Personal stories Archives – Freelancelifemagazine

A dynamic new website is in the making!

Chrissie Stephen — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 12:39:27 +0000

When discussing the new Layers Foundation for freelancers with its founder, Jayant Rao, his enthusiasm for the new protocol is certainly contagious! He and his team have been working on the bootstrapped product for over four months –

“Our initial internal launch will be in June so the team members will start getting paid using the same protocol. We will also launch our NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) in June so users will be able to reserve their usernames for the platform and protocol before we launch it in July”.

Who does the Layers website target?

The platform is targeting freelancers at beginner – intermediate level for MVP (minimum viable product) and Jayant explains that they are particularly keen to work with freelancers who are new to the market and are wanting a product that will help make life easier for them as a freelancer. The website proclaims – “Freelancing can be hard; we want to make it easier”.

Layers (https://layers.foundation) keeps admin to a minimum and is easy-to navigate. Freelancers will get help at every stage including receiving their payment in their preferred tokens and coins. Layers is totally transparent as Layers uses public blockchain networks (Polygon PoS) that make it transparent, and the network is secured by the Validators. All work is secure as it is covered by escrow protection.

The escrow contract is written in solidity and follows the best security practices in the space to ensure that the escrow behaves according to predefined rules.

How it will help newbie freelancers

Deciding to take the plunge to become a freelancer can be daunting and Jayant explains how using Layers will help.

“Beginner freelancers are not well aware of how to go about the process of raising

invoices, creating contracts, and building the scope of their work. We are pre-defining these for them, so all they have to do is focus on their work, and the rest is handled by us.

What makes our website different is that we were all freelancers, and we really understand the pain points of being one! Like any other Joe on the street, we are trying our best to help the freelance community. We are very good at UI/UX and development of this product; we are carefully figuring best ways to market it in an organic and sustainable way forward. So, we don’t end up losing the vision of this project or run out of money trying to solve a problem.”

Why now is the optimum time to launch Layers

Since the pandemic and with increasing financial pressures, many more people are now turning freelance either full-time or as a side hustle and Jayant feels there is a huge need for Layers-

“For starters, there’s been a big increase in the number of freelancers out there, and with so many people looking for work, the competition has been challenging; however, it also means there are more opportunities to find work for those willing to hustle and put in the effort. Of course, some challenges come with freelancing. Managing your own finances, finding clients, and dealing with the ups and downs of the gig economy can all be difficult tasks. But with the right mindset and hard work, many people find that freelancing can be a rewarding and fulfilling way to make a living.”

* twitter /layersprotocol

Does ChatGPT threaten the future for freelancers?

Another challenge that is being faced by freelancers is the dramatic increase in the use of ChatGPT and one of the many blogs on the Layers Foundation platform discusses the future for the role of freelancers. Jayant started using AI long before the surge happened on social media and before it was mentioned on Instagram and LinkedIn. He knew that it would quickly develop and decided to implement its use in his company early on. Jayant feels that freelancers need not worry about the increased use of ChatGPT, but that it is a good idea for them to become competent in using AI now to help them in their work and as it develops, they can easily increase their knowledge in tandem –

ChatGPT has recently been a trending topic that makes everyone curious; one of the important things are that it helps by automating specific tasks and providing quick and accurate responses, which can help freelancers be more productive and provide better service to their clients.

Check out the new issue of freelance life magazine

Read new interviews, check the latest freelance news from the internet, find current app reviews, useful career tips and news from freelance platforms, see the latest freelance nomads destinations and much more!

ChatGPT can generate content, such as blog posts, social media updates, or product descriptions. This can greatly help freelancers who need help with writer’s block or need more time or resources to create content independently. ChatGPT-generated content can also be optimised for search engines, which can help freelancers attract more clients and grow their businesses.

I believe that as technology continues to develop, we’ll see even more ways ChatGPT can benefit freelancers and other professionals. At present, the main advantage that freelancers have over AI is that they have emotions and empathy, and these are elements that most of their clients need. Most freelancers need to explore exactly what their client is seeking by delving into their ideas. Whilst AI can provide the basic idea, the freelancer can then develop this using information and emotions to understand exactly what their client needs for their graphic design or writing.

A freelance background is proving so beneficial

Jayant is confident that the Layers Foundation can really help freelancers as he has used his own experiences to ensure that Layers can address many of the challenges faced by freelancers. His career began when he was an Intern at a Marketing Agency, and he created graphics and ideas for a variety of campaigns. He was young and quickly gained a great understanding of how ideas can change the work and for the next six years, his focus moved toward more UI/UX-driven job until he began his own Design Agency in Dubai It was about two years ago that he wanted to bring his UI and UX expertise from Web 2 to Web 3 because he felt that the latter was still lacking in a good user experience.

Layers will help resolve problems in the freelance world

“I have been freelancing for the last 10 years while having a job, but during the Pandemic I realised its true potential. I was fired from my job during the pandemic which drove me towards creating a design agency – Neue World (https://neue.world). By the time I was 28, I had sat in both seats; as a freelancer applying for gigs and shortlisting freelancers and as an employer, reading resumes to hire on both a part-time and full-time basis. This has given me the ability to empathise and understand both sides. The surge in freelancers both during the pandemic and post-pandemic has driven me to create Layers that will be transparent, open, and focused on solving the current issues in the Freelance Industry.”

Jayant certainly understands the freelance world well and the challenges it presents – especially when it comes to getting fairly paid for work-

“My first freelance gig was for $40 and at my peak of 8th year, the biggest deal was over $30k. I have seen Instagram accounts pushing towards increasing freelancing rates but being from India where freelancing was considered “cheap” and outsourced for low quality and better pricing – I was able to break that barrier and enter the industry into scaling myself towards five figures of earning alone without any “courses” or “shortcut”. It’s a brutal game, and I did that by trying different freelancing platforms to realise that these platforms are heavily dependent on competition of being undercut by pricing and quality of work. I tried my best with 3rd party platforms until I realised the way to gain true power was to network with the right people to get the best deals. This also helped me move from a freelancer to an agency model and scale it from a solo founder to a team of 13 now”.

As freelancing grows and develops, Jayant feels that the emphasise should be placed on giving the individual independence rather than raising concerns to them about trust-

“Freelancers should be able to focus on quality, payment and delivering the right work. Not have to worry about trust. This is only possible if we build a transparent system that will help. Freelancing is global and the trust always will be there, but it’s better to trust a transparent system than an individual person. What we want to build is the web3 version of Uber for freelancing, we want everyone in the world to have access to the infrastructure (Work reputation, payments, and what comes under freelancing) to do freelancing work on their own terms”.

With the big countdown to the launch of the Layers Foundation, Jayant is certainly busy –

“I am managing the team and making sure we can build the best product, release the MVP and eventually raise a pre-seed of $500k with strategic investors who understand our vision. Our team is quite self-sufficient now with UI/UX, Marketing and Developers who take care of the day-to-day work”.

Having learnt about the importance of ideas from a young age, Jayant certainly has many plans for the new platform –

“We are problem solvers and builders, so our plan is to keep building, but for now, we are busy building a transparent, decentralised, user-owned freelancing protocol. We hope to help expand freelancing globally with the Layers Infrastructure which we are currently developing which will handle freelancing data on public blockchains and can handle a global freelancing workload and maximize the opportunities for users”.

For more information on The Layers Foundation – https://www.layers.foundation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-rao/

The post A dynamic new website is in the making! appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Rishi Mathur

Freelance Team — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:30:17 +0000

One of the main goals of Freelance Life Magazine is to promote successful freelancers who can inspire others to start their freelance journey. This time we have the pleasure to present Rishi Mathur, a designer from India.

Who is Rishi Mathur? Tell us something about yourself, where you grew up, what school you graduated from, where you live…

I (Rishi Mathur) am a multi-disciplinary designer, creator, mentor, and learner, who loves to build things through his creative expertise, with a total experience of over 12 years, including 5+ years in full-time freelancing, with leading global companies across different industries. I am based out in India. I currently live in Noida, India.

I grew up in the North Indian city of Lucknow in a humble middle-class family. My parents have been in the education sector. My father is a (retired) Government employee, while my mother is a Lecturer in an educational institution. Being from a middle-class family background, our lives have mostly been filled with financial struggles. But my parents always made sure of zero compromises in my and my sister’s quality education.

Since a young age, I was quite inclined toward creativity and arts. I used to sketch drawings and paint and have been privileged to win various awards both on local, State, and National levels. I was honored to receive personal appreciation from H.E. (Former) The Prime Minister of India, and H.E. (Former) The President of India during my school days for my creativity and love towards arts.

I was not particularly clear about which career to choose during my school days. Most of my friends went for Engineering, and I wanted something else for me, that I am good at doing, associated with art and creativity.

In 2006, after Higher Secondary Education (Class 12), I moved to Noida, a rapidly growing & developing industrial city near the National Capital, Delhi to pursue a 3-year Diploma in Footwear Design at the Footwear Design & Development Institute / FDDI (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India). This college education really kept the foundation of what I am today. I learned how creativity marries design and results in building commercially feasible products and much more.

After graduating from FDDI in 2009, I joined Lee Cooper, a UK-based fashion and lifestyle brand in the Footwear wing in India as a Lead Designer (Footwear & Accessories). After working there for some 4.5 years, I moved to join a few other companies, both in the footwear and non-footwear industries.

However, in early 2018, I decided to take a plunge into full-time design freelancing, and here I am today .

As a multi-disciplinary freelance creative designer, my KRAs include:

User interface design, user experience design (UI/UX), interaction design, and product design (digital and physical).
Visual design, graphics, and infographics design.
Interactive presentation design.
Footwear and fashion accessories design.
Animated film making, character design.
Marketing communications and brand design.
Political communication design.
NFTs and crypto art design.

Some of my valued clients and employers include:

Lee Cooper.
ID Shoes.
Pierre Cardin Paris.
Parliamentarians with Innovators for India – a Covid19 action committee.
MindRise
Immunise India
Pepsi
WorxWide UK
Aakash & Co., and more..

* There are many other leading companies and organizations with whom I work on a regular mode, but as I’ve signed NDAs with them, I am not supposed to disclose their information.

Operational/ Targeted Demographics: India, UK, US, Canada.

Operational/ Targeted Industries: Technology, Consulting, SaaS, Retail (offline, online, omnichannel), Education, Healthcare, Governance and Politics, Fashion & Lifestyle.

My work engagement preferences: I have a preference for engaging in collaborative work with reputable clients who offer fair and favorable terms for long-term and scalable projects or as an ongoing part of their team.

In most cases, I operate as an independent/ individual contributor, creator, or consultant, serving esteemed client companies across various projects and opportunities. However, when the project scope requires additional resources and is financially feasible, I have a network of like-minded professionals who can be enlisted to contribute to the work, thereby expanding our bandwidth.

My design portfolio and work samples are available at https://linktr.ee/therishimathur .

My Hobbies: Watching movies, travelling, exploring new design tools and technologies, making meaningful & new connections, driving, and sketching.

Did you always want to be a designer, or did life lead you down that path?

I won’t be honest if I say that I always wanted to be a designer. During my school time, I was kind of confused about what career I wanted to choose for myself. In those years, most of my friends followed the bandwagons of Engineering, and design-based careers were not as popular as they are now. Additionally, I was not so good in mathematics and playing with numbers and variables, but I always had a solid attraction towards visuals, design, arts, and creativity with the practical implementation of technology. You may say I have been good at ‘visual mathematics’. And yes, I was better at computers than my other classmates.

When I was in school, I used to sketch portraits and do a lot of paintings as hobbies. I even won lots of awards and appreciation up to the National level and from eminent personalities, including H.E. (Former) The Prime Minister of India, H.E. (Former) The President of India.

However, lately, I decided to cut all distractions and just follow my instincts in creativity and design, and in 2006, after Higher Secondary Education (Class 12), I moved to Noida, a rapidly growing & developing industrial city near the National Capital, Delhi to pursue a 3-year Diploma in Footwear Design at the Footwear Design & Development Institute / FDDI (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India).

I studied footwear design and accessory design there (as per the given curriculum) for 3 years, but my zeal to learn more helped me gain even more skills, including graphics, web design, and more through the personal practical initiatives that I followed during weekends and late hours. My teachers and colleagues also supported me a lot in my efforts.

That was my transition from an amateur ‘artist’ to a ‘designer’. And that was the time I realized that’s something I wanted to become in my life.

You deal with different types of design, from Product Design & Management, Fashion, and Marketing Design to UI/UX and Animations. What type of design is your favourite?

Every design is unique and I love all formats, including Product Design, UI/UX Design, Animations, Visual Design, PowerPoint Design, Marketing Communication Design, Footwear & Accessory Design, and more.

Each of them brings a diversified view and approach toward problem-solving and solution creation, with learnings that help cross-dimensionally. An experience with a complex UI/UX project can help exponentially in designing an interactive PowerPoint deck for a large client. Past exposure to scaling up customer experience in physical products can help build better UX in a digital product. You just need to think in that way. So, it’s always good to diversify your skills and expertise, and most importantly, scale up and qualify on them.

If you ask my personal favorite, I love designing animated characters. Since I was a child, I loved watching cartoons on TV, and I still do. I was so fascinated to see how artists and creators bring life to illustrations and make them talk, walk, sing, and act like living beings. And I got an opportunity to deep dive into 2D animations in the year 2018, which bagged me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for The Prime Minister of India to design their animated campaigns.

And which type of design do you consider the most demanding?

Currently, UI/UX is among the most demanding. I have been witnessing a solid turn to UI/UX design since last year. Rise in the numbers of tech startups, funding inflow, digital transformation of existing companies, Covid-time experiences, lower data costs, and most importantly scale-up customer experience (CX) and retaining existing customers are some of the many reasons behind the rise of UI/UX design.

The other is AI-based visual design. Though AI gives even a non-designer an edge to create great visual art, the demand for AI-based designers is certainly growing

Some of the unsung domains (which have a lot of potential and still growing) include data visualization, pitch deck design, and mentoring.

Many designers specialize in a specific type of design, UI/UX, layout, or logo design. How is it that you remain so versatile?

When I started my design career in 2009 at Lee Cooper, I intended to stay in footwear and accessory design and keep growing in this industry only. However, after some time I realized that the footwear and fashion industry is capital-intensive. Being a creator, my entrepreneurial spirit always compelled me to build things that deliver value and solve problems. This made me take a plunge into learning more skills and upscale myself.

After a few years, I took some entrepreneurial initiatives, which could not survive for long. From 2014 to 2017, I kept juggling between full-time jobs and some part-time gigs, which again, did not suit me well. It won’t be wrong to say, that for a few years after beginning my professional journey and getting a ‘good’ job, I was still confused about which direction my career was going, keeping me badly impatient

However, in 2018 I decided to get into full-time freelancing with a leading footwear company, Aakash And Company, Delhi after getting a reference from my Senior at Lee Cooper. There I started by creating graphics, marketing posters, and footwear designs & accessories for their brands and stakeholders.

