Freelancing Advice for Beginners

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Working is an essential part of anyone's life, whether they choose the traditional path of being employed by a company or an organization. Even if you start your own business and compete in your preferred industry, your options will be limited only by your skills and available resources. The other viable option available today is to work as a freelancer.

Freelancing has grown in popularity in recent decades, with studies indicating that an increasing number of people prefer it. However, this does not mean that now is a bad time to submit that long-hidden but well-drafted resignation letter and enter the world of freelancing, as demand for freelancers is increasing.

 

What Does it Take to Be a Full-Fledged Freelancer

It depends on the type of work or industry in which you want to immerse yourself. Most freelancers begin by using skills learned from previous jobs, as it is easier to transition into doing something with which you are already familiar.

For example, if there is a job opening for an accounting assistant, freelancers with prior accounting experience would be excellent candidates because they are expected to have a basic understanding of the tasks involved.

What about individuals who have no prior experience in any particular role? Does this mean they can say goodbye to their freelance dreams and wallow in their "dead end jobs"? Certainly not. Keep in mind that even the most successful entrepreneur, CEO, or business owner began from scratch. Everybody does.

Everyone was a beginner at one point. And what do people do when they first start out in a role? We train and learn. From the most basic to the most complex jobs, we either receive training or learn on our own.

If you want to be a successful freelancer, you should never stop learning. You have to keep learning and improving your craft. Anyone can be a freelancer, but in order to join the elite, you must strive to be a better version of your current self.

Let us say you already have the necessary skills. How do you entice potential customers to look your way? They can not always take your word for it, can they? This is where a portfolio comes in handy, as it allows you to showcase your abilities. Portfolios can be in the form of blogs, videos, or even your own website. Your portfolio should clearly demonstrate your expertise and skills.

Now, having great skills and an awesome portfolio does not guarantee that jobs will come your way; you must also learn how to sell yourself during an interview. Potential clients would rarely look at your portfolio and hire you immediately. They would almost always schedule an interview first to get a sense of how you are, as they would be paying for your services.

There are a million ways to ace an interview, but your best bet is to keep your answers short and simple, unless you are asked to elaborate, in which case it is still preferable to keep your answers brief. They require your services, not your personal story.

The Freelancing World

It also pays to be familiar with technology in the freelancing world because you will most likely be dealing with or using various computer applications and programs in order to complete your assigned tasks. It would be a shame to have everything in place, including your skills and motivation to work, only to be hampered by an inability to use the tools required to complete the task.

Have you ever heard the saying "do not put all your eggs in one basket"? This also applies to freelancing. It is not a good idea to rely solely on one client for income. Taking on side jobs would not only earn you extra money, but it would also keep you from being completely devastated after losing a long-term client to whom you have dedicated your entire freelancing career. It is far better to be safe than sorry in this situation. Your utility bills will not wait for you to find another job.

Understanding and knowing the norms for a job will give you an advantage over time. Though it is true that your options are somewhat limited when you are just starting out due to your lack of experience, it is in your best interests as a freelancer to know how much the rates are for performing any specific task. Otherwise, you may be taken advantage of.

Finally, knowing where to find jobs that are a good fit for you would be extremely beneficial. Fortunately for freelancers, there are many reputable and proven freelancing platforms available today. To name a few, popular websites include GoLance, UpWork, and Fiverr. They provide some level of security to both job seekers and employers. These websites can at least reduce the likelihood of people being duped by prospective employers and employees.

Final Thoughts 

Though these platforms charge a small fee to use them, they also assist freelancers in obtaining higher-quality jobs through their rating systems, which display potential clients' feedback and ratings from previous clients. 

They also provide services such as time trackers and facilitate payments between freelancers and their employers. It accounts for a large portion of the two parties' transactions.

So, what are you waiting for? Follow these guidelines and try your hand at freelancing. It will undoubtedly be worth it.