The biggest problem in starting a freelancing career is not knowing how to start. Just like in any endeavor, I know that the beginning part is always the hardest. I meet several people who are planning to shift to freelancing but their biggest question is, how?
Well, it's impossible to start on something you don't have any idea with. Before you jump in, it's important you know what freelancing is all about.
The Freelancing Industry: A Beginning Career
If you join the freelancing industry, you are tagged as a 'freelancer.' The word “freelancer” is too common today. It is used interchangeably with other types of work whether online or not. I just find out that there are a LOT of people who don’t really know what it means, although I can hear their interest to know more. I google the word “freelancer” and there are varied definitions. My most favorite is the one from the Cambridge Dictionary.
A Freelancer is someone who is working independently usually for various organizations rather than as an employee of a particular one.
Whether you do it online or not, as long as you work independently means you are freelancing, and you are a freelancer. With the help of home-based platforms, it is easier to freelance. Digitalization and the desire for greater job satisfaction created the global employment called freelancing. Morgan Stanley reported that by 2027, freelancers in the United States will represent half of the country's workforce. Meanwhile, freelance growth is also prevalent in the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. In the Philippines, we don't have an accurate number of freelancers although we can see that the workforce is growing based on the presence of Filipino freelancers online.
In a separate study of Paypal in 2018, freelancing career is more prominent in the country, particularly with the millennial population.
Filipinos are shifting to freelance-model employment because of the flexible working hours and high earnings.
Freelancing for Beginners
For most of us, most of us earn our work experiences offline. I mean we were hired by companies and we worked the 9-5 day job. Freelancing as a beginner sounds overwhelming since you haven't tried working independently and your boss is overseas. But basically, home-based jobs or freelance works are no different from what we do in the corporate. The only difference is that we complete our daily tasks in the comfort of our home.
Similar to working in a corporate environment, honesty, efficiency, and communication is very important in freelancing. 'Loitering ' is still banned. In the office, you are not allowed to walk or sit idly during office hours. The same thing in your freelancing career. You shouldn't use your client's working hours in checking your personal Facebook account, chatting with friends, or hanging out on YouTube.
'Loitering' is still not allowed when freelancing.
Basic Requirements for a Freelancing Career
Starting your freelancing career means you need to secure the basic requirements.
#1 Laptop/ Desktop Computer
You need to have your own laptop that you can use for your work. While some manage to start on a computer shop (Like me!) having a laptop of your own helps you to work at the comfort of your home or in any place you desired.
#2 Stable Internet Connection
When you apply for work, clients ask you to test your internet connection. You need to ensure that you are always available online for the job. You can use prepaid or postpaid as long as it will give you the stable internet connection required for the job.
#3 Freelancing Portfolio
A Freelancing Portfolio tells your potential clients of your skills, expertise, achievements, and more. It is one way of telling your potential clients why you are fit for the job.
You can start with free blogging websites such as Wix, WordPress, Tumbler, and more.
#4 Bank Account
You need to have a bank account that will receive all your clients’ payment. Open an account in any local bank here in the Philippines and you can receive your salary through Paypal, Gcash, Payoneer, Veem, TransferWise, and many more.
Have all these requirements? Then you are ready to launch your freelancing career!
Bottom line
It's time to test the water. You will never know if freelancing is for you unless you start. But one thing is for sure, starting your freelancing career is easy but staying on it for long-term is a different story. For more freelancing tips, please follow my page, The Freelancing Parents Movement and Academy.
We are currently building a community for parents ( aspiring parents, soon-to-be parents, happy parents, and struggling parents) who want to shift to freelancing and in need of support and guidance on how to start. You can join us here:
Do you want to be trained? Our Academy can help you. We recently offered our first course for FREE. Our registration is open until October 30, 2020.
Register and become an e-commerce email marketing specialist: https://mailchi.mp/992ec17e5d31/klaviyo-email-marketing-beta-course
Let us help you build your freelancing career today!