While working with AAC, I got another opportunity to work with a leading consulting company, Worx Wide (formerly BidsAndBeyond), and help them in creating editable visuals, infographics, and interactive pitch decks, particularly in PowerPoint. That was the moment I realized PowerPoint was a lot more powerful than I even thought. So I learned this new skill as quickly as possible while working with Worxwide.

My quest to learn more and scale up my expertise didn’t stop there and I went on to learn Animations and 2D Film Making, Marketing Communication, User Interface Design, User Experience Design, Interaction Design, Packaging Design, Political Communications, and more while continuing to work with my existing and new engagements.

Parallel to learning, I also made sure that I promote and reach out for new collaborations to exploit my new & existing expertise and acquire new customers, which helped me to increase my revenues multiple times as compared to my past full-time jobs. This still continues to this date.

For me, design and creativity are religions, and they are an endless universe of learning, and acquiring multiple design skills and continuously improving and refining them becomes extremely important to stay relevant and keep growing in today’s hyper-competitive environment. I would like to highlight a few points for aspiring freelancers:

Expand Your Skill Set: Continuously learn and acquire new design skills and stay up to date with emerging trends and technologies. This is a time of critical competition. Jobs are being replaced by AI, and companies are putting efforts to cut costs as much. Expanding your skills, and polishing them with qualifications means it is essential to stay relevant, stay in demand and stay successful.
Embrace Continuous Learning: Attend workshops, webinars, and conferences, enroll in online courses, follow free YouTube courses, join design-related groups on social media, and engage with design communities to stay informed about the latest industry developments.
Build a Diversified Portfolio: Include samples from different design verticals, such as branding, web design, print design, mobile app design, and illustration. Highlight your ability to adapt to different styles and project requirements.

I have tried to keep my portfolio interesting with versatile work samples across industry verticals while making it engaging and less boring. Remember, your portfolio is a quick reflection of you. Keep it engaging and worthy to acquire potential clients. Avoid shortcuts in preparing your portfolio, because every moment you invest in it will certainly pay you accordingly.

Cultivate a Strong Foundation: A strong understanding of these fundamentals will enable you to apply them effectively across different design verticals and adapt to various client needs. Never compromise to learn whenever & wherever you get an opportunity.
Understand Client Requirements: When working across different design verticals, take the time to understand the unique needs and goals of each client.
Network and Collaborate: Connect with other industry leaders, CXOs, stakeholders, relevant professionals, marketers, and others from different verticals to seek opportunities, share knowledge, and learn from each other’s experiences.
Be Empathetic, Agile, and Adaptable: Be adaptable and open to different design challenges. Adaptability and empathy are foundations of a good design and also of a successful designer.
Communicate Effectively: Clear and effective communication is crucial when working with diverse clients and design verticals.
Seek Feedback: Request constructive criticism and learn from both positive and negative feedback.
Learn to shift gears and manage time effectively: As a versatile freelance designer, you’ll often juggle multiple projects simultaneously. Stay organized, set priorities, and manage your time effectively. Utilize project management tools, calendars, and task lists to ensure you meet deadlines and maintain a high level of productivity.

You have 12 years of experience. How much has the design and way of working changed in those 12 years?

The design keeps evolving every moment. Even when I observe different trends and design practices from day to day, I notice various improvements and changes, which are certainly for good.

Over the past 12 years, the design industry has undergone significant changes in terms of both technology and working practices. I would like to point out a few of them:

Rise of Digital Design: The widespread adoption of smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices has led to a major shift toward digital design. User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design have become essential elements in creating successful digital products and services.

Notably, UX is not just limited to designing an app or a website. It is much larger, ancient and ever evolving. Understanding of UX and its principles is applicable when you design a poster for a fashion brand, create a short-animated film for a leading politician, design a ConOps infographic, design an investor pitch deck for a start-up, design soles for sports shoes, and for innumerable situations and implementations.

Mobile Design & Responsiveness: With the proliferation of mobile devices, designers have had to adapt their approaches to accommodate smaller screens and touch interfaces. Mobile-first design strategies have become prevalent, focusing on creating seamless experiences for users on smartphones and tablets.

The concept of responsive design emerged, emphasizing the need for websites and applications to adapt and provide optimal user experiences across various screen sizes and devices. This approach ensures that content is accessible and legible regardless of the platform used.

Design Systems: Design systems have become increasingly popular, especially in large organizations. These systems provide a centralized library of reusable design components, patterns, and guidelines, enabling consistency and efficiency across multiple products and teams.
Collaboration: I frequently collaborate with developers, marketers, and other stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach and seamless integration of design within the overall product development process.
Change is Work Methodologies and Dynamics: Many design teams have adopted agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban, working in iterative cycles with a focus on frequent user feedback and continuous improvement. This approach allows for greater flexibility and quicker adaptation to changing project requirements.
Design Thinking: The adoption of design thinking methodologies has grown significantly. Designers now approach problem-solving by empathizing with users, defining their needs, ideating possible solutions, prototyping, and testing to ensure that products meet user requirements and expectations.
Inclusion and Diversity: The design industry has made efforts to address inclusivity and diversity concerns, recognizing the importance of creating designs that are accessible to a wide range of users. There is a growing focus on incorporating diverse perspectives and cultural sensitivities in design processes.
Tools and Software: Design tools have evolved significantly, offering more advanced features and capabilities. CorelDraw, PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, PhotoShop, Illustrator, etc.), Lunacy, Adobe XD, Sketch, Figma, Google Suite, AI based tools like Midjourney, Canva, etc. and other tools have become popular, enabling designers to create high-fidelity prototypes, collaborate remotely, and streamline their workflows.

9 Remote Work: The past few years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have boosted the adoption of remote work in the design industry. Tools for virtual collaboration, project management, and remote design reviews have become essential for distributed design teams.

Overall, the design industry has experienced a shift toward digital mediums, increased collaboration, a focus on user-centric approaches, and the adoption of new tools and methodologies.

In your work, you must use a large number of different software. How did you learn all that software? Did you go to some courses, study online, did someone help you or did you master everything yourself?

Except for:

CorelDraw: 1-month course; my 1^st employer-sponsored me to learn this software for implementation in footwear design.
2D Animation: 2-week course in 2D Animation; I did to brush up my animation skills.
UI/UX Design: Online 2-week UI/UX design course; I did it to complete a formality asked by a previous client as a criterion, though I had been in UI/UX design for quite some time.

All other skills, tools, software, and platforms were self-learned.

However, having said ‘self-learned’, it doesn’t mean that I did not seek support in my learning through other means. The experience gained while working on live projects certainly added a lot of expertise and value to my skills.

For example, a few years ago, while working on an interactive PowerPoint deck, I felt that using a few animated characters to narrate the context would bring life to the entire presentation. This was another motivation for me to learn 2D animation, and then keep practicing and improving on it, which is still helping me in bringing a lot of value to my clients and myself.

I must admit that though different software and tools may have different functionalities, and may look difficult to learn, the fundamentals remain the same, which makes diversifying your software knowledge possible and less challenging. For example, CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator have different tools and functionalities, but they still carry great similarities in the way they are implemented. Other platforms follow similar principles.

In order to keep myself updated with the latest software, tools, and technologies, I keep checking various design influencers, literature available on the web, online workshops, design case studies, etc. to learn and upscale myself. YouTube is a super resource for anybody like me who wants to learn different tools and platforms at a negligible cost.

In your career, have you always been a freelancer, or have you ever worked for a company?

Yes, I have worked in full-time employment with a few leading companies from the year 2009 to 2017 in different design and creative roles. Being a freelancer has never been a plan though becoming a successful freelancer was always my dream.

Immediately after graduating from FDDI in 2009, I joined Lee Cooper UK in their India-based footwear R&D center (in a full-time capacity). I did my internship there being a student, where I was offered a job to join the company and lead their R&D initiatives after my graduation, which I humbly accepted. I worked there until 2013 before I had some health issues and took up some freelance work to sustain my income and survive.

After that, I joined a few more companies full-time. One of them was Droom, which was an online eCommerce platform for selling and buying used automobiles. That was a drastic transition for me, moving from a hardcore fashion, footwear & accessories industry to a 100% tech-based e-commerce venture in a project management role. Things were challenging for me for some initial months when I had to design their algorithms and contribute (not as a designer, but on an analytic level) to their UX design efforts.

I would say that working with Droom in 2017 was my first interaction with UI/UX, which I wanted to leverage and exploit. However, my past (and vast) experience in the footwear industry was a challenge to earn a more pivotal role in UI/UX design as I was considered a fresher in this highly tech-driven industry. This again added to my frustration, followed by the bad health of my father, I left this job to support my family because I had to travel almost 120 km every day from my house to the office, which wasn’t going well. I left Droom at the end of 2017 and desperately started looking for a new full-time job.

But fate had something else stored for me. Despite having an impressive professional background and accomplishments, I could not secure a satisfactory paying job and support my family. I gave several interviews with no results.

That was high time for me to choose a different path that pays me (career growth was not a priority for me at that time as I was struggling to even secure a fixed monthly income to support my family).

That’s when I started connecting with my past bosses and other valued networks, which actually worked. I got a freelance opportunity with Aakash and Co, Delhi that provided me with a fixed monthly income. Though it was quite less, I shall always be grateful to them for their support in my challenging times.

The next collaboration in this direction has been with WorxWide UK (formerly BidsAndBeyond), and on. I am still collaborating with newer, long term clients and expanding my business.

That was the start of my ever-growing ‘proud full-time freelance’ career. I am grateful to God that I could not get a full-time job at that time because now I have a handsome income, luxury, and reputation, have been able to build assets, my own office, and have a large base of global valued clients which I might have never gotten in a full-time job.

What are the main differences between working in a company and working as a freelancer?

There are many differences, including the pros and cons of both working as a creative designer in full-time employment VS freelance mode.

However, I strongly feel that hiring talented freelancers is being preferred over full-time resources, and this trend will continue to grow. As companies navigate through economic uncertainties and strive to stay competitive, they often opt to hire freelancers instead of maintaining full-time employees. This shift allows them to tap into a vast pool of talented designers and creators without the long-term commitment and expenses associated with hiring permanent staff. From my perspective as a freelance designer, this trend has presented a tremendous opportunity to successfully run my own brand.

Many full-time employees think that freelancing is a ‘Be Your Own Boss’ concept. This is a misconception. Everyone has a boss, and that’s a reality. Freelancing is certainly a job, just like being in a business too is a job. Likewise, many freelancers think full-time employment as fully secure, comfortable, and full of perks, which is again not true. Full-time employment comes with a lot of conditions, challenges, and most importantly, the dependence on a single source of income., which makes it a risky and volatile choice in today’s scenario of cost-cutting and lay-offs.

However, freelancing is definitely a gateway to entrepreneurship and business ownership with minimum resources, infrastructure and much lesser costs. There are freelancers who are more successful, self-reliant and earn similar and sometimes better than many established startup founders. Being a freelancer, you are a company, a business, a brand, a team in yourself, which is so empowering and satisfying.

There are some pointwise differences that I want people to understand and clear doubts if any:

Stability and Security: Full-time employment typically offers more stability and security with a regular paycheck, benefits, and potential career growth within the company. Freelancers have more flexibility but may experience income fluctuations and need to manage their own financial security, but this may vary depending upon the project and client you’re engaged with.
Work Schedule and Flexibility: Full-time employees generally have a set schedule and work regular hours. Freelancers have more flexibility to choose their working hours and can adapt their schedules to fit their lifestyles and personal preferences. But this can be otherwise as well. I usually work for 13-14 hours every day, and some days even more, and I hardly get any week off or free time. But I enjoy keeping myself busy with creative stuff.
Variety of Projects: Freelancers often have the opportunity to work on a wider variety of projects and clients, spanning different industries and design verticals. That’s the reason I work with diversified projects across different industries on a regular basis. Full-time employment may offer more specialization within a specific company or industry.
Client Relationships: Freelancers build direct relationships with clients, collaborating closely on projects and managing client expectations themselves. In full-time employment, client interactions may be mediated through account managers or project managers, reducing direct client involvement for designers.
Creative Control: Freelancers have more autonomy and control over their creative decisions. They can shape their own design process, choose the projects they want to work on, and have more influence over the final design outcomes. But again, this is conditional, as many clients expect their in-house design process and existing methodologies across their projects and want the same to be practiced by their service providers. In full-time employment, creative decisions may be influenced by the company’s brand guidelines, management, or team collaboration.
Benefits and Resources: Full-time employees often receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and access to company resources, software, and equipment. Freelancers need to manage their own benefits and invest in their own resources and tools. But there are many clients who offer some full-time perks even to freelancers based on tenure and contracts.
Networking and Professional Development: Full-time employment can provide opportunities for networking within the company and access to professional development programs or mentorship. Freelancers need to actively seek networking opportunities, and industry events, and invest in their own professional development. Yet, networking and professional development is somewhat the same and vital across both formats.
Administrative Tasks: Freelancers are responsible for managing their own business operations, including invoicing, contracts, taxes, and marketing. Also, legal, taxations, and other compliances are there to be taken care of solely by freelancers. Full-time employees have administrative support within the company, allowing them to focus primarily on design work, without much external effort.
Creative Freedom and Experimentation: Freelancers often have more freedom to explore experimental or unconventional design approaches since they are not bound by company policies or guidelines. Again, this comes with conditions and may depend on case to case OR client-to-client basis. Full-time employment may involve more adherence to established brand guidelines and design standards.

As a freelancer, what is the most demanding thing for you – coming up with an idea, working with people, regular communication, work organization, administration, or something else?

I think the client (or organization with whom I am collaborating), their intent, and scope of work is very much important.

Client/Organization: Understanding the ideology, history, mission, vision, and credentials of the client or organization is crucial in determining the potential for long-term success in a collaboration. This knowledge not only motivates freelancers or hired resources but also allows them to anticipate opportunities for consistent growth and upskilling within the partnership.
Intent: While it may sound self-centered or harsh, it is essential to address the issue of clients, even those considered “good,” potentially attempting to exploit freelancers by engaging in practices such as payment evasion, contract misuse, or blocking payments. Therefore, it is crucial for freelancers to ensure that they receive fair compensation for the services they are delivering.
Scope of work: While financial aspects are important in any project or collaboration, the nature and scope of the work hold equal significance. Personally, I find immense satisfaction in working on challenging and unique projects that provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. It is also essential to ensure that my skills align with the scope of work to meet and exceed the expectations placed on me by clients who have entrusted me with their projects.

I have been fortunate that each collaboration and assignment I have undertaken has been distinct in terms of project expectations, work nature, collaborators, stakeholders, and more. The diversity in these experiences has not only been refreshing but has also consistently provided a supportive environment for me to thrive.

What do you consider the best part of the freelance lifestyle?

One of the most appealing aspects of freelancing is the flexibility it provides. As an experienced freelance designer, I have the ability to mutually discuss and settle when and where I work. I can set my own schedule (up to an extent), which can help better work-life balance and the freedom to pursue personal interests or take breaks when needed, though I hardly have any. For quite some time now, I have been super busy with multiple parallel engagements.

