The Idea of Freelancing and How It Works

We’ve already discussed such topics as how you can tell whether you’re addicted to freelancing, why freelancing isn’t for everyone, and the difference between freelancing and working at home. However, the whole concept of freelancing itself may still seem hazy to some, especially to those who haven’t yet completely immersed themselves into the business.

So what exactly is freelancing? What is it about?

Business with pleasure, anyone? As a freelancer, you can have both.

Freelancing can be many things, depending on who you are or what your role in life is. It can be the fed-up corporate employee’s escape, or the neophyte professional’s big break. It can be the unemployed mother’s answer to her prayers, or the motivated student’s idea of “hands on experience”.

Whatever it may be to you, it basically means that you get to work for yourself. You are an independent contractor or consultant; you work with people who need your services, and not for them. Through experience and honing your talents in the specific niche you choose, you become a self-made expert, and this is what they pay you for.

Most of all, you are a businessman, and the product that you sell is your knowledge and expertise. You are the owner of your business, and as such you have total control over everything that goes with it – your time, your resources, your rates. You can even choose which clients to deal with and which projects to handle. You get to decide whether to work at home or in the beach, in your best suit or in your knickers (although a pair of pajamas works for a lot of freelancers).

And to become a freelancer one must not just be educated and skilled, but also talented and resourceful. A lot of times, the work requires that you wear many hats! Freelancers are expected to be flexible characters, able to adapt to any type of setting and circumstance. That’s because they can handle more than one project at a time, and hence, more than one client at a time.

But before you get to being a full-fledged freelancer, you still need to pass through all the usual hoops that you had to go through even in real life. Work won’t just fall onto your lap unexpected – you have to go look for it! Proper and effective marketing is necessary. Sprucing up your profile the way you would your resume; putting together a great portfolio; writing a convincing proposal or cover letter; and wearing a pleasant and charming persona will get you far. Easier said than done, eh? Well, we did try to warn you.

Things get a lot easier once you’re there though. A successfully completed project doesn’t only earn you money, but precious feedback as well – given by happy clients, which can be used as leverage for when you need to bid on new projects. They can also be added to your portfolio as a testimony to your expertise. Experience is a great teacher indeed.

Freelancing has its highs and lows, and depending on your wit and tenacity, you’ll be able to take the good with the bad with no trouble at all. But before you finally do decide to move on and become a freelancer, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

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