Are you planning to start your career as Freelancer? Then, you are at the right place. Let’s dive into deep to know more on freelancing and how to begin with it on this blog.
These days it is really hard to land a dream job for fresher and recently graduated students. Be it in IT, Banking, Designing or any other sector you are asked for experience. The cycle of need of experience for job and job for experience is never ending. But do you know there is a solution that can save you from this cycle? That solution is freelancing where you can work, learn and earn.
Everyone hopes to get a job within their own niche. But only few gets chance. Freelancing is that key which unlocks the space that will help to understand market while earning within and beyond certain niche. Becoming a freelancer can be fun, exciting, scary and risky.
For the fresher who are recently graduated and looking for the opportunity to learn while working, freelancing can be amazing step. It takes lots of job hunting experience and unpaid internships to enter the industry of your choice to gain experience.
As a freelancer, you are free to choose what work you want to do and how you want to do. No prior experience needed, just work by learning and ultimately upgrade your resume. In simple language, if you are a fresher you will be paid for learning while working as freelancer.
What is Freelancing?
Freelancing is a kind of self-employment. It is the way to work on your own without getting hired by any company. Freelancers tends to work and provide service to the clients on various project that meet their interest on contract basis. In a simple word freelancing is amazing way to control your career and be your own boss.
There are currently 57 million freelancers in the U.S. Around 53% of Generation Z or Gen-Z are freelancers. In context of Nepal, the highly growing occupation of software and technology development has 43% freelance workers.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Freelancing
Benefits
Work independently on your own choice
The major benefit of freelancing is that there is no pressure to work on things you don’t want or not interested. Choose the project of your passion and interest and work on that. There will be no interference in your work which will boost your productivity.
Flexible Work Time
You don’t have to face the regular 10 to 5 timing of work in freelancing. Work whenever you want but must meet the deadline. You can work peacefully anytime from your home for as long as you want.
Control your task volume
This is the best pros of working as freelancer. You have full control over how much work you want to do.
Monetize your skill
As a freelancer you are free to allocate rate for the work you do. Let’s say you can rate your skill and get paid.
Drawbacks
Irregular Income
While freelancing you will be paid only for the projects you do. Like any other job you won’t be paid monthly salary. On top of that in freelancing you have to do work hunting for next as soon as you finish one work or project. Due to this there is irregular income. Also, you have to be sure that your client will pay you on time
Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is the outcome of irregular income. After completion of project there may be some irregularity in payment which can trigger the insecurity and self-doubt regarding your work and skill.
How to Begin Freelancing?
After knowing about freelancing let’s gear up to begin freelancing. Here are few steps that you can follow to begin your journey as freelancer.
Step 1: Sort out proper equipment
Without device you can’t work. So, first of all get a laptop or desktop and have a good internet connection.
Step 2: Choose your niche
After you setup your equipment, it’s time to choose your niche. Choose the area of profession you want to work on. Research about the sector you wish to work for and try to understand tactics on how the industry is working.
While choosing a niche, remember the financial benefit it will provide to yourself. It is unworthy if you work on a sector that will not provide any kind of economic benefit.
Step 3: Research and Grow your skill
Find and grow your skill that matches the sector you chose. Make yourself skillful enough to defend your work to the client. Focus on enhancing skill that is marketable. Practice and be dedicated in learning and boosting up your skill.
Step 4: Define your client
After growing skill you have to be sure on clients you want to work with. Identify what kind of clients you can serve.
Step 5: Create Portfolio
To lure more clients it is better to create your portfolio. You can add the projects you have worked on and skills you have.
Step 6: Value your service
After completing all the above steps finally rate your service. Don’t try to rate it too high. Research the market and monetize your service.
Step 7: Grow your network
The most important thing for freelancing is growing connection. As a freelancer, you should try to promote your skill through different ways like pitching in public, writing blogs etc. where you can highlight your skill. In this way you can attract more client and increase your project count.
Where to find work for freelancing?
To work as freelancer in Nepal you can look out for different job portals. The major sites that offers lots of project for freelancer are:
If you want to get started for freelancing, start creating account in these sites and try to look out for the projects that matches your niche and skill. Through these sites you can directly communicate with clients and begin your work. But remember “communication is the key to success”. So, do communicate with client whenever needed and keep them updated with your work.
Freelancing is not just limited for the fresher who are in need of experience. Even some experienced professionals who wants a break from 10 to 5 jobs go for freelancing.
It doesn’t mean growing rich at a time. It is the phenomena of learning and growing slowly. If you are a beginner then try to follow the steps mentioned in this blog and start your journey as “solopreneur”.