With over 5 years of freelance experience, I have been fortunate to build a diverse portfolio and a network of clients. This opens up opportunities to work on a wide range of projects across different industries and design verticals. The variety keeps my work fresh and engaging, preventing monotony and allowing for continuous learning and growth. I also have the advantage of refining and improving my creative skills and developing my own design style. I have a large amount of freedom to take creative control over projects and make decisions that align with my vision and expertise, which is not so common in full-time employment. This level of autonomy is incredibly fulfilling and satisfying.

Freelancing allows me to build direct relationships with my clients. I have the opportunity to work closely with them, understand their goals and preferences, and provide personalized design solutions. This direct interaction often leads to a deeper understanding of client needs, better collaboration, and a more rewarding creative process. I usually choose to work on long-term projects with a threshold ticket size, ensuring I get compensated well.

Freelancing helps me foster an entrepreneurial mindset. As a freelance designer, I have the opportunity to run my own business, build my personal brand, manage client relationships, set up commercials, make strategic decisions about my career, and more. This level of independence is very empowering and satisfying, as I have full control over my professional trajectory and the ability to shape my own success.

And what is the downside of freelancing?

Being into freelancing, I have seen fluctuations in income as a regular phenomenon. Ups and downs can be serious and drastic. Some months may be financially rewarding, while others may be slower. It can be challenging to predict and manage cash flow effectively, especially when starting out or during periods of economic instability. But with regular upskilling, diversifying skills & portfolio, and investing time and efforts in this career, I have managed to maintain lesser fluctuations than other professionals in respective design domains.

You’re responsible for finding and securing clients. This requires ongoing marketing efforts, networking, and building a strong online presence. Finding new clients can be time-consuming and may involve dealing with rejection or competition. So, having a thick skin does help.

Coming on to administration and compliance, I have to handle various tasks such as invoicing, timesheet maintenance, contract negotiation, project management, accounting, taxation, etc. These activities can take time away from actual design work and require organizational skills and attention to detail.

Often, as a freelancer, I work alone as a one-man army. This, in my initial phase, led me to feelings of isolation. Without a team environment, collaboration and brainstorming may be limited, potentially impacting creative ideation and growth. But now I am familiar with such a situation and feel quite comfortable to continue performing.

While versatility is a benefit, it can also be a challenge. As a freelancer, I always have to continually learn and adapt to different design verticals, tools, practices, expertise, and technologies. Keeping up with industry trends and continuously expanding your skill set can be demanding and extremely important to continue being successful. It also helps deliver above expectations to the existing customers and expand the portfolio of new potential customers with better business returns.

Unlike full-time employment, I generally do not expect to receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, or paid sick leave. However, I make sure to invest in my own health insurance, retirement savings, and more to buy my peace of mind which helps me in better productivity with backup and safety in place.

How important is constant learning of new skills and improvement for designers and freelancers?

Constant learning of new skills and improvement is of paramount importance for designers and freelancers, and this holds true for my experiences as a freelance creative designer with over 12 years of expertise. Throughout my career, I have witnessed the significant impact that continuous learning has on professional growth, marketability, and client satisfaction.

As a freelance designer, I’ve encountered diverse projects across various industries and design verticals. Each new project brings unique challenges and requirements, demanding a versatile skill set and a willingness to adapt. By actively engaging in continuous learning, I have expanded my knowledge base and acquired new skills that allow me to tackle a wider range of projects. Whether it’s mastering new design software, exploring emerging design trends, researching, or understanding evolving user behaviors, staying updated is vital to remaining relevant in the fast-paced design industry.

With evolving technology and market dynamics come evolved challenges. AI versus designers is one of such aspects we see today on a regular basis, leading to layoffs, budget cuts, and more. In such an ever-evolving design landscape, constant learning enables me to deliver innovative, effective more than expected design solutions, and stay relevant. By staying curious and open-minded, I have embraced new techniques and approaches that enhance my creative process and improve the outcomes of my work. It’s not been an easy practice, but with time and patience, you get to master it. Through experimenting with different design methodologies, researching industry best practices, and attending relevant workshops and conferences, I have been able to push boundaries and provide cutting-edge designs that meet and exceed client expectations.

Furthermore, continuous learning has helped me develop a strong personal brand and reputation as a freelance designer. By demonstrating a commitment to professional development, I have gained the trust of clients who value my up-to-date knowledge and expertise. This has resulted in repeat business, positive referrals, and an expanding network of contacts within the industry. Clients appreciate designers who invest in their craft and are capable of delivering modern and effective design solutions.

Beyond technical skills, continuous learning has fostered my personal and professional growth throughout my freelance career. It has nurtured my passion for design, fueled my creativity, and inspired me to explore new avenues of expression. By actively seeking out learning opportunities, I have cultivated a mindset of curiosity, adaptability, and resilience that has been invaluable in overcoming design challenges and embracing new design directions.

What requires more learning, new design techniques, or new freelance skills?

In my opinion and professional observation over the years, learning both design techniques and new freelance skills is highly important for every aspiring freelancer. And not just freelancers, even full-time employed resources too should invest time and efforts to continue learning as the market dynamics are highly volatile given the situation of frequent layoffs, job crisis, rise of AI, and more.

Moreover, recent unfortunate events in financial and start-up sectors, such as the collapse of big US banks have created waves of uncertain employment, which made it imperative for every designer to continue maintaining their pipeline of new opportunities.

However, the amount of learning required for new design techniques versus new freelance skills can vary depending on individual circumstances and career goals. Generally, designers typically invest more time and effort in learning new design techniques compared to acquiring useful and contemporary freelance skills. It’s like putting more effort into learning to drive a new car rather than practicing it on different roads and traffic conditions.

Design is a creative field that constantly evolves with emerging trends, technologies, and user expectations. As a designer, staying current and mastering new design techniques is essential to deliver innovative and impactful solutions. Design techniques encompass a wide range of skills, such as typography, composition, colour theory, user experience (UX) design, and interaction design. Advancements in software, tools, and design methodologies further contribute to the need for continuous learning in this aspect.

On the other hand, acquiring new freelance skills often involves developing a broader set of entrepreneurial and business-related skills beyond the regular design practice itself. These skills may include marketing, client management, negotiation, project management, budgeting, compliance, legal, and time management. While these skills are important for freelancers to succeed, they are generally less demanding in terms of continuous learning compared to the rapidly evolving nature of design techniques.

You are also a mentor at DesignLab, a US-based design education center. How did that collaboration come about?

My parents, particularly my mother who was a teacher, has always inspired me to seek involvement in the education industry. I desired to share my expertise in a subject I excel at. As a step in that direction, I had the opportunity to deliver guest lectures in several institutes in Noida a few years ago. Although these opportunities were informal and arranged through connections, they ignited a passion within me to pursue teaching. I decided to actively search for teaching opportunities specifically in the field of design.

In 2022, I was fortunate to be offered a position as a Mentor at DesignLab, a prestigious design education center based in the United States. The process involved applying for the position, participating in multiple interviews, having my portfolio reviewed by their selection panel, and more.

I am honored to have established a formal association with DesignLab, where I currently teach students who aspire to become designers or are already working professionals. The majority of my students come from the United States, Canada, Europe, and other Western countries. My teaching focuses on various aspects of design, including UX Design, Visual Design, Career Guidance, and practical design practices. The goal is to assist students in transitioning into the design field and enhancing their career prospects by providing them with valuable insights and knowledge. With my extensive experience in diverse creative fields and design domains, joining DesignLab has allowed me to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher and aiding aspiring designers in shaping their careers.

How important is it to help others, as a mentor, with advice or in any way?

Helping others as a design mentor or in any way is of great importance. Throughout my career as a designer, I have come to realize that sharing knowledge, insights, and advice not only benefits others but also contributes to personal and professional growth.

As a design mentor, I have had the privilege of guiding and supporting aspiring designers, junior professionals, or even colleagues in their creative journeys. By offering advice and sharing my experiences, I have been able to provide valuable guidance that helps them navigate challenges, overcome obstacles, and accelerate their learning curve. Mentoring allows me to give back to the design community and contribute to its overall growth and development.

When I assist others, it creates a positive ripple effect. By sharing knowledge, I promote a culture of collaboration and continuous learning among my clients’ stakeholders and collaborators. As designers support and uplift each other, we collectively elevate the quality of design work and contribute to the advancement of the profession as a whole.

Moreover, helping others is a mutually beneficial experience. When I engage in mentorship or provide guidance, I gain a fresh perspective on my own work. By articulating my thoughts and explaining design concepts to others, I deepen my own understanding and refine my skills. It challenges me to reflect on my design process, consider alternative approaches, and stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices.

Additionally, being a design mentor allows me to build meaningful relationships within the design community. By nurturing connections with mentees, peers, and fellow designers, I expand my professional network. These connections often lead to collaboration opportunities, knowledge exchange, and even personal growth through the insights and experiences shared by others.

You were nominated and invited to the World Incubation Summit (2017) at Toronto (Canada). Tell us a little more about it.

In 2018, I embarked on my full-time freelance journey after previously initiating a solar energy start-up called Soletrix. While I was working at Droom, I dedicated my spare time to develop and launch the start-up, which surprisingly gained momentum even without significant promotion or effort. During this period, the organizers of the World Incubation Summit recognized the potential of my start-up and extended an invitation for me to participate in the event in 2017.

Unfortunately, due to my father’s declining health and my own financial struggles, I had to abandon the plan of traveling to Toronto and attending the event. Additionally, these challenges resulted in the eventual closure of Soletrix, dealing a significant blow to my entrepreneurial aspirations. Nonetheless, being nominated and invited to the World Incubation Summit remains a noteworthy accomplishment for me.

However, it wasn’t too late for me to embark on a new entrepreneurial path. In 2018, I embraced freelancing and ventured into building my own empire. Today, I am proud to say that I have achieved considerable success, satisfaction, and take pride in the accomplishments I have attained over the years.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly present in online business. Have you started using some AI apps in design or in freelancing?

Though I am an old-school, who loves to create content from scratch, backed by my research, inspirations, and testing, there are a few AI-based tools that I use often.

Canva: This is a popular graphic design and interactive media creation platform that offers a range of AI-powered features. I don’t use it much, as I like creating content from scratch with fresh ideas. However, it provides access to a vast library of templates, images, and design elements, incorporates AI assistance to suggest design improvements, offers color palettes, and more that help me with a variety of ideas and inspirations.
Remove.bg: Remove.bg is an AI-powered tool that automatically removes the background from images. It saves a lot of my time and effort by swiftly extracting subjects from photos, allowing for easy integration into different design compositions or presentations.
ColorSpace: I’ve recently started using it. ColorSpace is an AI-driven color palette generator that assists designers in creating harmonious color schemes.
Lunacy: This is an underrated design tool, which is very powerful and feature loaded. This is a Sketch alternative for Windows and helps to create cutting-edge visual designs, graphics, UI/UX designs, and more very easily. And it’s Free to use!
Midjourney: This is an AI-based visual and graphic generation platform. I use it to create caricatures and illustrations for various purposes, such as converting them into animated live characters, and more. It also helps me in my research of design trends, and inspirations, and generates high-end quality visuals for mock-ups.

Do you think that AI could one day threaten the work of designers, or do you see it more as a new tool?

I don’t think this AI should be observed as a threat to designers. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, designers can use it as a new assistive tool to enhance their work and improve efficiency. AI can assist designers in areas such as generating design variations, optimizing workflows, or providing data-driven insights that inform decision-making.

To stay relevant and grow in the era of AI, designers can focus on developing skills that complement AI technologies rather than competing against them. Here are some strategies:

Build a deep understanding of human-centric design: AI may be able to assist to analyze data and patterns, but understanding human needs, emotions, and behaviors is an area where designers can excel.
Improve on creativity and innovation: Designers can foster their creativity, embrace experimentation, and think outside the box to develop unique and imaginative solutions that AI cannot replicate. By being open to learning and adapting, designers can integrate AI into their workflows and leverage it as a complementary tool.
Develop complementary skills: Designers can focus on cultivating skills that work in tandem with AI technologies. This includes mastering data analysis and visualization, understanding AI algorithms, the ability to create to-the-point and accurate AI prompts and tweak them, and their implications for design, and staying informed about the ethical considerations surrounding AI use in design.

You have worked for many famous brands. How did you make those contacts and manage to get such jobs?

During my initial phase, around the year 2018, I depended on senior executives from my past employers to get me the first break in freelancing, which actually worked. However, soon I realized this ‘only’ collaboration won’t help me much financially.

I soon started looking for new parallel engagements and opportunities both through referral and organic ways. Referrals (primarily introductions; there is nothing new with this and most of us already know how it works) help a lot to get genuine introductions with fair intent. However, with referrals, you may have to compromise your freedom to negotiate on commercials and other terms as keeping your referrer obliged too is important.

So, it is important to keep your proposal flowing and reach out to new clients and companies even outside your network.

Yes, that’s true, while many of my fellow freelancers and peers struggle to get breakthroughs or acquire a basic term contract, I am privileged to have some of the largest companies and institutions as my regular clients. Here are a few ways that I use to acquire genuine and high-paying customers:

Well-updated resume: Yes, you read it right. Many freelancers think that a beautifully crafted design portfolio is the only thing they need. However, a well-crafted resume with an updated resume with the most relevant information is equally necessary. My resume has really helped me a lot to get selected from a crowd of other profiles. Remember, there are many companies that still use resumes to filter freelancer profiles and proposals to the next stage of portfolio review. So if your resume is not compliant with industry standards and best practices, the chances of your portfolio review are lesser.
Attend industry events (physical/ virtual): Many industry events have shifted to virtual platforms, providing opportunities to connect with potential clients and industry professionals from around the world. I participate in webinars, virtual conferences, and industry networking events (both on-site and virtual) to expand my network and increase my chances of finding long-term freelance clients.

Also, visiting physical (on-site) trade and industry events and expos helps to identify serious and genuine clients who have a budget to pay for my services, while getting a glimpse of their business reputation and scale.

Industry-specific websites and directories: I keep exploring websites and directories that cater specifically to my niche or industry. These platforms include job boards, project listings, and directories where clients actively seek freelance professionals.
Professional networking platforms: I extensively utilize platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in my target organizations. I connect with organizations’ leadership teams, project managers, hiring teams, etc., and join relevant groups to increase my outreach efforts. Engaging with potential clients and establishing connections that may lead to long-term freelance opportunities.

Keep updating your LinkedIn profile (and other social media profiles, if any) regularly. Search for relevant opportunities and respond to them in a very professional manner. Avoid blunders like commenting ‘I am interested’ under an opportunity post.

Remember that finding long-term freelance clients requires patience, persistence, and consistent effort. Actively promote your services, build relationships, and provide exceptional work to establish a reputation that attracts clients who are looking for ongoing collaborations. I never compromise on the quality of my services and deliverables even if I have to walk the extra mile. This is not easy to practice and adopt, but slowly and gradually you’ll get into a no-compromise attitude, which certainly pays back.

Also, don’t limit your hunt to your demography. I always keep my eyes open to international opportunities which has always helped me get clients with great projects and compensation.

What is your advice for freelancers, how to find more work and better jobs?

