Articles

Rebecca, Roving reporter

Working as a freelancer

A freelancer is someone who works independently, selling their services to a number of chosen clients rather than being tied to one particular company. It's a great way to earn money at the same time as pursuing your real interests and passions, without having to start an actual business.

Freelancing is different to fulltime or part-time work because it is less structured - and often less consistent - but this also gives you the advantage of flexibility. Instead of having a permanent job at one company, freelancers seek out their own work, and often do jobs for a number of different clients at any one time.

Almost any sort of work can be done freelance, although often the most suitable jobs are those in the creative industries. Some of the most common types of freelance services are:

• Journalism
• Copywriting
• Web design
• Tutoring
• Consulting
• Graphic design
• Photography
• Public relations
• Multimedia
• Administration and data entry
• Bookkeeping
• Advertising/ marketing

Sleep in and choose your rates: The advantages

There are a few good reasons for considering working freelance.

Advantage #1: It's a job that you control

When you work freelance you have a great degree of freedom and flexibility. Essentially, you are your own boss, which means you decide how often you work, when and where you do it, and who you work for, all depending on the parameters you set for yourself.

You even have some control over how much you earn - when you work freelance, it's up to you set the price for your services. There may be some negotiation between you and your clients before fixing a final pay rate, but generally freelancers earn similar rates to casual employees (link), or better.

To get an idea of how much you should charge for your services, you could contact other freelancers or the relevant union (link) to find out how much they recommend you should charge.

Advantage #2: It's more stimulating than stocking shelves

It's often difficult to get a permanent job in areas such as writing or designing without a lot of experience, especially in the current financial crisis.

For young people, employment options are usually limited to jobs in hospitality or retail - not particularly relevant if you dream of becoming a photographer, for example. Working freelance allows you to pursue your passions, and make money from something that really stimulates you.

Advantage #3: It can help with your long-term career goals

Working freelance offers excellent real-world experience that can help you to break into the industry of your dreams.

Not only will it look impressive on your CV, it will give you a real taste of the inner workings of the industry, and equip you with skills that can be applied to many different areas.

Getting started: Four steps to freelance work

Starting out as a freelancer is easier than it sounds. These steps will help you get going.

Step #1: Learn the tricks of the trade

You don't need to be an expert in your chosen field before you start looking for work, but you do need to be able to confidently sell your services to clients. You also need to be able to deliver to the standard that you have promised.

Although not strictly necessary, it might be worthwhile investing in a relevant short course (link) to polish your skills. Consider the range of classes available through TAFE or open education institutions such as the CAE .

Step #2: Build your portfolio

Once you're confident in your skills, you need to find the best way to show them off. Demonstrate what you can do by compiling examples of your best work into a portfolio, which can either be in an actual folder or in digital form (on CD or on the web).

It doesn't matter if you have no real professional experience. A freelance journalist, for example, can put together a collection of articles regardless of whether or not they have been published.

Ideally, you should choose examples that display a range of skills. For example, a freelance illustrator would be smart to include drawings that show a few different styles, techniques and subjects, to prove that his or her services are versatile.

link to portfolio page

Step #3: Identify potential clients

When starting out in your chosen field, your best course of action is to target small businesses. Large companies will generally have their own pool of regular freelance employees that they invest a lot of money in, and will be less likely to take a chance on a newcomer.

Smaller businesses, however, might not have even considered the need for the services you are offering. This is where you can show them your portfolio and demonstrate how your skills can benefit their company.

Step #4: Sell your service

Once you've decided which businesses to target, it's time to get yourself out there.

To enhance your credibility, it's a good idea to have a presence on the web. There are plenty of sites that offer free web hosting, so choose one and set up a simple site announcing your services.

Next, you can send out letters to the businesses you have identified as potential clients, concisely outlining what you can offer them.

Alternatively, you can call them directly. Here is where your persuasive skills will be put to the test!

Cold calling link

Become your own boss: Start working freelance now

Working freelance is a great way to break into the industry of your choice, giving you valuable real-world experience at the same time as earning money. There's nothing to be lost from giving it a try. Get your skills out there and show the world what you can offer.

Link to freelance career profiles.

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