Over years, the world has witnessed a great increase in freelance employees. Freelancing is increasingly becoming a popular career choice. McKinsey & Company had prophesied the growth of freelancing with advances in technology and acknowledgment of remote work. When in the year, 2020, the world was hit with the Covid-19 pandemic, freelancing flourished even more. Besides, if we go by the recent trends, the future of freelancing looks flamboyant in the country and across the world.
The growth of freelance employees was three times more than that of traditional employees. Going by the report of McKinsey, a probable 30% of professionals are engaged in freelance professions and are contributing to the gig economy. Furthermore, the field of freelancing has been very entrancing to our youth lately, which makes it even more essential for our youth to know the essentials of freelancing before stepping into this world.
Being a professional freelancer is like a sole proprietorship. It is more like starting your own business, your client base being your asset. This is a sort of online self-business that starts by building your presence online. You must create a strong online presence. Your potential client will entrust you with his work based on your past work or reviews. Your profile, too, helps in attracting your clients because ‘a successful freelancer has an attractive profile’.
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How to get Freelance Jobs?
Many applications provide freelance jobs. For instance, ‘Fiverr’, ‘Freelancer-hire and find jobs’, ‘Upwork for Freelancers. These applications are doing great in hiring and providing jobs. Connecting your social media, for instance, a Facebook page or Instagram business profile, too, help in attracting clients. Initially, you must take up as many jobs as possible to gain work experience and build your client base. Later, you can shift to focus on your main clients and be selective about your work. Being regular with your work is a great virtue but in the field of freelancing, sticking to clients who give you regular work, works as a successful virtue.
To work honestly when no one is watching you define a great sense of integrity, and is applied in the field of freelancing as well. Freelancing is home-based work. You can either be honest or dishonest, and that is what largely affects your work and future. Focus on gaining good reviews from your clients by being brutally honest about your work, profession, and boss.
After generating a strong profile and building effective work impressions, you must stay in touch with your clients and reach out to them from time to time. Be in their good books, so they do not have to switch from you to another employee or freelance for their work. Make your clients so reliable in your work that the mere thought of switching from you to another creates a sense of hesitation in them.
Freelancing is a great platform that provides an abundance of opportunities to work in your desired field, chasing your leisure-time hobby or passion to generate an income out of them. Besides, it gives you opportunities to work directly with the person rather than a whole company. Your client is your sole business.
Skills Required To Become A Professional Freelancer
In freelancing, soft skills are more important than hard skills. You need concerning hard skills for the work you are focusing on to opt, however, soft skills still mark out their presence. Since these skills do not come with any qualification or years of attendance at school or college, it makes it even more important to know what are the right soft skills for you to turn into a professional freelancer.
The first in the list stands for effective communication skills. Communication is the most important skill one needs in all walks of life. Effective communication contributes to making your work efficient. Developing an informative manner of writing and speaking your clear and straight, accounts for two of the most important set of skills in this section. Refrain from using abbreviations and jargon and focus on stating facts. Talk professional!
Next on the list would be developing critical thinking for problem-solving skills. One of the ways to develop these is to work upon a string of ‘what ifs’ and analyze the given problem from all aspects and every point of view possible. Attempt the problem with a cool head and with a creative approach.
It is important to keep a positive approach to your work and have confidence and this is what comes next on our list. Attributes like positivity and integrity will help you introducing better work.
Finally in the list comes punctuality, which again is an important skill required in all walks of life. When you are punctual with submitting your flawless work, you gain the trust of your clients and get a good review, which in turn can attract more clients. So it becomes very important as an employee to meet the deadlines and not go beyond them.
All the best champs go make the best freelance out there. Keep integrity in your work and soar high.
