Unlike traditional 9-5 employment, freelance jobs allow you the opportunity to work from anywhere, at any time.

They enable people to take back control of their schedules and join the freedom economy. But, while the perks are great, most people discover that one of the most difficult parts of freelancing is actually sealing the deal on their first project or gig.

We hear this time and time again: Although contract employment and working remotely is becoming more and more accepted among employers, it still seems that it can be tough to find quality freelance opportunities.  

Fortunately, we have three key steps to take in order to find and secure freelance work in 2018. But before we dive into those, let’s answer one quick question that may be running through your head right now:  

What Types of Freelance Jobs are Best?

In short, there is no quick answer to this. First and foremost, you want to make sure you are providing a valuable service and getting paid appropriately for your work. But, beyond that, we encourage you (as many of our Spera customers would) to explore different gigs and ways of getting work in order to figure out what works best for you.

1. Explore a Variety of Freelance Job Types and Durations  

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Freelance work comes in a variety of forms, similar to regular jobs.

When you initially begin searching for freelance opportunities, the process may seem daunting. You’ll quickly realize that projects are difficult to find on many job sites and, when they do appear, they are either scammy or swooped up before you have a chance to hit “send” on your proposal. This is usually due to the fact that quality freelance jobs are listed within a variety of categories and mixed in with full time, in-house positions, rather than broken out from other “normal” job opportunities.

For example, some employers will label freelance work as full time, if it requires more than 32 hours per week. Other times, freelance jobs are listed within the “contract” employment or “part-time” employment sections of job sites such as Monster and Indeed.   

Don’t be afraid to explore a variety of employment types to ensure you’re not missing any valuable projects or contracts. If you have the capacity in your schedule to handle a contract or remote position that requires more than 32 hours per week, it’s worth looking at full-time job listings. On the other hand, you can eliminate this category of jobs if you know you’re looking for significantly fewer hours or already have a few projects on your calendar.

Get started today: use the search bar of each job site to find job listings that include the terms “freelance,” “contract,” or “remote work.” This is a great way to discover employers who are open to freelancers and solopreneurs who want to work remotely.  

2. Take Advantage of Job Sites that Specialize in Remote Work

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Aside from exploring the mainstream job sites that you’re familiar with, it’s important to focus on websites that cater specifically to freelancers and digital nomads who are looking for new work.

Before seeking out these sites, consider the following first:

  • What job industries do I have experience working in? For example, you may be a great writer, but what niches have you specialized in – like copywriting in healthcare vs. product design for construction suppliers.  
  • What professional skills do I have that would set me apart from other freelancers? For example, a strong level of organization or excellent time management that has resulted in never missing a deadline.  
  • What type of tasks am I most interested in executing for my clients? While it’s tempting to take any ‘ol contract that comes your way, find an area to focus on, like social media management, SEO work or blog writing.

Various job sites that cater to freelancers generally divide their job listings up based on job industry, professional skills preferred and/or type of tasks to be executed. By having a clear understanding of these things, you’ll be several steps ahead of the game in your job search!   

Get started today: After determining your answers to the three questions above, search Google and Bing for key terms that fit your job needs such as “blogging freelance opportunities” or “health care freelance jobs” to get started. Chances are, you’ll stumble upon several sites that offer jobs in the specific niche you’re looking for.   

In addition to actively seeking out and applying to new freelance jobs, you’ll also want to post your resume online in a variety of key places to ensure employers can find you.

3. Make Your Resume Hyper Visible

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You never know which organization or company is in need of your professional skills at any given time. In fact, by the time most companies post a job opportunity, they’re overdue for help in that department!

It’s important that your resume is visible online in a few key places – like your personal website, Linkedin and any job boards you may be a part of. There should be several places where clients and future clients, can find your professional information and service offerings.

First, ensure your current resume is up-to-date and free of any spelling errors or other mistakes. Then, begin creating a list of websites to post your credentials to. Consider larger job sites that encompass international employment opportunities, as well as smaller options such as your local town office’s job board.

Also, remember that leveraging your past and present professional relationships can also be beneficial. Are you currently working with a client who has relationships with other business owners in their field?

If so, don’t be afraid to reach out to them and let them know you’d love it if they could introduce you to a few of their professional contacts.

Be respectful of people’s time and do your research as to which specific types of contacts you are hoping to be connected to before reaching out to your contact list.

Finally, post your professional information to your social media websites, letting your online community know that you’re looking for additional freelance work. Studies show that friends and family are much more likely to recommend someone they know, like and trust than a stranger… 92% more likely!  

Get started today: Make it a goal to post your resume in at least 5 different places each week. This sounds like a lot, but when you bring different Facebook groups and job forums into the equation, it really opens up your options.

Discover (and Manage) More Freelance Jobs This Year

Finding freelance jobs online doesn’t have to be a hassle.

By having a clear understanding of where to find additional freelance work, as well as what to look for within job listings, you’ll be off to a great start.

To help narrow down jobs once you find them, consider the industries you prefer to work in. Also, review the professional skills you possess to see if they’re a good fit for each job you come across.

Finally, put your professional resume out there for the world to see! You never know where your next freelance job opportunity may come from – it could be as traditional as a job board or as random as giving your card to a stranger on a plane.

And remember, putting yourself out there is only the first step.

Once you find a client, the real work begins. To make sure you knock your new gig out of the park, you’ll want to make sure you have a solid process for managing clients, projects and payments.

Freelance websites like Spera are built for all that and more. We’ve done the freelancing bit, so we know first hand what having a streamlined workflow means for your bottom line. Plus, our customers are a mix of digital nomads, solopreneurs, side-hustlers and remote teams who have given us feedback all along the way, so you’ll be in good company.

Cristiano

Author Cristiano

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