With the current climate and COVID-19 pandemic, the job market can seem like a daunting place to new graduates.
However, we know that the world is always full of opportunities to seize, and freelancing is an increasingly popular way to kick start your career.
Independent working allows you to be your own boss and gives you the flexibility to work at anytime and from anywhere.
In the following article we will be guiding you on how to successfully begin your journey into the freelance world:
- Find your niche
As a freelancer you can work in a variety of different fields; ranging from writing and content creation to photography and graphic design. The world is your oyster!
Determine which discipline you want to go into and leverage your skills.
- Research, research and research
Becoming a freelancer basically means starting your own business, and with this comes a lot of decisions which require a good amount of research to make sure you’re selecting the right choices for you.
Evaluate all the possible avenues for your work and pick out your desired direction, looking at industry demand and competition.
Explore pay rates and typical costings. Use freelancer websites to track what competitors are charging.
There’s a lot more to freelancing than simply doing work for clients – you’ll also need to be aware of all the tax rules and regulations as well as having a good knowledge of business costs and cash flows.
- Gain experience
Look for ways you can build your portfolio and gain industry knowledge – don’t be afraid to accept some free work as a means to expand on your skillset.
This could be through creating a blog, podcast or content. It could also be through running a free campaign for your friends, a local small business or even a charity.
As you build on your experience and network, your job opportunities and rate of pay should increase.
- Promote yourself on social media
As a recent graduate you should have decent knowledge and experience at using social media. So use this to your advantage!
Promote yourself and your skills on various platforms, we recommend using Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Make sure that all your social media is consistent with the same name and logo as this will help clients find and recognise you.
Stay active as well by posting and documenting your experience as this will be the first impression users see of your business.
- Look for opportunities
There are a number of different ways you can approach finding jobs. LinkedIn is a great platform to reach businesses and find freelance opportunities.
There are also dedicated freelance websites that connect clients and freelancers. The top websites we recommend are: Upwork, Freelance, People per Hour and Fiverr.
Make sure your profile stands out, keep it brief and professional but let your personality come through.
You may find as you build your experience, clients come directly to you as your recognition increases through recommendations.
Remember some things take time, so stay patient, proactive, positive and the right client will come along.
Are you thinking of taking the leap? Why not join our extensive freelance network today…