In my experience as a freelance designer, finding genuine and long-term customers is certainly challenging, and requires a proactive and strategic approach. Here are some insights and strategies I have discovered:

Build a strong online presence: Invest time in creating a professional website or portfolio that showcases your work, expertise, and client testimonials. I use Linktree to consolidate all my active portfolios and important links for my clients to check them under one roof. Ensure your online presence reflects your unique style, skills, and the value you can bring to potential clients.
Clearly define your target audience: Identify the specific industries, businesses, or individuals you want to work with. Understand their needs, challenges, and preferences. By narrowing down your focus, you can tailor your marketing efforts and communication to attract the right kind of clients who are more likely to form long-term partnerships.

In my case, my preference has always been institutional clients with mid-to-large ticket size, and who are open for an hourly bracket based engagement. When my clients value my parameters, it becomes my duty to fulfill their needs and expectations even if I was to walk an extra mile.

Utilize social media effectively: Leverage social media platforms that align with your target audience and industry. Create engaging and relevant content (if you can) that showcases your expertise and highlights your portfolio. Engage with your audience by responding to comments, participating in discussions, and networking with potential clients. Consistency and authenticity are key to building trust and attracting long-term customers.
Leverage professional networks: Tap into your professional networks, both online and offline. Connect with colleagues, friends, and past clients who can refer you to potential customers. It has really been proven in my case. Attend industry events and trade shows, conferences, and meetups where you can network and establish connections. Word-of-mouth recommendations from trusted sources can often lead to long-term client relationships.
Be proactive in seeking opportunities: Don’t wait for clients to come to you. Actively search for job boards, freelance marketplaces, and industry-specific websites where businesses post freelance opportunities.
Deliver exceptional work and customer service: When you land a freelance project, go above and beyond to deliver outstanding results. Meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and be responsive to client feedback. By providing exceptional work and building strong relationships, you increase the likelihood of repeat business and referrals.
Cultivate trust and maintain relationships: Long-term clients value trust and reliability. Nurture your relationships by staying in touch with past clients, sending updates on your latest work, and offering assistance or insights when needed. Building a strong rapport with your clients can lead to ongoing collaborations and referrals to other potential customers.

Finding genuine and long-term customers online takes time and perseverance. It requires a combination of building a solid online presence, leveraging networks, proactive outreach, and consistently delivering exceptional work. By focusing on building relationships and providing value, you can attract clients who appreciate your skills and are willing to establish long-term partnerships.

SolidGigs, DesignCrowd, LinkedIn, Toptal, PeoplePerHour, Fiverr, Authentic Jobs, etc. are some of the famous and trusted platforms to get organic freelance engagements. However, don’t limit yourself to these and explore all direct and indirect ways to get potential introductions. Remember, all these marketplaces are usually crowded with your competitors. So the more you invest time exploring ways to reach your target customer, the better chances you have to win a potential project.

Furthermore, I’ve noticed a common mistake made by both new and established freelancers. They tend to overlook the necessity and significance of having a relevant and up-to-date resume in addition to their portfolio.

Many companies utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to streamline the process of reviewing profiles and resumes, enabling them to filter out the best-suited freelancer profiles for their specific requirements. However, a poorly constructed resume will always serve as a hindrance to receiving calls from potential employers and clients.

It is crucial to remember that when you engage in the organic pursuit of freelancer projects, you are competing with thousands of other applicants. If your profile or resume is rejected at the initial stage, your prospects may not even have the opportunity to review your portfolio. Hence, your resume holds the same level of importance as your design portfolio in terms of showcasing your work samples.

And what do you advise, how to keep clients and turn them into regular clients?

From my perspective as a freelance designer, satisfying clients and building long-term relationships involve several key elements. Satisfying clients and building long-term relationships is a combination of excellent design skills, effective communication, proactive problem-solving, and exceptional customer service.

By consistently delivering quality work and demonstrating your commitment to their success, you can establish yourself as a trusted partner and secure long-term collaborations. In simple points, I would advise the following:

Understand and empathize with your clients. This is the backbone of the human-centered design approach and pays back in the long term.
Keep communication channels open and transparent.
Deliver high-quality work and adopt a ‘no-compromise from quality’ attitude.
Be open to critical feedback and implement revisions.
Offer proactive solutions, advice, and suggestions with tactical and long-term POV..
Provide exceptional customer service and be ready to walk the extra mile for customer satisfaction.
Maintain ongoing relationships.

Have you ever used platforms for freelance work, such as Upwork or Fiverr? What are your experiences with those platforms?

Yes, I used them around the year 2018, and luckily, I got initial success as well. However, over time, these platforms have become overcrowded. Even the recent Covid crisis, waves of global lay-offs, and more have contributed to this crowd of work-seeking professionals seeking their 1^st breakthrough in a long time.

Though my freelancer profile might still be active on Upwork or Fiverr, I haven’t got any opportunities from them. Reciprocally, I’ve been fully active on organic methods rather than depending upon these freelance marketplaces.

What qualities must a designer possess to be successful?

For a designer (freelance OR full-time employed) building a successful and well-paid career requires a combination of these qualities, personal branding, marketing strategies, and a commitment to delivering exceptional work.

From my 12+ year design career, I feel that continuously refine your craft, improve your skills, have a solid, versatile, and impressive portfolio, build strong relationships, and leverage your expertise to attract clients who appreciate your skills and are willing to pay a premium for your services.

Let me elaborate on these qualities as follows:

Exceptional Design Skills: Possessing a strong foundation in design principles, creativity, and technical proficiency is crucial. Stay updated with the latest design trends, software, platforms, technologies, and tools relevant to your field. Continuously improve our skills through practice, experimentation, and learning from others.

Self-initiated learning is pivotal for your success. You’re on your own, and it is imperative to get ahead of others to stay relevant in today’s rapidly evolving technology and market dynamics. Continuous learning helps you stay relevant, offer innovative solutions, and command higher rates.

Strong Work Ethic: Freelancers must have discipline, self-motivation, and the ability to manage their time effectively. Being reliable, meeting deadlines consistently, and maintaining a professional approach are key factors that contribute to success and help build a solid reputation.
Effective Communication: Clear and prompt communication is vital to understand client requirements, providing progress updates, and addressing any concerns.

I do actively listen, ask relevant questions, and ensure that myself and my client/prospect are on the same page and there are no misunderstandings or gaps.

Basic Business and Legal Knowledge: Carefully calculating and proposing fair pricing, negotiating contracts, understanding taxes and legal points, managing finances, and handling client relationships has greatly helped me in my success.
Adaptability and Versatility: Being open to learning new skills, embracing new technologies, and adapting to different client preferences can broaden your opportunities and increase your value in the market.

Do you have any habits that you believe help you to be successful?

In my journey as a freelance designer, there are a few habits that have played a vital role in my success. Here are some of the habits that have contributed to my growth:

Continuous Learning: I have a deep passion for learning and staying up-to-date with the latest design trends, techniques, and software & tools through online courses, tutorials, and industry resources. This habit allows me to offer fresh and innovative design solutions to my clients.
Effective Time Management: I prioritize and plan my tasks to make the most of my time. By setting realistic deadlines and breaking down projects into manageable chunks, I ensure efficient workflow and timely delivery. This habit helps me maintain a balanced workload and deliver quality work consistently.
Strong Communication Skills: I understand the importance of clear and effective communication in client relationships. I actively listen to my client’s needs, ask clarifying questions, and provide updates throughout the project. I ensure that both parties are on the same page, which helps build trust and fosters successful collaborations.
Attention to Detail: I have developed a meticulous approach to my work, paying attention to even the smallest details. This habit ensures the accuracy and precision of my designs, resulting in high-quality deliverables that meet or exceed client expectations.
Client-Centric and Human-Centric Approach: I prioritize understanding my client’s goals, target audience, and brand identity. By placing their needs at the forefront of my design process, I create tailored solutions that resonate with their vision and empathize with their customers’ needs and situations.
Professionalism and Reliability: I maintain a professional attitude in all my interactions with clients. I respond promptly to their inquiries, meet deadlines consistently, and follow through on commitments.

What is the best way to organize when working with several companies?

When it comes to managing multiple clients simultaneously as a freelance designer, staying organized is crucial to ensure smooth workflows and timely delivery of projects. Every client wants their submission at the earliest, and it is necessary to value their urgency while keeping another workflow active so that no valued customer feels they are not attended well.

I start by assessing the urgency and importance of each project. I identify deadlines and prioritize tasks accordingly. This helps me allocate my time and resources efficiently, ensuring that I meet client expectations and project milestones.

I maintain a detailed schedule that outlines my daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, as much as possible. By setting specific time blocks for each project, I can focus on one client at a time without compromising on quality. This helps me maintain a structured workflow and prevents overlapping or conflicting deadlines. I depend on Google Sheets, Google Calendar, Jira, and Monday for my project management tasks.

Establishing clear and easy communication channels with each client, and ensuring efficient and effective collaboration has been very helpful to me. I use platforms like Skype, WhatsApp, email, Slack, or dedicated communication tools to share updates, discuss feedback, and address queries uninterruptedly. Many times, the clients have their own nominated channels, like MS Teams, that I use in compliance with their T&Cs. Also, I provide regular progress updates, share work-in-progress drafts, and seek feedback at appropriate stages.

I maintain well-organized digital file systems for each client, both locally and on the cloud. I create separate folders for project assets, reference materials, drafts, and final deliverables. This enables quick and easy access to files, eliminates confusion, and ensures that I can retrieve any necessary information promptly and securely. WeTransfer, PCloud, and Dropbox are few tools that I trust and depend upon.

I allocate additional time for unexpected revisions, unforeseen circumstances, or any urgent client requests. This buffer time helps me accommodate any last-minute changes without jeopardizing other projects’ timelines. It provides a safety net and allows me to handle unforeseen situations smoothly.

What was the best advice you got at the beginning of your career?

This happened during my early days at my 1^st job in 2009. My then boss, Anil Tickoo called up for a distributor-level meeting to review the 1^st cut of my design collection. However, the review was not so good which was disappointing to me.

In my disappointment and frustration, Tickoo said to me:

Rishi, do remember that mistakes and setbacks are part of the creative process. Don’t be discouraged by failures or criticism. Instead, learn from them, adapt, and keep pushing forward. It’s necessary for you to embrace resilience and innovation as key traits that will help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.

And what’s the worst advice you’ve ever got?

I don’t remember as such

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make as a freelancer?

Sometimes I have to say no to some projects. Having had quite tough and struggling times some years back (before I started full-time freelancing), I know how important every project and opportunity is that comes my way. I understand they can help in contributing to my financial growth.

However, I also need to make sure a new collaboration should not disturb or go against my existing valued clients or engagements, as I have other duties to fulfil as well. And therefore, it is imperative for me to carefully evaluate all pros and cons of a new collaboration or engagement well in advance before starting a relationship with a new client.

So, saying no to a new client or opportunity is the hardest.

If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?

With my practical experience of over 5 years as a full-time freelancer, I feel better prepared and confident than ever before.

If I could start all over again, I would use my experience to carefully evaluate the intent of a client. I have made several mistakes in my career, where one was choosing to work with the wrong client. I was unfortunately cheated and duped. And somewhere my hesitation to say ‘no’ too contributed to that situation.

I made sure not to repeat such situations again in the future and invest time and wisdom to stay away from such problems.

The best advice for those who are considering a freelance career?

In my own experience, freelancing has become the future of work, especially in light of the layoffs and cost-cutting measures implemented by companies worldwide. Traditional employment models have seen significant shifts, with many organizations downsizing their teams or relying more heavily on freelance talent to meet their creative and design needs.

However, freelancing should never be looked upon as a shortcut to success or an easy path to riches. It requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance. If you want to build a successful career as a freelancer, be prepared to hustle and put in the necessary effort. Be prepared for the ups and downs of freelancing. It’s not always smooth sailing. There will be times when clients are rare, projects are challenging, or payments are delayed. Stay resilient, learn from setbacks, and keep pushing forward.

Never stop learning and improving your skills. The design industry is constantly evolving, so stay updated on the latest trends and technologies. Invest in your professional development through online courses, workshops, and self-study, in every possible manner to stay ahead of the competition.

Remember, it is crucial to present your accurate and promising design ideas and solutions to your clients and employers, ones that you genuinely believe are superior to what the client proposes. I have observed numerous freelancers and consultants who, in their eagerness to maintain a good relationship with their clients and please them, often agree to implement ideas and solutions that are imposed upon them, even when they recognize that these ideas will not be effective.

If you persist in this approach, it won’t be long before your client replaces you with a more affordable resource who unquestioningly follows their instructions and completes tasks in less time.

Identifying genuine and non-genuine clients could be difficult for new freelance designers. How can they protect themselves from such unpleasant experiences?

As a freelance designer, it’s crucial for me to be able to tell the difference between genuine and fake clients. This helps me protect myself from those who might try to take advantage of my work without any intention of paying me.

Firstly, I pay close attention to how potential clients approach me. Genuine clients take the time to provide detailed project requirements and ask relevant questions. They show a real interest in my work and demonstrate a level of professionalism. On the other hand, fake clients often send generic messages with vague project descriptions. They may not have a clear understanding of what they want, and their communication might feel impersonal or off.

To further verify the authenticity of a client, I conduct thorough research. I visit their website, check their social media profiles, and search for any online presence they may have. I look for positive reviews or feedback from other freelancers who have worked with them before. If I come across discrepancies, or inconvincible inputs, or notice a lack of information or reviews, it raises a red flag, suggesting that the client might not be genuine.

In order to protect myself, I always insist on using written contracts. These contracts clearly outline the project scope, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms. By having everything in writing, both the client and I have a mutual understanding of what is expected from each other and genuine clients always appreciate the professionalism and transparency that comes with a written contract. Additionally, I always encourage prospects to deduct applicable taxes to be paid to the Government with a certificate/ receipt of such deduction.

To further safeguard me, I consider requesting deposits or milestone payments. This approach ensures that the client is committed to the project and has the financial capability to pay which genuine clients don’t hesitate to consider.

Trusting my instincts is crucial in identifying non-genuine clients. If something doesn’t feel right or seems too good to be true, I listen to my gut feelings and proceed with caution. It’s important to avoid working with clients who raise suspicions or exhibit unprofessional behavior during our initial communication.

The post Rishi Mathur appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Camilla Gordon CPF: Freelance Facilitator & Trainer

Chrissie Stephen — Sat, 13 May 2023 14:02:24 +0000

Within a few minutes of meeting Camilla Gordon in London, you are struck by her warm personality and appreciate that participants in her groups must quickly feel at ease. Camilla encourages everyone to fully participate in discussions and to start conversations with people they may not know well as they hold different positions within the same company, or they have simply never met before.

Camilla spent her childhood near Edinburgh and from a young age became interested in drama. She went on to study drama at Manchester University and it was there that she became interested in how drama could be used as a tool for change and how more creative methods could be used to answer difficult questions. Camilla started volunteering and was working with young people and started facilitating sessions for them on topics such as confidence and helping to create a space for them.

Voluntary work was where Camilla found her own space and where she learnt many of her skills. She smiles when she admits that at that stage, she didn’t know what she did was called ‘Facilitation’ and nor did she know that she could make it her career!

