Given the increasing popularity of the freelance economy, it is becoming quite common for people to launch careers in the sector. They often engage in freelancing as a side hustle while maintaining a traditional nine to five job, a practice known as Moonlighting. However, with innovations such as the internet influencing the rapid rate of globalization, the thought of ultimately shifting to full time freelancing is not so scary anymore. Opportunities have become more accessible, and it has proven to be a reliable source of income. Aside from this, the autonomy that this employment option offers is also enough justification for launching a career. As simple as this sounds, transitioning from a traditional job to a full-time freelance career can be challenging. The operation method, including the schedules, is different, so you might need some getting used to. Here are a few tips to help you transition into your new employment arrangement as smoothly as possible.
1. Develop the freelance mindset
The traditional job setting teaches certain work attitudes that are quite different when you enter the freelance market. For example, there is more flexibility and freedom, which means learning ethics such as self-discipline, prioritizing, commitment, and patience. The freelance economy also involves overcoming self-doubt. Getting your head in the game before-hand will prepare you for the lifestyle and make things easier for you.
2. Establish your target market
It will be counterproductive to go into a venture without a plan. Therefore, to make headway in the freelance market, the objectives should include a clear definition of your potential clients and the services you want to offer. This gives you a better idea of what skills to acquire before commencing. Conduct research into your area of interest concerning rates, find your clients, and the industry’s demands. The advantage of being on Kreek Africa is that clients from various sectors are made available on one platform. This takes off some of the stress of finding people to patronize your services.
3. Acquire the necessary skills
Another important step for taking control of your career is to have the required qualifications to start something. You can acquire new in-demand skills or sharpen what you already have. More often than not, companies are looking for professionals to handle projects, so it will be beneficial to upgrade your skills. You can achieve this by enrolling in courses, either online or otherwise. Apart from that, it will be advantageous to acquire the tools you’ll need to offer top-notch services.
4. Determine your service delivery method
Once you have established your niche, another factor to consider is how to get your services to them. Accessibility is vital if you need repetitive business from your clients. It is based on the exceptional delivery that your existing customers will recommend your services to others. Therefore, be consistent and creative with your service delivery.
5. Start building connections
If your freelance career is going to be successful, then you will need all the help you can get. And in business, referrals are everything. Before fully committing to a freelance career, it will help to start building connections and forming relationships with people that might need your services. You can use social media as a tool to reach and connect with those people. Generally, the earlier you start, the better, as building lasting relationships takes time.
6. Build a safety net
While entering the freelance economy is beneficial, there may be moments of hardship like everything else in the business. Therefore, you should consider these times and safeguard your career. The first thing to do is familiarize yourself with the freelance landscape. What are the demands, and potential challenges? What expenses are there to make, and how much money should you make to cater to them? Answering these questions beforehand allows you to put measures in place to prevent making any mistakes.
After figuring out the details of the freelance market, the next step is to start. Once you get your foot in the door, you can learn and tweak things along the way. It will take some time to adjust, but eventually, things will fall in place.
