10 Questions You Always Wanted to Ask About Freelancing
Freelancing is an increasingly popular way to work. But what is freelancing, why do people freelance and can I make a career out of it? This article answers the 10 questions you always wanted to ask about freelancing.
1. What is freelancing?
Freelancing occurs when someone offers his or her services
for an agreed period in return for a fee. Freelancers (also known as
contractors or service providers) are independent of the businesses or
individuals that hire their services. Generally, freelancers work on jobs of a
short duration although contract periods do vary in length and can be and are
often extended.
2. Who can become a freelancer?
The short answer is anyone. There are no restrictions as to
who can become a freelancer. As long as you have a skill or service that a
business or individual needs then you can offer your services and be a
freelancer.
3. Who hires freelancers?
Freelancers are hired by individuals and organisations,
including micro enterprises, small and medium sized enterprises, large
companies, like Tesco, charities, local and central government, e.g., HM
Revenue & Customs, and public bodies.
4. What services do freelancers offer?
Freelancers offer a diverse set of services. There really
isn't a fixed list. Some services offered by freelancers include:
event planning and management (e.g., weddings, birthdays,
etc.)
book-keeping & accounting
car valet
virtual assistance (e.g., email & diary management, call
answering, etc.)
IT support & customer helpdesk
Website design & development
As a rule of thumb, if an organisation or individual can
micro outsource it, then it can be freelanced!
5. Which services are in demand?
Demand for services varies but research has shown that the
demand for freelance workers increases during "times of economic
uncertainty". So this is a great time to freelance! Job information sites
such as itjobswatch or just searching and counting the number of freelance
opportunities can provide useful information on the demand for freelance
services.
But don't be discouraged if your service doesn't appear
popular. In fact, offering a service that has low demand also means that there
is less competition and that's great for your future earnings!
6. What are the advantages of being a freelancer?
There are many advantages to freelancing. Some of my
favourites include:
Being your own boss. Freelancing is one of best ways to
start your own business. Being your own boss also allows you to decide how many
hours you work, when in the year and in which locations.
Getting paid to travel. If you enjoy travelling, then
freelance work can take you around the country or further afield. What's more,
you can travel at someone else's expense!
Working from home or remotely. If your preference is to work
from home then freelancing offers this flexibility and freelancers can enjoy a
successful business doing just that. The Internet has created remote working
possibilities that businesses across the globe are keen to use.
Earning money quickly. Freelancers can be paid not only more
quickly and frequently than permanent employees but they can earn much more in
a given period than a permanent employee doing similar work.
7. What are the disadvantages of freelancing?
But being a freelancer has some disadvantages, too. Some of
which include:
Annual tax return. If you're self-employed or freelance
through your own company or enjoy a certain level of income, you'll have to
complete HM Revenue and Customs' tax return. Thankfully, you can now do this on
their Web site and get your tax calculated automatically.
Having to find work. If you're a freelancer then there's no
boss to give you your first (or next) job. So, it's up to you to find work.
Luckily, there are Web sites that specialise in freelancing that can assist to
make this process easier.
Having to maintain your CV. Your CV is what's going to help
you get your next job, if not your first one, so you'll need to update it as
jobs are completed and new skills are acquired. This can become a chore but
it's necessary if you want to convey your current experience and knowledge.
8. Where can I freelance?
As mentioned, an advantage of freelancing is that it allows
you to travel. Depending on your skills and the service you offer, you may work
on freelance jobs locally, nationally or internationally. For example, you
might offer a gardening service, which would be more likely offered to local
individuals and businesses. Or you might freelance as a personal trainer and
offer services locally and regionally.
You can also work from the comfort of your home as a data
entry operator, article writer, CCTV operator, proofreader and so on. As
indicated, the Internet has opened numerous opportunities for people to work
remotely without the need to be at a client's site.
9. How to get started?
Place your CV on a suitable site. Some of the more popular
job boards and CV aggregators include tiptopjob, jobserve, friendsreunitedjobs,
totaljobs, CV-Library and jobsite. However, these sites do not specialise in
micro outsourced jobs and their focus is more on capturing your CV rather than
the services that you offer.
Fortunately, there are specialist sites that can help you
freelance your services. On these sites, you'll find jobs with differing requirements
and budgets. You'll also be able to advertise 1 or more services, indicating
your skills, daily or hourly rate and locations, if you also wish to work at a
client's site. And unlike job boards or CV aggregators, you'll also be able to
use the site to interact with job providers to, for example, clarify
requirements or work with them once you've got the job!
10. Can I make a career out of freelancing?
Absolutely, yes! If you're currently working, you can try
out freelancing in parallel with your main job before deciding whether to do it
full-time. If you're between jobs or on a career break then freelancing is a
way to quickly earn some money whilst filling the empty space on your CV. And
who knows, you might just like it! Visit https://latamremote.com/
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