How to Become a Freelancer

he gig economy is growing rapidly. People want more freedom and flexibility when it comes to working. Gone are the days when people used freelancing websites as their part-time career. Today, a large number of millennials have embraced freelancing jobs as their full-time career. It is a flexible career option.

The best part is freelancing jobs are simple. As long as you are passionate about the job, there is a lot of scope for you in this industry. The question is “how do you become a freelancer”? How do you find the best freelancing platform and where do you start? Let’s check out some easy tips on how you can start your career as a freelancer.

Find the Right Platform

You can find many freelancing jobs on social media, such as LinkedIn. However, if you are looking for the best start, consider joining a freelancing platform. Sites like upwork, flexjobs, freelancer, and fiverr are all great choices. These sites allow you to connect with clients looking for a freelancer. You will find plenty of jobs posted on freelancing websites every day. Basically, these sites allow you to work on mini contracts. The best part about freelancing platforms is that they are secure and easy to use.

Set up Your Profile

Another benefit of freelancing platforms is that these sites allow you to build your profile from scratch using the pre-designed CV and resume template. You only need to check the boxes, write a small description, and mention your skills. There you go! Once you are done registering an account on a freelancing site, build your profile, and start placing bids on the relevant projects. An ideal freelancing profile is the one that tells the client your experience, qualifications, skills, and achievements.

Find the Right Jobs

As mentioned above, freelancing sites allow you to place bids on multiple projects. You will find hundreds of projects posted every minute on the job boards. You can filter these projects by your skills and qualifications. For example, if you are looking for a part-time job for software testing, then you can sort the search results by “Software developer”.

Note that some freelancing websites charge a monthly fee for connecting you with the clients. Make sure you have samples ready. Most clients want to go over your previous work to test your skills and experience. Focus on building the portfolio if you are a beginner.

"Try to work for free for the first few clients to get reviews. You could also try a few jobs at a discounted price to get experience." - Abhijeet Modi

Set Your Hourly Price

Freelancers charge an hourly price for the projects. You could also set a fixed price. Though you have the freedom to set the best hourly rate, choose it based on your experience and skills. Many people that have been doing freelancing jobs for decades charge a high price. That’s because they have years of experiencing doing these jobs. Don’t sell your services for a too low or too high price. You can increase your price gradually. But, it is best to start low.

Don't hesitate getting started in freelancing any more. Just go for it!