So, you’ve decided to take the road less traveled. A job-market contrarian, are you? Ironically, with the global gig economy projected to reach $455 billion by 2023, it’s almost safe to say that finding a job as a freelancer is no longer the brand spanking new 9-5 alternative it once was. I’d even go as far as saying it is the future of work; in 2019, freelancers accounted for one-third of the entire global workforce. That’s 1.1 billion freelancers. Almost three years ago.
Talk about a booming industry…
That said, before we delve into the nitty-gritty details of earning your bread as a freelancer, let’s talk about why freelancing has become all the rage these days. If you’re interested in living off self-written paychecks, so to speak, you might as well sell yourself on the concept first!
So, you want to be a freelancer, eh?
So sorry for the unoriginal play on the Star Wars-created catchphrase (correct me in the comments if that’s unduly wrong, will you?). My creative juices are running low this time around, for some reason. Woe is me!
Anyways. Now would be a good time to ask yourself this question: “Why should I freelance?”
Strapped for answers? Allow me to be of help:
The flip side of that coin, similarly, constitutes a few less pleasant aspects of the freelancing life. (Come on, you didn’t think that the freelancing path would be this glorious Zen reality without its own shortcomings, did you?)
The good news is the drawbacks are fewer than the benefits by one! Still a reasonable proposition, eh?
(Some intriguing freelancing statistics within the MENA region – which, by the way, apply to you directly.)
Do I have the necessary skills to start pursuing clients?
Introspection is a good thing, no matter how much you think you’re ‘all set.’ So, ask yourself the following: Do you have previous experience to draw upon in your freelancing endeavors? Are there any skills that you have developed in previous years?
If the answer is no, then start working on making it a yes. There are tons of resources out there in the vast albeit invisible swaths of the internet. (Speaking of resources, I’d recommend buying books and courses instead of relying on free content. Other than saving you time and getting all the necessary information in an organized fashion, investing with your money will force you to pay more attention and better absorb the material. That’s just us – we humans tend to discount the value of whatever we get for free, even though it might be just as effective as its paid alternative. That’s human psychology for ya.)
Interestingly, here’s why you might not want to learn new skills.
OK, I have the skill. Now what?
First things first. You’ll want to contact your city to see if you’ll need a business license in order to set up shop online. After that’s done (trust me, that’s the least fun part, thank God) – start figuring out what services you’re going to provide (based on your skillset) and the strategies you’ll use to market said services.
Next. While not absolutely necessary, a website can help to build that image of professionalism and showcase your work to potential clients. If you’re in a hurry, I’d just use Google Docs (or the equivalent thereof, if your job necessitates using another platform) and worry about a website later.
Don’t worry about getting stuff like a business card, or a dedicated business email, by the way. All that stuff is complementary, and won’t add anything to your primary goal – which is to start signing clients.
How to find your way to freelancing glory
You’ve probably gone through the experience of having twenty tabs open as you peruse the many job search platforms (which all suck, by the way, except for one… have you heard of Bayt.com?) on the internet, jumping from one tab to the next with your CV lurking in the background. I know that scattered feeling all too well, believe you me.
If you somehow liked that experience, then you’re going to absolutely love this freelancing thing. It’s actually quite similar to just about any job hunt; see, it’s just as frantic and only twenty times as grueling! (And as frequent. The feast and famine cycle beckons a new entrant!)
Don’t worry though, I’m partly kidding; it’s not all doom and gloom in freelancer-land. You can find plenty of work if you keep an eye out. Other than the obvious option of using our search engine (which isn’t the point of reading these posts at all, ya know), you can head over to social media and start applying to jobs as a freelancer.
Make a show of displaying your expertise wherever you can
Don’t be compulsive about it though, or you’ll turn off people real fast. Also, don’t be shy to join designated groups and advertise your services there. Just make sure you know how to write decently and have a basic understanding of timeless salesmanship principles. After all, that deep-seated desire in your prospects isn’t going to invoke itself.
Also, consider joining an association within your industry. You’ll find many networking opportunities, job listings, or even an opportunity to write a newsletter to flex your ‘expert muscle’ and draw clients to you – precisely as flames would a moth.
For more tips on applying to jobs as a freelancer (or even as an employee), check out our blog posts on job hunting.
