. Freelancing is often uncertainty, lack of guarantees, a clearly defined schedule, peace. Therefore, this format of work is not suitable for everyone. If, nevertheless, you and your work are too different to be together, remember the answer to your “why?”. He will motivate you in times of setbacks, searching and lack of orders. It will keep you from returning to the sometimes alluring, familiar and quiet office space.

 

Rate yourself

 

Think about your skills and abilities that you can potentially sell. Whether you're a writer, photographer, web designer, marketing guru, or just a foreign language expert, there's likely to be freelance work for you. What kind of work brings you the most pleasure? What are your strengths? Make a list of everything you think can be monetized. Don't discount any of your skills or passions. List everything you're good at, whether you've heard of freelancers doing it or not! If nothing comes to mind, think about your skills that are in demand among loved ones. Perhaps you are asked to help with the proofreading of the text, to fix something, or do they always turn to you for help in difficult life situations? All this can potentially be monetized.

 

Explore the Market

 

While most skills can generate income, consider offerings in your niche beforehand. What kind of work can bring you a guaranteed regular profit? What offers on the labor market will provide you with work regardless of the season? Chat with those who are actively working in the desired field right now. Plan several sources of income and start working with them, or at least test their effectiveness.

 

Create a plan

 

Determine your desired hourly rate. How much do your competitors earn on average? Remember that after a while, with more experience, you will be able to demand more rewards for your work. Decide how many hours you want (or need) to work. Of course, once you start working, you'll get a better idea of ​​the speed of work, the number of hours you need to dedicate to certain projects, and how many projects you can realistically take on. However, if you have a plan, you will definitely not be overstressed and will not run out of money that you need urgently.

 

Find a mentor

 

The best way to learn about a new industry is to talk to someone who has been in it for a while. Ask your friends if they can advise you on someone, look for such specialists on social networks, visit a thematic event. The mentor will walk you through labor market rates, give you some helpful tips to help you avoid the pitfalls, and maybe even give you a few contacts to get you started. Make sure you've done your little research before asking for help.

 

start

 

Of course, at the beginning of a new career, it is unlikely that you will have the comprehensive and attractive portfolio that most employers are so interested in. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that at first you will need to work for very small fees, or even for free. This is where you need financial cushion and motivation. Take on any projects that are looking for professional volunteers, especially public ones, those that are “on the ear”. Be sure to ask for recommendations. Print a business card that you can give to a potential client.

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