Having grown up in rural Scotland and then studying at university, the experience of working in an outdoor education centre in Botswana, gave her an insight into the many bigger challenges in the world – in particular structural inequality and racism. While she was there, one of the students became unwell and the group worked together to adjust sessions so that she could participate. For Camilla, this was an important lesson in access and inclusion and how she as a Facilitator could ensure that everyone could participate equally.

One of Camilla’s first jobs was working with small-hold farmers across Kenya, Uganda and Peru. It was there that she learnt how to design a workshop and the importance of understanding what motivates the group and what are their challenges. Knowing these facts ensures your sessions encourage participants to engage with the content as you have made it relevant to them. Camilla also spent time reflecting on her own position as a white woman in their space and how to recognise the power dynamics at play in different spaces with different groups.

Camilla found that she enjoyed working in small scale start-up businesses as she likes being ‘in the nitty gritty’ of things and enjoys working dynamically. At the age of 25, she decided to go freelance as this would enable her to ‘do her own thing’ and give her greater variety in her work-

“I can work one week for a corporate doing facilitation training and then the next week do a few days pro bono work for a small charity that cannot afford to bring in a professional facilitator. I feel that the power of facilitation is so strong and the impact so huge that I don’t think it should be only for organisations that can afford to pay for it. I like to do work that brings me energy but also puts good into the world”.

What exactly is Camilla’s role as a freelance Facilitator?

“For me, it is all about bringing people together. I see myself as a process facilitator. Lots of people do lots of different things and facilitate. With my skills and experience, I put facilitation first. I like the metaphor of being like a computer programmer. They build the structure, it doesn’t really matter about the content. I don’t need to have knowledge of the topic or the area – I come in and design the process”.

Camilla’s work takes many different forms as she designs ‘away days’ for teams who maybe want to look at their five-year strategy or similar. She also helps teams so that they can work better together as a team. She does a great deal of work around stakeholder engagement where participants may not know each other. Camilla often works with young people too, especially those affected by trauma in some way-

“For me it is all about the individuals in the group and how we can make sure that when they are in the group, they can have a voice and that voice is heard”.

Camilla explains that as a Facilitator she also recognises the different hierarchies within the group, and it is part of her role to address these hierarchies so that everyone can be heard and that they be more equal. She helps groups to recognise where there could be hierarchies at play and to help them to create a space where everyone feels able to share things from their perspective. She is not there to answer the questions but to ensure that the right questions are being asked to develop better relationships amongst the participants that will last long after a session finishes.

One of Camilla’s greatest achievements so far was working with an international organisation that brought stakeholders from around the world to discuss the implementation of one of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). There were 200 people in the room for two days in Helsinki and she and colleagues created a road map so participants could work together using a roadmap for change-

“We had MEPs working alongside youth activists and our challenge was to create a space that worked for both of them. I used creativity and energy plus my own character successfully to help others to feel safe in the space and to work with people whom they had not traditionally worked with”.

Camilla’s approach is certainly innovative and her clients find her refreshingly different to the more usual and classic approach to her role. Some clients have been concerned that her age could be off-putting to some people, who may not give her the respect she deserves. On three occasions, potential clients have been open that this was the basis for not hiring her. It is this that is part of what drives her to work with several membership groups for facilitators to create space to improve the diversity of the facilitation community and help more people recognise it as a viable career option.

The creativity she has developed through her love of drama has definitely become Camilla’s USP and she enjoys being able to combine creativity and helping people within her work, even using LEGO Serious Play as a key tool in her toolkit. She also draws on the wealth of experience that she gained from working in different countries and cultures. Camilla is currently co-leading the organising group for a conference for anyone interested in facilitation in Birmingham in April –

Facilitate 2023: Celebrating and sharing the diversity of facilitation

If you would like to contact Camilla to know more about her work and how she can help your organisation –

https://www.camillagordon.co.uk/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/CamillaGordon

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilla-gordon/

The post Camilla Gordon CPF: Freelance Facilitator & Trainer appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Fiza Tahir

Freelance Team — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 14:32:05 +0000

Fiza Tahir is a content and copywriter, founder and CEO of SEO Typist an SEO content writing agency and a leading SEO content writing service provider. She is living in the small village of Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, Pakistan. Fiza have completed “Master of Philosophy in Physics” from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Having leadership qualities from start, she wanted to make her name based on her hard work, passion, and success achieved by innovative work. Fiza always learns to be a winner and it was the thing that motivated her to do something creative. So, she decided to make her identity in the field of Freelancing. In addition to this, Fiza was an exceptional student in her formal education which helps her a lot in her success journey.

You are a web content writer and you worked as a trainer assistant in the content marketing and advertising program. Which of these jobs is more demanding?

Fortunately, I got a chance to work as a trainer assistant of my own mentor and it was nothing less than a blessing for me. The work was related to my freelancing career and I enjoyed serving as an assistant. Everything gives us a unique experience, so yeah, I also enjoyed my journey as a trainer assistant. Summing it up, I love to work as a web content writer and I also found it delightful to serve as a trainer assistant.

What attracted you to the job of a content writer?

I always wanted to do something unique since my Childhood, and Freelancing attracted me. I have learned multiple skills in freelancing but due to my formal education, I was unable to focus on all the skills at a time. So, I preferred content writing as I was proficient in English and have passion to play with words since my school time.

Did your knowledge of content marketing and advertising help you promote your writing job?

Yes, my knowledge of Content Marketing and Advertising has proven beneficial for me to promote my writing job. I strongly believe that nothing can be achieved overnight. We have to work hard and the same was in my case. Firstly I learned things properly in order. After learning a complete skill set, I was able to implement it in my writing career by playing with words.

You have worked in PITB as a Trainer Assistant in the Content Marketing and Advertising Program. How did it start?

I started my freelancing career at PITB back in 2019. I was a student of this program and it was my hard work and consistency that leads me to a new level of success, “A trainer assistant”. My mentor Sir “Inaam-ul-Haq Mansoor” also praised me and he was aware of my capabilities and the success that I made in a short span of time. He decided to add me to his team and I served as my own mentor assistant. It was my dream that comes true.

What are your experiences from that job, was it hard, or did you enjoy it?

As it was relevant to my field, I got a lot of experience from that job. After completing my duties as a trainer assistant, I started my own course and I have successfully completed 5 batches. My success ratio is 80% and my students are earning successfully from the online marketplaces.

What is the most important thing you learned during that job?

Overall, it was an excellent experience for me. I learned many new things from that job, but one thing that was ideal for me is it polished my communication and mentorship skills. Both of these abilities are helping me in training my students in an effective and creative manner.

What skills must a content writer learn to be successful?

To be a successful content writer, there are several skills you need to master. Content writers should have exceptional writing skills to create compelling and engaging content that captures readers’ attention. The writers should have the ability to conduct extensive research on various topics, including industry trends, best practices, and news. Additionally, content writers should have a good understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) and how it works. Content writers should have a good understanding of social media platforms, how they work, and how to create content that performs well on these platforms. As a creative content writer, you should have excellent communication skills to work effectively with clients, editors, and other team members. Content writers should have excellent time management skills to meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality content on time. Last, but not least, content writers should have a creative mindset to develop unique and engaging content ideas that stand out in a crowded marketplace.

How important is constant learning and improvement of skills in the job of a content writer?

Constant learning and improvement of skills are extremely important in the job of a content writer. As a content writer, you are responsible for creating content that is engaging, informative, and effective in achieving the desired goals of your clients or audience. To do this successfully, you need to stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices in your industry and continuously hone your writing skills.

You have been nominated in the list of Extraordinary Freelancers of Pakistan. Tell us a little more about it.

In the extraordinary freelancer list, there are top freelancers of Pakistan having a huge name in the field. Some of them are “Hisham Sarwar”, “Tanveer Nandla”, and “Inaam-ul-Haq Mansoor” and all have experience of more than 20 years. This book was published by the Pakistan Software Export Board and they gave me the unique recognition of being one of the top 100 freelancers in Pakistan. I am lucky to be in the list of the renowned mentors in Pakistan.

You also have a very nice website – https://fizatahir.com. How important is it for a freelance writer to have a website?

Having a website can be very important for a freelance writer. Here are a few reasons why:

Professionalism: A website gives you a platform to showcase your work and present yourself as a professional writer. It also allows you to have a professional email address that is linked to your website.

Visibility: A website can help you reach a wider audience and increase your visibility in the online world. You can use your website to promote your work and services, and also to share your writing on social media platforms.

Credibility: A well-designed and professional-looking website can give you credibility and help establish you as a serious writer. It shows potential clients that you are committed to your work and take your writing seriously.

Portfolio: Your website can serve as a portfolio of your writing, showcasing your best work and providing potential clients with examples of your writing style and abilities.

Contact: A website can provide a simple way for potential clients to get in touch with you, making it easier for you to network and find new work opportunities.

How do you get clients, through freelance platforms, your website, direct contacts, or some other way?

I have not limited myself to a single platform. That’s why I don’t rely on one earning platform. LinkedIn has proven a very beneficial source of income for me to make my Name in the virtual world of Freelancing. But, overall, I am getting clients from my website, and also from freelance platforms.

What do you think is crucial in getting clients, communication, portfolio, experience, or something else?

When it comes to getting clients, there are several factors that can contribute to success, and the importance of each may vary depending on the industry and target audience. However, some essential elements that can help in getting clients are:

Effective communication is key to building relationships with clients. Clear and concise communication, active listening, and prompt responses to inquiries can help establish trust and confidence.
A well-curated portfolio that showcases your skills and experience can be an excellent tool for attracting clients.
Having relevant experience in your field can help you establish credibility and demonstrate your ability to meet client needs. Highlighting your experience in your portfolio, resume, and cover letter can help attract potential clients.
Building a strong professional network can be beneficial in getting clients. Attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and connecting with other professionals in your field can help you expand your reach and gain exposure.
Maintaining a positive reputation is critical in attracting clients. Word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients can be a powerful tool in growing your client base.

Many freelancers want to have regular clients. How do you manage to motivate the client to come back and order new content?

As an experienced content writer, I never compromise on the quality of the content. That is the reason, the return ratio of my client is 100%. I always try to assist my clients in an exceptional way. Also, when I find something missing in the website’s SEO requirements, I offered them free content strategy plan along with tips to rank in search results. All these little things and efforts can make anyone able to get returning clients.

What do you think writers shouldn’t do if they don’t want to lose a client?

Writers should ensure that they meet the deadlines agreed upon with their clients. It is important to maintain open and clear communication with clients, providing regular updates and addressing their concerns promptly. Providing subpar work can disappoint clients and cause them to look for other writers. Clients often provide feedback on the work submitted. Maintaining professionalism is crucial when working with clients. Writers should treat their clients with respect, maintain ethical standards, and avoid any behavior that could be considered unprofessional.

Do you have a favorite topic that you love to write about?

Having the expertise to write on any topic, I am not bound to a specific niche. I can write on every topic, and I have wide knowledge and skills in writing website copies and blog articles.

What was the best advice you got at the beginning of your freelance career?

In the world of freelancing, you need to be consistent and hard-working. My mentors always motivated me to do something creative and advise me to be consistent. This was the best advice that is still helping me in achieving a new level of success.

What are the biggest benefits of freelance life for you?

There are several benefits to the freelance life, including:

Freedom: Freelancers have the freedom to set their own schedules, choose their own clients, and work from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows for a better work-life balance and the ability to work around personal obligations.

Variety: Freelancers have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects for different clients, which can help them develop new skills and broaden their knowledge.

Control: Freelancers have more control over their work, which can lead to greater job satisfaction. They can choose the type of work they want to do, the clients they want to work with, and the amount they want to charge for their services.

Increased earning potential: Freelancers often have the ability to set their own rates, and they can take on as much or as little work as they want. This can lead to higher earning potential than a traditional 9-to-5 job.

Creativity: Freelancers have the freedom to be more creative in their work, which can lead to greater job satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment.

Does it have any downside?

Yes, the freelancing does have some potential downsides:

Freelancing income can be unpredictable and vary from month to month.
Freelancers typically do not receive employee benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, or retirement plans.
As a freelancer, you do not have the same job security as traditional employees. They are not guaranteed work and can be let go by clients at any time.
Freelancers often work alone and may feel isolated without the social interaction of an office environment.

What is the best way to organize multiple jobs and private life?

Organizing multiple jobs and private life can be challenging, but there are some strategies you can use to make it easier. You should use a physical or digital planner to schedule your work and personal commitments. It’s important to establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life. Always, determine which tasks are most important and prioritize them accordingly. If possible, delegate tasks to others. It’s important to take breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. This will help you stay focused and productive.

If you had to single out one characteristic that is most important for the success of a freelancer, what would it be?

There are several important factors that contribute to the success of a freelancer, but perhaps the most important one is to have a strong and diverse set of skills that are in high demand within the industry or market they are targeting. Successful freelancers also need to have good time management and organizational skills to balance their work with their personal life as well as the ability to communicate effectively with clients and manage their expectations. By staying on top of industry trends and continuously improving their skills, successful freelancers can continue to grow their client base and build a successful career as a freelancer.

You have trained 500+ students to learn and earn online. How did it happen?

Yes, I have trained 500+ students and my success ratio is 80% in all 5 batches. I believe in paying back to the community as I got training from one of the biggest freelancing platforms in Pakistan. It urges me to give skills to people and make them able to learn and earn online. When my students share with me that they are earning because of me, it makes me proud.

More and more people are starting to work as freelancers. What would you say to those who are starting out?

Here are a few things I want to say to the newbies:

Identify your niche and target market
Build a strong online presence
Set your rates and terms
Network and market yourself
Develop strong communication and time-management skills
Stay organized and professional

What are you most grateful for in your life?

Nothing would be a more beautiful thing in life other than making your parents proud. Being the youngest daughter of my parent, I made them happy and proud. As I have no brother, it was my wish to make my parents “proud parents”. I always wish to have my own name and identity and, in the future, “Fiza Tahir” will be the name of a brand. I am grateful because the almighty helped me in achieving my targets and goals. I have plans to run multiple agencies and software houses across Pakistan with the support and will of Almighty.

The post Fiza Tahir appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Angela Tague, Content marketing writer and founder of WebWritingAdvice.com

Nebojsa Dolovacki — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 08:03:57 +0000

Angela Tague is an Iowa gal born and raised. She grew up in Eastern Iowa, then migrated to the central region for college and have finally landed in the northwest corner of the state bordering Nebraska and South Dakota. Angela currently work from a home office in Sioux City Iowa.

In her free time, she love to be outside in nature as much as possible, go cabin camping, snap photos, dig in the garden, explore nature trails, walk her dog, go on road trips, spend time with loved ones, go to rock concerts, make art, practice yoga, try new recipes, go thrift store shopping and so much more. She is never bored.

– How did you become a journalism-trained writer?

I attended the University of Iowa in the late 1990s. I studied journalism and mass communications and hold a Bachelor of Arts. I also have a second area of concentration in global studies. I completed that during a study abroad year in Australia. After I graduated in 1999, I worked for several newspapers in the Midwest before transitioning into marketing work.

