Has it ever occurred to you where a flurry of things unfold over the course of a few weeks that change everything for the better, but still leave you reeling in the aftermath wondering exactly what happened?
As I approach the end of September, my first full month as a paid freelancer, that dizzying sensation is slowly giving way to a strange awed stupor. It has been exciting, of course, starting with the chance to become a publishing intern for Powerful Films & Books/Powerful English—and then moving on to transcribe audio files for National Capitol Contracting among other projects, but I have already learned some valuable lessons from these experiences:
- Social networking and connections are everything: Having strong skills in whatever field you
decide to freelance is important, but knowing people who are already
experts or have experience with it helps to get your foot in the door as
well. They can advise you, help give you a heads-up on job opportunities,
and provide other opportunities to build your reputation as a
professional.
- Patience and Persistence are must-have traits:
Being a freelancer means
constantly searching for work and assignments from a variety of job sites
like Elance, Guru.com, and Freelance Writing Jobs.com. Not every client
will write back or agree on the price you suggest (because many ask you to
give them a quote), but if you continue sending in requests for
information or applications, someone is bound to answer back. Strangely,
in this first month, I’ve had more responses from clients and possible
clients than I ever did from the tons of applications I submitted to
regular businesses or companies for 9-to-5 jobs (they were impersonal in
that way).
- Have an impressive resume: When responding to a freelance job posting,
it is wise to send a strong resume along with your initial email to better
your chances of the client answering back. The less the person who posted
the assignment has to guess at your qualifications, the faster he/she will
respond or be able to negotiable a price and tell you more about the
position.
- Have a safe way to bank or retrieve funds from
on-line: Sites such as Elance
or Guru.com depend on you as a freelancer having a way to retrieve what
you make by direct deposit into your bank account, or by Paypal, or by a
similar system. You can arrange for Elance to send the funds by money
order or check, but that takes much longer than the methods I just
mentioned.
- Surviving on a Freelance Lifestyle Takes Time:
Even when you know what to do,
it still takes a while to become a freelancer capable of surviving from
month to month on what you receive from doing these types of assignments.
Thankfully, I have been blessed with a supportive family who understands
how difficult it is to find a regular job in this economy with our limited
mobility— and who encourages me on whatever career opportunity I decide to
embark.
These are only a few of
the lessons I have discovered so far. I know there are many more, especially
related to the types of assignments that are available. Each one helps to give
you the confidence needed to try bigger and bigger projects, and it sometimes
it feels like making a selection at an all-you-can-eat buffet. I cannot wait to
taste all those different flavors, because I definitely have enjoyed the ones I
have savored so far.
