If you’re looking for freelance work, you may need to take a completely different approach than job seekers searching for conventional employment.
A freelance career may be the answer for individuals who want complete control over their professional lives or desire a lot of variety in their workdays. But where do you start looking for those freelance employment to begin and develop your revenue?
The Growth of Freelancing
Every year, Upwork and the Freelancers Union research the freelance sector. Their 2019 study revealed that more individuals consider freelancing a long-term option than ever before. It predicts that 57 million American citizens currently freelance, up by 4 million people since 2014.
The good news is that, according to a recent Freelance Trend Study by Upwork, 86% of freelancers have noticed a shifting market in the previous three years. In addition, 77% said technology has made it simpler to locate freelance work, and 71% believe that people’s perceptions of freelancing are more favourable.
Regarding freelancer earnings growth, Upwork discovered that the typical hourly rate is £20, more significant than the overall median hourly rate of £18.80 for the United States.
According to the report, “skilled services” freelancers make a median of £28 per hour. This indicates that the typical skilled freelancer makes more per hour than 70% of all workers in the economy.
Networking
This is especially important to remember if you’ve worked for one firm in the past. You’ll want to ensure that your CV reflects all of your professional achievements, contacts, and accolades from previous employment or professional activities. Always think of your network as a foundation for building future employment opportunities.
When defining your network and who’s in it, don’t be limited; contacts for future freelance work may come from any source, including past professional coworkers, family, neighbours, and friends, both real and virtual.
Industry Groups
Making connections with individuals in your chosen sector may lead to some leads. Identifying and joining trade and industry associations is a fantastic approach to meeting like-minded people. Attend conferences and gatherings sponsored by independent professional organizations in your field.
Social Media
Job seekers may use social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms to promote themselves during their job search. These days, most businesses use social media to locate the brightest new talent. So if the hiring managers are congregating on these sites, it’s only natural that you should be there too.
Search for phrases and hashtags that are relevant to the position you’re looking for, such as “freelance tutoring” or “freelance software developer.” You may also share with your followers what sort of employment you want to assist them in locating you and allowing connections to help you find work.