Freelancing 101
I am not a freelancing guru but I have my fair share of freelancing stories and tips that I can spare to help you decide whether you are fit or not to work from home.
I decided to work full time in freelancing last 2016 and it was not an easy journey for me. I was earning a lot working in an office in Ortigas as a Training and Development Manager for a real estate company. It was all fun at first, well, work should always be fun, but for some reason, it became difficult for me to go to work that I had to drag myself as early as 3 in the morning just so I can be at work at 8 am.
Now, before you hand over that resignation and turn your back to being an 8-5 employee, these are the things that you need to consider:
1. Do you have enough savings to support you while you are scouting for your first freelance project? Make sure that you have your savings intact and be prepared as you will run out it eventually. If you are still living with your parents and you have someone to financially support you, then you are lucky, but if you are dependent on yourself, then be prepared to die hungry with no electricity!
2. Are you skilled to do the job? You might be the best employee in your company but freelancing is a different ball game, you are the bottom of the food chain. You need to start taking free lessons online and if you have freelancer friends, ask them to give you a few pointers on what skills are actually on demand in the freelancing world.
3. Do you even have a STABLE internet connection? And back up? Every freelancers' dilemma is when the internet is acting up and you need to Skype your boss, or finish a deadline or do some research. You also need to invest in really high-end dongles just in case your ever reliable internet subs is not working. Or there is always Starbucks.
4. How are your English skills? Almost 90% of your clients would require that you have excellent English communication skills, not just because you need to talk to customers, but you have to communicate with your boss.
5. Are you willing to accept a massive pay cut? When you are new to freelancing, you are lucky if you get an hourly rate of $5 USD. Some newbies would grab projects even with the lowest rates. But you cannot blame them if it will help you in your daily expenses, then say yes to the job.
These are just a few of the things that you need to consider if you are willing to be called a full-time freelancer. It worked for me, but it doesn't mean it will work for everyone, but you can always give it a try.