– What skills does a freelancer, or any person, must have to become a successful journalist/writer?

To become a successful journalist or writer I think you have to be very inquisitive. I’m always asking questions, doing research and excited to learn about new things. As a writer, it’s your job to understand and communicate topics to your readers in a digestible, interesting way.

– You cooperate with many content marketing platforms, marketing departments, digital marketing/SEO agencies, website design firms and media publishers. How did you manage to achieve so many collaborations?

Time and patience. I’m not new to freelancing and I have worked for many years to establish the relationships that I have with various businesses, digital marketing agencies and platforms. It all started with chatting about writing in an online forum in the early 2000s. Remember those? Writers were talking about great places to find freelance work. I put in the effort and reached out directly to various publications and companies, and now almost 14 years later as a full-time small business owner, I have built up a reputation in the industry that nurtures ongoing relationships and referrals.

– What topics do you cover as a writer, do you specialize in some areas or can you write about anything?

Over the years I have tackled a variety of topics, but now I’ve settled into writing mostly about health and wellness, pets, small business, lifestyle topics, home, personal finance and of course the freelance writing lifestyle. On my writing website, Web Writing Advice, I have a blog filled with tips for making it as a freelance writer in the content marketing space. I share insight and lessons learned directly from my desk with my readers to help inspire them along in this crazy creative career path.

– What is more difficult, to start cooperation or to continue and make it permanent?

I really think both starting and continuing partnerships take an equal amount of work. I really try to focus on timely communication, drafting clean copy, meeting my deadlines, asking productive questions and at the end of the day, being human. Although we’re all working behind screens, life is happening beyond our writing assignments so having empathy for what your colleagues are managing can go a long way. This might mean being flexible with your deadlines when an emergency pops up, scheduling interviews to coordinate with a different time zone or even the way that you connect with your interviewees. For example, in the past I’ve worked with hearing-impaired individuals and they prefer to have questions sent to them on email versus taking a phone call. I’m happy to collaborate in a way that is best for all involved.

– Can you give advice to new writers on the easiest way to get new clients?

The easiest way to get new clients is to do excellent work. There seems to be a snowball effect in the freelance world. When you are kind to your collaborators and turn in excellent copy, they talk to their colleagues and people in their network. Then, emails start to pop in asking about your availability. At this stage in my freelance career, most of my work comes through organic inbound communications.

– I see you are also involved in the Cupcakes and Yoga Pants healthy lifestyle blog. Can you tell us something about that role?

The Cupcakes and Yoga Pants blog is my little corner of the web to share inspiring ideas about making healthy choices one day at a time. I started the blog years ago to keep myself accountable for making healthy choices while managing mulitple autoimmune diseases and health challenges. I chat about everything from nutrition and supplementation, to mental health, exercise, trauma therapy, acupuncture and yoga from a first-person perspective. This personal lifestyle blog has also become a marketing tool to attract health-focused content marketing work, including my previous “Living Well With Rheumatoid Arthritis” column in Everyday Health magazine and my current work with medical suppliers and pharmacies.

– If someone wants to hire you, how far in advance should they contact you?

My calendar fills up quickly these days. I appreciate when potential clients loop me in on their ideas as early as possible — at least a month or two before they want to start actively onboarding. I am managing a full roster of anchor clients at the moment and only take on new projects as others wrap up. With that said, when a potential client reaches out to me I love for them to have their content needs outlined. Do you have a content strategy and editorial guidelines that you can share with me? Are you working with buyer personas that I can review? Do you have an editorial calendar with project timelines and due dates? This information helps me discover if I’m the best match for their content needs and how their project would fit onto my calendar.

– Do you offer any other services besides writing? In fact, what all services do you offer?

I focus on a variety of writing services including blogging, ebooks, articles, feature writing, social media blurbs, newsletters, landing pages, employee feature profiles, staff bios and product descriptions. I’ve also worked with marketing directors to create content calendars and buyer personas. Lately, some of my clients have reached out about reviving published content to make it more SEO-friendly, update old sources and add personality with new quotes or expanded content. So, I guess I do some editing too!

– Do you have any advice for people who want to hire you? How should they prepare and what should they do before contact you?

Before a potential client reaches out to me, I hope they have a clear understanding of what they need. I love to review assignment briefs, content strategy, editorial guidelines and content calendars. I’m also going to ask questions about the workflow, payments, deadlines and how you manage the revision process. I prefer to work with clients that use project management software (like Asana or Basecamp) and/or content marketing platforms (such as Contently or Skyword) for collaboration. This approach streamlines the communication and collaboration process.

– Do you have any habits that you believe have contributed to your success?

I feel like my success as a freelancer is largely based on my belief in personal wellness. I’m intentional about how I start my day, I listen to my body, I rest as needed and take naps most days. There’s no badge of honor in becoming burnt out and working from morning till midnight. I learned long ago that I’m actually more creative and productive when I’m at my desk fewer hours and spend the rest of the time nurturing my physical and mental health. When I’m not looking at my keyboard, I’m either exploring a nature trail with my dog Leo, enjoying a yoga class at my local studio, visiting with my mental health therapist, playing around in the kitchen, reading for enjoyment or spending time with loved ones. So many of my creative ideas come to me when I’m not at my desk, so I’ve definitely found the value in rest and play as part of my business plan.

– What was the best advice you got at the beginning of your career?

Some of the best advice I heard at the beginning of my career is to simply do my own thing. It’s really easy as a freelancer to fall into a rhythm of emulating what others are doing, or mirroring your past scheduling and expectations from an employer. You don’t have to work 9-to-5. You don’t have to write the same amount of words as others. You can start a personal blog as a side project. You can do whatever you want to do that positively influences your business goals and creative needs. That might mean spending a weekend at a seminar learning more about your craft or relaxing at a fancy hotel solo. Do whatever works for you, and keep on doing that.

– More and more people decide for the freelance lifestyle. What are the advantages of such a way of life in your opinion?

There are so many advantages to adopting a freelance lifestyle. I personally love the freedom and flexibility of working during the times of day that I feel most inspired, focused and creative. Since I don’t have to punch a time clock, I can intermix personal time with errands and writing tasks. It brings a nice balance to my days.

– Do you think there are any disadvantages?

I think freelancing would be very hard for individuals who are not self-motivated, time conscientious or able to put themselves out there. Successful freelancers must be able to promote their services, which can be difficult for those just starting out because it can feel egotistical. I would advise those people to remember that you’re promoting your business. Yes, that means promoting yourself, but you’re also explaining the services that generate your income.

– What do you love most about your job?

I love that I get to learn about new topics and meet new people all the time. I’ve come away from so many interviews with information I never expected to gather, insights about myself and a new respect for various situations. It’s never a dull day at my desk. Also, you never want to play Trivial Pursuit with me. This career has led me to tally up quite a few random pieces of knowledge.

– What is the best way to organize multiple jobs and private life?

Use a calendar! I used to be a freelancer with a perpetual to-do list that stressed me out. Using a calendar with time blocks has made me take a realistic look at how much time it actually takes to complete various tasks. Once my day is filled on the calendar, that’s it. I used to overbook myself and try to get too much done in a day when I simply used a list. With that said, all things – work and personal – go on my calendar to better organize and manage everything that needs to get done in a day.

Readers can connect with Angela on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

https://twitter.com/AngelaTague

https://www.instagram.com/angelatague/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-tague-44330a45/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063732691738

This interview was published in

Freelance Life Magazine #5.

The post Angela Tague, Content marketing writer and founder of WebWritingAdvice.com appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Sarah Mason

Nebojsa Dolovacki — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:21:16 +0000

Sarah lives just outside of Augusta, Georgia, and grew up about 80 miles away in middle Georgia. She has two adult children, one stationed in Korea with her wife and the other is a junior at the University of Georgia. “I’ve been married since 2019 to a wonderful man who retired from the Army just before I met him”, Sarah says “I enjoy reading, watching TV, and cooking.”

– How did you decide to start offering Transcription Services?

It’s actually a weird story. Back in 2008, I was working for a construction company and then the housing bubble burst and they decided to get out of the industry. I was unemployed for quite a while, but it was just when Obama was pretty much paying everyone to go back to school, so I did. I received an AAS in accounting but was unable to find a job in or near the small town I lived in at the time. I had taken some transcription classes in college and wanted to find out more information. A Google search led to me to Odesk (currently Upwork), and that’s how I found my first client, transcribing for the “Restaurant: Impossible” TV show. Everything just blew up from there.

– What skills are required for someone to do this job?

Fast typing is helping in being able to get more done and earn more money, but the most important thing is to know proper written English. You can just look at Facebook today and see that most people in America did not absorb the 12 years of English they were taught in school. It doesn’t do any good to transcribe quickly if the output is incorrect and unusable.

– There are plenty of software that do this job, more or less successfully. Do you use any of this software to help you?

AI software is definitely more of a hindrance. I can just do it correctly the first time faster than I can correct the output of AI software.

– You are very successful on Upwork. What makes you more successful than other freelancers who offer similar services?

I believe I have fair rates, and I’m not overseas. Some clients want American workers, and I have excellent ratings on Upwork. I’m not the cheapest out there, but I’m definitely one of the best.

– What skills does a freelancer have to have in order to be successful?

In general, a freelancer has to be self-motivated. I’ve run across many people who think they want to be a freelancer but then won’t force themselves to actually sit down and do the work. It’s really not for everyone.

– Have you had the opportunity to work full time, or have you always wanted to be a freelancer?

I worked for MANY years before finding freelancing, but once I had a child, it was more important to me to stay at home with her as much as possible. Since I’ve found this opportunity, I haven’t been anyone’s employee and am able to create the schedule I want. I never missed any important event at school, not one recital, presentation, or speech. That was always very important to me.

– What influenced you the most to start freelancing?

Again, having a child was the most important thing to me about working for myself.

– What are your success habits?

I guess my “habit” would be that I treat this as any other job. I start work at the same time every day and work until everything for the day is done. I check every day for new work when I need to, and I stay in contact with all my clients.

– What was the best advice you got at the beginning of your freelance career?

I never got any advice; I had never known anyone who did freelancing work before. This was a wing it and find out situation.

– Have you worked on any freelance platform other than UpWork?

I started out on Odesk, which was bought out by Upwork. I was also on a few others, but everything there became a scam, so it’s just Upwork and word-of-mouth now.

– What are the advantages of a freelance lifestyle for you?

I can work when I want to (or not work when I want to). I can set my own hours and only take projects that I want to take. No one tells me what to do or how to do it and usually, I’m the one telling them when I’ll do it. It’s SO much better than being an employee!

– And what are the disadvantages?

The only disadvantage for me is having to work on Upwork where no one cares about the scammers. Upwork is so full of them that if I had any other option, I’d go somewhere else.

– What was the hardest decision you ever had to make as a freelancer?

Honestly, I can’t think of any hard decision.

– In order to succeed, freelancer must also possess certain soft skills, such as communication, organization, time management … Which soft skills were the most challenging for you?

Apparently, when people read messages, they assume a tone, and my tone doesn’t always come across as the best because I’m matter-of-fact and don’t always use all the unnecessary niceties. I’m to the point and direct and people just don’t like that, especially when you’re telling them they don’t have the skills to do this kind of work.

– What has benefited you the most to become a successful freelancer? Your education, certain books, courses, forums, instructions on freelance platforms or something else?

Because my industry is very written English-related, my biggest benefit came from having a 7th grade English teacher that I loved. I’ve never had a hard time with the subject, but that teacher really showed me why and how it’s important to use proper written English and I just learned all the rules; it came easily to me. Most people don’t see the difference in “Let’s eat Grandma,” and “Let’s eat, Grandma.”

– If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?

I’d start sooner!

– What is your biggest motivation?

Sadly, it’s that I have to pay bills.

– What do you love about your job?

I enjoy learning something new every day, not always entertaining stuff, but I a few clients with very interesting topics.

– How important is constant professional improvement?

I really need to learn a few more types of software, especially the ones that do closed captioning. I’m just on the older side and am not particularly interested in learning something new!

– What are you most grateful for in your freelance journey?

Again, I have to say I’m the most grateful that I was able to stay at home with my child while she was growing up. Most people don’t have that opportunity, and I was very lucky to find a niche that catered to it.

– What is the best way to organize multiple jobs and private life?

When I’m done with work, I’m done. I might answer emails from my phone here and there, but I don’t let it interfere with family/friend time. I have a room I work in, and that’s my office where no one bothers me. I feel it’s very important to have a designated work space; it helps with the self-motivation.

– If you had to single out one characteristic that is most important for the success of a freelancer, what would it be?

Self-motivation: no one is going to tell you to do it. You have to want to do it on your own.

– What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t marry the first guy! Nah, just kidding. I’d tell myself to start sooner, maybe follow this career path in school. I wanted to be a court reporter, but no school near me offered the course, so I should’ve done more digging to make that happen.

– The best advice for those who are considering a freelance career?

The best advice I can offer is to make sure this is something you can really commit to. Be prepared to start out at a really low rate until you prove yourself but after that, the sky’s the limit!

You can contact Sarah at info@professionallyfast.com and http://www.facebook.com/profasttranscripts

The post Sarah Mason appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Freelancing and Family – the perfect blend!

Chrissie Stephen — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 07:38:06 +0000

Once of the big bonuses of freelance work is the flexibility that it offers and for Diana Kelly Levey, who lives in Long Island, NY, with her husband, two young sons and the family dog, freelancing is a great way to juggle a career you love with family life.

Diana first showed her creative side as a toddler when she scribbled on the walls instead of paper in the family home in Philadelphia. At school she soon developed a love for reading, writing, and spelling. She remembers seeing her name in print for the first time when she wrote an article for the second-grade newspaper.

‘Ooh, I liked seeing that! I guess writing was always my strong suit, I was good at spelling, and I was always reading and things like that. When I was 13 or so, I submitted an essay to a Philadelphia contest about the MLB baseball strike that was going on in the 90s and I won $100 for my age group. ‘It was a great feeling that I had earned money from my writing.’

What career path to take?

Interestingly, although she loved to write, Diana was drawn to a career as a forensic scientist when she was a teen, before the Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) shows were on TV and popularised the career. When she was 15, the family moved to New Jersey and the following summer, Diana had the opportunity to join the boot camp run by The New Jersey State Police which was a weeklong training on how to become a police officer or a New Jersey State Trooper –

‘I did not like it at all. I realised that for the first few years, like all newbies, for the early part of my career I would be just driving on highways in a patrol car as a state trooper. I thought I would have to do that first in order to move into crime scene forensics and it didn’t excite me.’

She studied at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, but didn’t know what she wanted to major in. Having taken a couple of journalism courses and now writing a regular advice column for The Daily Targum (the college newspaper) it seemed ideal to study for a major in journalism. She did this with a view to working in magazines which seemed to be a fun job.

I’m correcting these to US English but if your magazine’s style is UK English then just leave them all as is – as long as it’s consistent.

