You could either decide that going freelance is the career option for you from the beginning, or begin freelancing when you take a break for any reason. For women, it usually happens on a motherhood break. But can you ensure enough income on your freelance earnings? That’s what I want to speak about.
When a woman decides to have a baby, there are a lot of questions that come to her mind.
- Am I ready for it?
- Will my life change?
- Will I be able to handle it?
- What about my career?
- Can I have it all?
I had the same questions too – and perhaps more. I may not have had the answers to all, but I knew one thing – When it came to time, I wanted to spend a bulk of it with my child. This realization spurred the shift in my career. I knew I would not be able to handle a full-time career at this juncture, if wanting to spend quantity and quality time with my child mattered more. That led me to the next best option – part-time, freelance work.
The tough decision to switch from full-time to freelance earnings
Switching from a full time, well-paying career to earning as a freelancer is not an easy call. Besides the lack of stability and the uncertainties of bagging projects, you need to accept that freelance earnings will not match to your full time earnings, at least in the initial stages. Loans and financial burdens could compel you to stay full time and reach out to extended family or professional help (nannies/creches) for support instead.
Also, you need to keep in mind, that not all job options have the flexibility of switching to full time. Mine, in the digital marketing and writing space, fortunately did. So, I used that in my favour. I realized that pitching and hustling would be something that I would need to do now, as without it new projects would not fall into my lap. Reaching out to my previous employers and colleagues helped me get started.
It takes time for you and others, to adjust to the new lifestyle
The first year with a baby is tough. Add to that the shift in your professional path. So, if you feel lost, disheartened, and start doubting your decision to shift to freelance earnings, realize that it is normal.
Also, besides you, it is tough for people around you to understand and respect your new work-from-home, part-time career. A former, full time journalist and now a freelance writer, once quipped, “People think that if you freelance or work from home, you are free. Guests drop in unannounced, and domestic chores pile up without the right support. It gets tough to explain the freelance world to someone who is not a part of it. So, the respect that a full time job gets, is diluted in the freelance world.”
Growing your freelance earnings
The best advantage of going freelance is being able to pick projects based on your time availability. However, finding the right projects is not an easy task. Freelance earnings can ebb and flow.
Manisha Panwar, founder of Brewathought, a human resources firm, remembers how someone commented on her switch to the freelance world with a “how much can you possibly make, sitting at home.” That comment motivated her to work harder. “I networked shamelessly, did a course to upskill and worked hard on relationship management,” she adds. Manisha had worked full time for about 14 years with breaks, until she switched to the freelance world, because of her constant move from one city to another as a Navy wife. “Childcare was not easily available in many cities either,” she says. After working solo for several years, she expanded by founding Brewathought.
Use the online world to your advantage
Today, the online world has made finding projects a little easier than it was. Freelancing websites like Upwork.com, Fiverr.com, Freelancer.com and more, have plenty of projects listed. Popular jobs are for web developers, graphic designers, social media specialists, copywriters and digital media consultants.
Again, all these need time investment from your end in terms of creating an impressive profile for being hired as well as scouting for the right projects. Initially, getting good projects would be tough on these sites as competition is global. Bidding low to bag a few projects may not make a big dent in your freelance earnings. That’s because potential employers hire freelancers based on ratings. So, having a few projects in hand first, should be your top priority. Then, increasing your hourly rate or project bid can help you increase your earnings as a freelancer.
Another advantage of scouting for projects on these websites is the potential to earn freelancer payments in dollars. That can help you earn more as your market rates would be comparable globally rather than just nationally. However, keep in mind that these websites take a cut. So, calculate your freelance earnings and be aware of the amount you can expect to receive as final payments.
You can use social media to your advantage as well. Editors and publications are known to make pitch calls via Twitter (though you may need to be a bit wary with the current developments). So, freelance writers tend to both promote their published pieces as well as look for pitch calls on this medium. Also, Facebook and LinkedIn have allowed a lot of freelance professionals to network and share information via groups. So, look for the right groups on these sites and join them. Learnings can be aplenty through peers on these groups.
Be wary of being scammed as well
A lot of people tend to make the rookie mistake of moving projects out of freelancing websites to avoid the cuts in freelance payments. However, this means that you do not get the added protection of being paid fully, and on time. Freelancing websites tend to verify payments and provide protection in case of payment disputes. This is useful when you are working with someone you have never met or worked with before. Getting paid as a freelancer after a cut, is better than not being paid at all.
Also, if you pitch and bag projects outside of these websites, make sure to get the payment details in writing. Always finalize in words instead of assuming. Signed contracts are useful.
Don’t hesitate to negotiate
Negotiation is a skill that requires work. It doesn’t come easy to many of us. But researching on the market rates by checking with peers or reviewing bids on similar projects by others helps. So, if you have the relevant experience, skills and positive reviews for previous work/projects, do not hesitate to negotiate.
Freelance work is not easy, irrespective of public opinion on it. It requires a lot of planning, organization, coordination, and marketing. In fact, marketing is crucial as every new project comes via a reference or a successful pitch. Finetune your pitches based on what worked earlier and make every project a reference that can be used in future. Create your online landing page or website once you have something to brag about. Give potential employers paths to find and connect with you.
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