Diana decided that it would be prudent to relocate to New York City after college where all the magazines were based and while she was still in school, she began an editorial internship with Redbook magazine. Diana has now been working for a variety of media magazines and brands for nearly 20 years and looks back on those early days proudly. She admits that for a 21-year-old there was a steep learning curve and one article when she was working for Redbook was particularly challenging –

‘I was helping to do the background research for a story about moms who had kids with cancer. I had to get on the telephone and speak to hospitals to find out who would be willing to speak to me and then talk to those mothers. I was new to journalism and soon found out that a balance had to be struck between featuring children who were well on the road to recovery and those who were very sick indeed. I found it really hard listening to moms telling me the stories about their kids’ illnesses. They shared their struggles and worst fears with me over the ‘phone – and I was a stranger. The whole experience has stuck with me’.

In 2006, after working for CHILD magazine as a sales assistant, Diana began writing for WeightWatchers.com which felt strange as it was working for a website rather than a printed magazine. At that time, she did not know many other people in the editorial industry working on websites.

‘I am so grateful for that experience as it catapulted my career as a digital editor for magazines which as we know now is the way a lot of things have gone’

It was at this time that she decided to start freelance writing on the side. She read a couple of books, took some courses on Mediabistro and learned about freelancing mainly on her own. She did look on Craigslist.org when she started looking for freelance writing jobs.

Since then, Diana has gained huge experience working as a freelance writer, digital editor, and magazine editor with Reader’s Digest, Bloomberg Businessweek and Men’s Health publications amongst others. She has also worked as a content marketer for Kellogg’s, Fitbit, Aveeno, Beachbody and more.

How to be a successful freelancer

Diana has worked for a range of publications and feels that it is important to contact as many as possible to find freelance work. She knows that this can be difficult especially in the early days, when you apply for jobs only to never to hear from the magazines again. Interesting, in a recent poll she conducted on LinkedIn, Diana discovered that 70% of freelancers get their work through referrals –

‘I think it is good to contact warm leads – people you have worked for before- to see if they know someone who could do with some help. Now, with 20 years experience, I can approach a potential client with a cold email and have a better chance that they’ll respond to me. because they recognise some of my client names and brands. This definitely makes life easier’.

As you establish yourself as a freelancer, Diana believes that it is advantageous to specialise in certain fields as she has done with health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. She has written a great deal about weight loss and is still regularly asked to write articles on this subject. Diana has appeared on both the ‘Dr. Steve Show’ and Fox 5 News in New York discussing weight loss and fitness topics.

Having said this, Diana successfully covers many lifestyle topics. She feels that one of the advantages of being a freelancer is that you are given the opportunity to write about so many different topics that require good research so you get to learn a tremendous amount, too. Diana stresses that once you have regular freelance work coming in, there is no need to take every job you are offered and if you feel a job is going to be a difficult one that doesn’t interest you, it is best to politely decline it.

In the early days, Diana was offered a writing job by the Foundation for the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY). She admits that she didn’t know much when she first started work with them, but has since written three books and numerous feature-length B2B articles over the eight years she worked with the department!

Always decline work politely

Freelance work is often a case of ‘feast or famine’ with either too much or too little work. Diana believes that it is very important to be honest with clients about the deadline you will need to complete their work if you’re too busy to take on the assignment right now-

‘Explain that maybe they will have to wait a few weeks. Be kind and courteous in client relationships because publishing and media is a very small and connected community. If you’re rude when you turn someone down who offered freelance work, it could come back to bite you in the butt later if you want to work with that company in the future’.

Diana emphasises that it is important to keep yourself current and explains –

‘At present I am doing more e-commerce writing as magazines want product round-ups from freelancers. That’s because the brands can link the products mentioned to places like Amazon and get affiliate commissions. It’s a way that publishing companies are earning money so everyone from Health, The Wall Street Journal, Prevention, and other brands are participating in this trend’.

Freelancing works well around other commitments.

With two young children, Diana knows that she has to set to work as soon as they have gone to daycare – which they do three days a week. This is the time she dedicates to writing and finding new jobs each week. She does check on emails and social media every day, but when her children are at home, she spends her time just with them and taking them to local parks, museums and libraries.

Diana can help new freelancers

In recent years, Diana has started writing about how to become a freelancer – either as a profession or side hustle. She’s been quoted as an expert in otherpublications, like How to Earn an Extra $1000 a Month (U.S. News & World Report) and Here’s How to Have a Successful Conversation with Prospective Clients (Adobe). She has also been interviewed in several podcasts including How to start freelance Writing, Setting yourself up for a successful freelance career and Earning six figures as a freelancer.

Diana admits that the biggest hurdle for many new freelancers she speaks with is having the confidence to submit their first pitch. She smiles as she says her advice is always ‘just do it!’ It is likely that you will have to submit many pitches before you are successful. Diana has briefly used several freelance platforms, but feels that it is far better to contact magazines and companies directly. If you are successful with one writing job, word-of-mouth is very powerful and you could well receive more work as the word spreads. Diana also feels that it is important to contact your clients a week or so after you have finished their work as a ‘follow up’ to see if they are happy and whether they have any other work they need help with.

How to learn from Diana’s expertise

Diana is a published author of the eBook, 100+ Tips for Beginner Freelance Writers in August 2019. Diana is also a freelance writing online course instructor and offers coaching to people wanting to become freelance writers, although she says that recently she had helped several established freelancers who were struggling to find work. Diana’s PDFs also offer guidance about freelancing and many new freelancers find her regular blog inspirational and full of good information.

And why does Diana love freelancing?

What I really love about freelancing is the ability to work with different clients and to learn different things. If someone comes to me with a cool project that excites me and it is going to be good for the planet or help communities or help people live happier, healthier lives-and I want to have time to work on it- I appreciate that I have the career where I can can say ‘yes’ to that opportunity’…

If you would like to know more about the courses Diana Kelly Levey offers, log onto https://www.dianakelly.com

The post Freelancing and Family – the perfect blend! appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Charlotte Anaïs

Nebojsa Dolovacki — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 09:08:23 +0000

“The sky is the limit when we have a strong why and we live a life that’s truly aligned with who we are and what we value ” – Charlotte Anaïs, freelance translator and author

In each issue, Freelance Life Magazine presents interesting freelancers with different occupations. This time we go to Paris, France, and present Charlotte Anaïs, freelance translator and author.

Charlotte is 29 years old and lives in Paris, France. She is French and grew up speaking only French in small town in Normandy and then Lorraine, before studying Translation in Brussels and London. Her life has always been very unconventional. She has been working as a freelance translator (from English and Russian to French) for the past five years now. Charlotte is also a writer, and in free time travel a lot, wander around Paris, and practice yoga and roller skating.

– How did you become interested in the job of translator?

I always had a deep love and fascination for languages and foreign cultures: when I was a child, my hobbies were reading bilingual dictionaries, bilingual books and watching my favourite shows in English with subtitles. I have also always loved writing, so Translation naturally fit my personality.

– What skills and education are required for someone to do this job?

I hold a BA in Translation from the Higher Institute for Translators and Interpreters (now HEB) in Brussels, and it was a very demanding curriculum. We not only had language and linguistic classes in all languages learned but we also had modules such as world history, philosophy, art history, economics, law, science… The aim was to provide us with a solid general knowledge, since it’s essential for a career as a translator. A degree in languages would be the most straightforward path to becoming a translator. The skills required to succeed at this job are a deep understanding of the complexity of language and cultures, continual professional improvement, reading frequently in all your working languages, having perfect grammar and writing skills, conducting extensive research, and paying close attention to detail. It’s not uncommon to spend a LOT of time finding THE perfect word – which is so fun if you’re a true linguist at heart.

– Today there are a lot of translation software, how far are they from a high-quality translation?

I can always spot right away a non-edited machine translation. Translation software don’t pick up on the nuances and complexity of the human language. No machine will ever be able to grasp the very real complex emotion of human thought and speech; especially when it comes to literary form. Translation is not a mathematical equation: language is about emotion and that’s something only a human can convey.

– You have a lot of interests – spirituality, business, travel, health, and wellness. Do you have time to devote yourself to all these interests?

I make time to devote myself to my interests. Not too long ago, I barely did and it actually resulted in me going through burn out. Now, I make sure to take time throughout the day to reconnect to who I am outside of my freelance business. The human behind the emails. I have a solid morning and evening routine, without my phone or computer, and traveling every month is one of my top priorities. Each day, it’s up to us to make time for what matters by deciding what our priorities are. I now know that me taking time to play, have fun and take care of myself makes me a better business owner.

– What is the most important thing for someone to become a good translator?

Being ready for a lifetime of learning and improving, and directly experience the culture of your working languages as much as possible. I visit the UK very often and my husband is American, so I’m always connected to English-speaking cultures. I am based in Paris and evolve in France, therefore I’m also in touch with the culture of my target country, which is crucial to being a good translator.

– In your opinion, what skills does a freelancer have to have to be successful?

I think the most important skill to have is tenacity – to cultivate a growth mindset. It allows you to problem-solve, to be oriented on the solution rather than the problems when they arise, to remain optimistic in the face of uncertainty and challenges. Many other skills needed to succeed can be learned along the way thanks to this growth mindset: negotiating, time management, communication, marketing, stress management… But at the very beginning, being tenacious is required. Many people cannot see the forest for the trees when they are confronted with a problem; however, as your own boss, you don’t have the luxury of staying stuck. Self-managing is also obviously an essential skill to have, but I believe it can also be learned through developing a growth mindset. Finally, being open to constructive feedback is also very important, so that you can become a better service provider, raise those rates and get even more clients on board.

– Have you had the opportunity to work full time, or have you always wanted to be a freelancer?

I worked full time as a waitress before, never in an office. Actually, yes, I have worked as a translator in an office for a few weeks at the very beginning of my professional life and it was the worst. I felt so… out of place. It felt incredibly wrong. I quickly realized it was not for me! I then quit and found a job as a waitress while I freelanced almost full time next to that. I worked close to 80 hours a week – I don’t recommend that to everyone, but in the moment it’s what I needed to do, and I absolutely do not regret it. The last service job I had was actually empowering because I worked side by side with a quite famous business woman in one of her restaurants, and it was very inspiring to be so close to a woman my age who had made it. It solidified my belief that I could be my own boss too, and that I was closer than ever to realizing my dreams. Long story short, I was able to quit waitressing within 10 months, and have been freelancing full time since January 2019.

– What influenced you the most to start freelancing?

I’ve never shied away from a personal challenge, and freelancing seemed like the ultimate challenge. I’ve always made decisions which didn’t make sense to others. I had just moved to Liverpool, England, was fresh out of university, had spent a semester teaching French in America, and I had never wanted a desk job. I wanted to do my own thing – I wasn’t sure if I could though, because I come from a working-class background and I was never surrounded by self-employed people. I had to overcome a lot of limiting beliefs… But I was so inspired by the thrill of making my own rules and being able to grow something myself that I silenced the voices very easily!

– What are your success habits?

I have been teetotal for almost 3 years now and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made for my business and personal growth. I have a lot more confidence, I’m extremely focused, I am always clear-headed, and I have had less anxiety ever since I decided to stay away from alcohol. Another habit of mine is that I always ask myself the hard questions and the answers orient my actions. I spend a lot of my free time reading inspiring books, listening to podcasts and doing things that really make me feel alive. I aim to live life to the fullest on a daily basis. I regularly invest in myself through books, courses and events. Again, cultivating a growth and positive mindset is a top priority for me and I know that it’s what has led me this far. Each month, I decide my goals and they guide my decisions through the month. Also, upon waking up every morning, I make a mental list of 10 things I’m grateful for, and I do the same thing in the evening when I go to bed. Cultivating gratitude for what you have right now is the best way to ensure more gratitude to come. Practicing self-love and making sure I believe in myself is another one of my best success habits: when you believe you can make something happen, your creativity to reach that goal is truly unleashed. Finally, regulating my nervous system is the most crucial habit, and yoga and breathing exercises do wonders for that. Oh, and of course, I always celebrate every success, even tiny ones!

– What was the best advice you got at the beginning of your freelance career?

The best advice I got at the beginning of my freelance career was that I had to behave as the business owner I now was, not as an employee. I had to understand that companies are happy to pay me for my services because they are valuable and worthy of good compensation. That was a gamechanger for me!

– And what’s the worst advice you’ve ever got?

That freelancers should accept every project that comes their way, at any fee, because any work is better than no work. I now regret accepting low rates for a good while at the beginning of my freelance journey. This is what caused me to freelance more than 40 hours a week next to my day job without being able to quit my job. The freelance industry is plagued by low rates, and people accepting them because they think they have to as a rite of passage is making things worse. We have bills to pay and are service providers: just because we work from home doesn’t mean our career is a hobby. The services we provide are highly valuable. We’ve spent money and time cultivating our skills so, in my opinion, we should never accept abysmally low rates, even as beginners.

– Have you worked on any freelance platform other than UpWork?

I have worked on a few freelance platforms other than Upwork, such as ProZ and Translatorscafe, which are platforms specific to translators. Actually, I don’t even go on Upwork that frequently, to be honest. I go and have a look once in a while to see if there are fun projects. I mostly get sent project offers directly from the agencies and publishing companies I collaborate with on a regular basis.

– Why has UpWork become your choice?

There are usually fun projects on UpWork and it’s great for someone like me who loves changes and stays as far away from routine work as possible. It’s also a good way to practice your elevator speech and your negotiation skills! Whenever I apply for a job, I rework it and add new things. I mostly use Upwork for fun on the side!

– What are the advantages of a freelance lifestyle for you?

The freelance lifestyle fits my personality perfectly. I love the total freedom. You can work from wherever you want, whenever you want, however you want to. You pick the projects, your rates, your clients… You’re in charge of your life and that is something I could never give up. I travel very frequently and always feel lucky beyond measure when I get to work from anywhere in the world simply with my laptop. However, I don’t like using the word lucky because there was no luck involved. I very consciously created, and worked hard for, the life I live today. On another note, the unpredictability of freelancing is actually a thrill to me. I have total faith that everything will work out best case scenario. I know many people tell me they could not handle the “instability” of freelancing, but it’s an aspect I absolutely adore and thrive off. It keeps me on my toes and life is never boring. Finally, uncapped income, being paid to work on exciting diverse projects, and being able to take a day off whenever I need to? Yes, please!

– And what are the disadvantages?

There are very stressful elements to freelancing that require a very high stress tolerance. You have a responsibility towards your clients, you have to keep them happy, you have to deliver strong results, and there is no one to help you with that – unless you decide to hire an assistant down the line. The unpredictability and instability can also be disadvantages depending on your personality type: unless you work for regular clients who give you regular work, it can be stressful to not know when they next paycheck will be. It’s all on you and that creates a big pressure sometimes. It can also be lonely: you don’t have colleagues, you don’t have anyone that can help you or to whom you can delegate the work you struggle with… You’re completely in charge. And that can be very daunting and stressful at times, which is why developing a growth mindset and regulating your nervous system is absolutely essential. Having no paid time off or sick days is also a drawback.

– What was the hardest decision you ever had to make as a freelancer?

Taking time off work when I was going through the worst of my burn out. As someone who barely ever took a day off for the first few years, it was very hard to be forced to take several weeks off this year in order to get back on my feet. It was a very hard time, but it taught me the importance of making time for yourself and to have hobbies and a personal life outside of your work. I am glad that I prioritized my mental health at that point. Burnout is not talked about enough, and the long-term effects it can have on the brain and body are actually terrifying. Luckily, my savings could cover my time off without much stress – so may this be your reminder to save a portion of your earnings for rainy days!

– In order to succeed, freelancers must also possess certain soft skills, such as communication, organization, time management… Which soft skills were the most challenging for you?

Negotiation was definitely a hard soft skill to learn. Since I come from a working-class background, I had to develop an entrepreneur mindset. Stress management and problem solving are also two things I had to learn the hard way, as someone who dealt with a high level of anxiety. But you learn that as you go, by making mistakes, learning from them, and behaving differently.

– What has benefited you the most to become a successful freelancer? Your education, certain books, courses, forums, instructions on freelance platforms or something else?

Making mistakes and learning from them is what’s benefited me the most to become a successful freelancer! I strongly believe that making mistakes is the best way to grow and become successful in the end. I also read a lot of books about success, psychology, and mindset. Two I would particularly recommend are Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill and The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest. I also regularly invest in courses and listen to podcasts every day. Mind your Business by James Wedmore and Manifestation Babe by Kathrin Zenkina are my favourites.

– If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?

I wouldn’t listen to the cacophony of uninformed opinions. I would raise my rates earlier. I wouldn’t accept some very low-paid jobs at the beginning. But overall, I would actually not change anything because again, you learn by making mistakes and I had to learn the hard way in order to make better decisions.

– What is your biggest motivation?

My biggest motivation is definitely living a life that feels amazing to me, on my own terms, by keeping my freedom: my freedom to travel, to choose the projects I dedicate my energy to, to spend time with my husband, with my family, with my friends, whenever I want to. Freedom is my number one value and what I cherish the most. My second biggest motivation is to constantly surprise myself and inspire others to live life on their own terms, too. I love sharing what I learn through the books I write and my blog.

– What do you love about your job?

I love that it’s constantly evolving and constantly changing. All projects are different. I love that my job feels like an extension of me and truly allows me to grow as an individual too. I’m always learning tons.

– How important is constant professional improvement?

So important! Especially as a business owner. Constant professional improvement helps with fighting imposter syndrome and boosts your confidence. When you stay on top of your game, you’re less scared about competition and losing your clients. All the industries are rapidly evolving and changing, so it’s very important to keep that pace with your skills too.

– What are you most grateful for in your freelance journey?

I’m the most grateful for all the lessons that I could apply to my personal life, too. Being a focused, dedicated person has improved my confidence and my relationship with myself. My laptop lifestyle has allowed me to travel to beautiful places and call them home for a while. I would have never been able to see so much of the world if I were not a freelancer. I’m able to see my friends who don’t live in Paris, and my family whenever I want to. I’m also so grateful for showing myself how much I’m capable of, and that I can do really hard things. The sky is the limit when we have a strong why and we live a life that’s truly aligned with who we are and what we value.

– What is the best way to organize multiple jobs and private life?

I struggled with that for a long time. I’m a passionate individual and I brought too much of that passion into my multiple jobs. Having strong boundaries is ultimately the best way to maintain a good work life balance as a freelancer. It’s hard to say no to jobs when the more you work, the more you earn money… but we all have to say no at times. It’s even harder when you love what you do. After my burnout, I have now developed a solid structure to my days and I never work past 6pm. Also, my daily yoga is non-negotiable. So, in a nutshell: boundaries and checking in with yourself that your work isn’t taking too much space!

– If you had to single out one characteristic that is most important for the success of a freelancer, what would it be?

Developing a success and growth mindset. Read books, listen to podcasts, watch TED talks… You’ll be able to overcome any obstacle.

– What advice would you give your younger self?

You were right to not follow the herd, and to make all the crazy decisions you made! Stay weird and stay authentic to yourself. You can and will do hard things. You will get to live life your way so don’t give up and ALWAYS follow your intuition.

– The best advice for those who are considering a freelance career?

Take the leap! Make a list of your reasons why and stay focused on that. Do not listen to everyone’s opinions, protect your energy, and know that anything is possible! Mostly, listen to your gut – it never leads you astray. Finally, don’t forget to have fun and to enjoy it!

Charlotte is a freelance translator and a writer. When she is not traveling, she is based in Paris, France where she lives with her husband and her books. She has been freelancing full time since 2019 and loves inspiring others to follow their big dreams. You can find her on Instagram @roamwithcharlotte.

The post Charlotte Anaïs appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Cathy Mangulabnan

Freelance Team — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 18:28:45 +0000

Among the many successful freelancers you can find on Upwork, this time we present to you Cathy Mangulabnan. The services she offers are Virtual Assistant/Project Manager/Executive Assistant/Lead Generation. She is married to a Seafarer and a mom of two. Cathy is an undergraduate of BS Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima University in the Philippines. She works as a freelancer since 2011, closely with business owners from different countries, and sometimes also with a team.

“I am enjoying my work and I like what I do!” says Cathy.

“I grew up and currently living in Quezon City, Philippines.” adds Cathy. “I love reading and learning new things most specially about skills and personal development. I love to cook for my family. I love music, watching action movies and traveling.”

She says that spending time in nature with family helps her to relieve stress, improve mood, increase life satisfaction, boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Cathy always wants to get an opportunity to relax during weekends after long hours of work. It is also a time for her to spend time with family, which is important to have a healthy work-life balance.

– How do you manage to cover so many different jobs (Virtual Assistant/Project Manager/Executive Assistant/Lead Generation).

Time Management is essential for managing multiple clients. You need to identify which task is the high priority, which task you can quickly get done so you can move on to the next one and get it done.

I organize, track and plan everything to avoid burning out. I always plan my week. I make sure that my plan is realistic to get the job done. I do one task at a time and take a break. I start on the task that is urgent and high priority and then the task I can quickly get done and move on to the other task that is time-consuming.

I have an extra hand at home. I hired a maid to do household chores and a nanny to look after my 4-years old son so I will be productive. Instead of me doing the household chores, I hire someone to do them so I can manage to cover many different jobs.

– Which of these jobs do you enjoy the most, and which gives you the most problems?

I enjoy all of them because I always like to learn new things. I always look for a job that is exciting to me. You will always learn new things from different companies, clients, and teams.

You must be comfortable and enjoy what you are doing. If not, it will not work, and you will fail to do your job. I always make sure that my clients are satisfied with the services I provide. Their feedback is very important. Whenever I take a job, I make sure I like working on it.

– How did you manage to master so many skills?

The secret is never stop learning. I do not focus on one or two skills. Clients need an extra hand to get things done. Your skills and capabilities must not be limited. The client will hire someone else to do the other job if my skills are limited. It would be great if your client can throw anything on your plate. This helps your client if you are trustworthy, reliable, resourceful, creative and self-motivated.

Clients are impressed if you have many skills. Clients love it when they don’t need to train you to do things. When you assist or help your clients, that saves them time and energy so they can focus on their business.

When you master a skill, upgrade your skills. Learn new things to upgrade a new skill. If you have multiple skills, it opens up many more opportunities for you in the future. It will not be hard for you to find more jobs or clients.

Clients love suggestions and ideas for the company. If you have an idea or two about how it can be done more efficiently, suggest it. Sometimes the smallest ideas can have the greatest impact. Do more than your job requirements, always offer to help others, be proactive, do things without being asked.

– What skills are clients most often looking for from you?

All around Virtual Assistant, I do a lot of different types of work. My skills and capabilities are not limited.

– Have you had the opportunity to work full time, or have you always wanted to be a freelancer?

Since 2011, working as a freelancer is my full-time job.

When the client offers me 30 hours a week, I still have 30 hours to work with a different client. Now I have 60 hours to work per week! Some clients will offer you 50-60 working hours a week. Working with another client will upgrade my knowledge and skills. I love and enjoy working with business owners from different countries. I like the opportunity to work with them.

I do not need to commute. 1-2 hours going to work and 1-2 hours going home from work? I will spend those 2 – 4 hours commuting to work or spending time with my family.

– What influenced you the most to start freelancing?

I need a job! I need extra income! I can’t just sit here and wait… My daughter feels so sad when I am not around and she gets sick when I leave her with a nanny. I decided not to work and just stay at home, but I still feel like I want to earn additional income to help my husband. I really want to work!

A friend introduced me the Upwork. I had a netbook at that time, so I am only using a netbook when I started working as a freelancer. Then I set up my Upwork account and looked for a job, and after a month, I got a job through Upwork.

I hired a nanny to do the housework and look after my daughter while I am working. My daughter no longer feels sad! I am always with her 24/7.

– How do you approach failures or setbacks?

I always try not to fail. I always do my best to keep my clients satisfied. Their feedback is important. I feel good if I get good feedback from my clients because it means that I am effective all-round Virtual Assistant. I ensure that the work has been done successfully because if they are happy and you exceed their expectations, they will come back and hire you again.

– What are your success habits?

Clients need me as their extra hand to get things done. I always make sure to get things done in a timely manner. I give them the results and I don’t let them to wait.

– What was the best advice you got at the beginning of your freelance career?

Don’t lose hope of getting a client/job. Be patient! Invest in yourself to improve your skills and abilities. If I can, then you can!

I have no experience with all assistant jobs, administration jobs, lead generation, graphics, email marketing, scheduling, etc. I only know in the computer is typing, sending emails and messages. I have a computer that time because my husband gave me a netbook for communication because he is always out of the country.

I used to type slowly in 2011. I don’t know any shortcuts on my keyboard! I used my mouse in copy-pasting! So, what I did was practice typing when I had free time. I visited websites with a typing test.

– And what’s the worst advice you’ve ever got?

Being a freelancer? None. I found my clients and teammates extremely helpful. They will help you grow!

– Have you worked on any freelance platform other than UpWork?

I’ve got referral and direct clients who are outside of Upwork but very few. 90% of my clients are from Upwork.

– Why has UpWork become your choice?

I got a job at Upwork, I get paid, I met and worked with different clients from different countries on Upwork. It’s globally! I am learning new things and developing my skills with my clients through Upwork. You have nothing to worry about whether the client will pay you or not. Upwork freelancers can get secured payments via PayPal or direct deposit. There’s a lot of job post in Upwork daily!

– What are the advantages of a freelance lifestyle for you?

A healthy lifestyle and work balance. I am a happy mother and wife! I am with my children 24/7, I work from home, I can help my husband to save money for our family’s future.

No more daily commuting. I can choose my clients and work with international clients. I can manage my own time, I have multiple sources of income, flexible working hours, I can work wherever I want, skill improvement, control of workload and I have freedom.

– And what are the disadvantages?

Less social life or social interaction. No paid time off so you have to build a vacation into your annual income. No company-sponsored health benefits so you need to have your own insurance, no maternity or paternity leave, working in isolation and no employee benefits.

– What was the hardest decision you ever had to make as a freelnacer?

Since I started working as a freelancer, I am thinking to continue my studies and I wanted to shift to a computer course, but I chose to continue working as a freelancer.

– There are many freelancers with skills similar to yours. What makes you stand out and make you more successful?

My clients want to duplicate me. Ahahahah! I wish I can duplicate myself! I am an extraordinary freelancer, and I am rare to find!

– To succeed, freelancer must also possess certain soft skills, such as communication, organization, time management … Which soft skills were the most challenging for you?

When I was a newbie or new to freelancing. I was so shy. I don’t like video call interviews; I don’t like the online meetings. But eventually, you will get used to it and you will feel comfortable talking to different people.

If you choose to be a freelancer, you need to be comfortable in communicating with your client, teams, you have to know how to manage time, be creative and be a leader.

– What has benefited you the most to become a successful freelancer? Your education, certain books, courses, forums, instructions on freelance platforms or something else?

Learn everything you want to know! There are Google and Youtube! They are my online best friend! Invest in yourself. An investment in your personal and skill development is the best investment you can make.

– If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?

Nothing. I like the way I started. I started with I know nothing on a computer othen than slowness to type, sending messages and emails.

From low hourly rate to a high hourly rate. From a Data Entry to a successful freelancer.

– What is your biggest motivation?

Invest in yourself. Help yourself to gain new knowledge. Never stop learning! Do not lose hope to find a client or job on Upwork or other online job sites. Be focused to find a new job post on Upwork that is relevant to your skills. Once you get hired and have good feedback it will be a good opportunity for you to find and get the new next client.

– What do you love about your job?

It is a non-stop learning. I can work anytime and anywhere I want!

– How important is constant professional improvement?

I have open attitude to learning and development. So, I can proactively do, track, document and reflect on activities that make me better at what I do to develop and enhance my abilities.

– What are you most grateful for in your freelance journey?

I started at $0.83 per hour way back in 2011. I was hoping that time to have at least reach the hourly pay rate of $4. Now, I earn more than I thought!

It was 2011, when I asked some advice from my online coworker because I was not satisfied with my hourly rate $0.83 per hour. His rate was $4 per hour. That time, I want to leave the online job and work in a BPO company. He motivated me to stay and keep working and find clients on Upwork. He told me that no matter how hard you work here in the Philippines, you will grow old, and your salary will not increase like what Upwork can do.

So, I never stop learning and gaining knowledge. I keep my clients on Upwork. I build my profile to stand out! I make sure that my clients will give me great feedback.

So now, finding a new client is not difficult for me. Clients will find me, look at my profile and contact me.

– What is the best way to organize multiple jobs and private life?

Develop habits and build a routine. Find balance. Make a timetable. A time for you to work, a time for your family, a time for your friends and a time for yourself.

– Several factors are important for success. Can you name some of the most important for you?

My knowledge, skills, traits, motivation, attitude, value, trustworthy and being an extraordinary person are the important factors for my success.

– If you had to single out one characteristic that is most important for the success of a freelancer, what would it be?

Trust

– What advice would you give your younger self?

Always read books and learn new things when you are still young. Never stop learning and improving yourself.

– The best advice for those who are considering a freelance career?

Freelancing is for everyone! Freelancing is not only for Experts! As long as you want to earn extra income, you want a part time or full-time job, the freelance career is for you. There are many different types of online jobs out there! Just always learn, gain knowledge, and upgrade your skills. All you need is a computer, internet and your skills to apply for a job.

The post Cathy Mangulabnan appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.

Mary Tsiara

Chrissie Stephen — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 13:50:54 +0000

Very few people consider freelance work at the start of their career path, but for those that do take the plunge early on, they have challenging – but very rewarding- years ahead. With dedication, good self-discipline and excellent customer service, freelancers like Mary Tsiara can think of no better path to follow….

Mary grew up in Trikala, a small town in Greece, not far from the popular coastal city of Thessaloniki. Like all Greek schoolchildren, she was taught English as a second language from the age of ten years. Mary was enchanted by English and found herself reading books for hours, enjoying learning numerous new words and phrases. Within a short time, she knew that she would love to work with English when she finished school and to enter the exciting world of books and publishing. For school leavers in the town, there were only two main choices – to leave the town to study at uni in Athens or Thessaloniki or stay at home and join a family business. Mary decided that she definitely wanted to study English Language and English Literature for a double degree in Athens – which she did very successfully.

On graduating, Mary thought that she would teach English to give herself time to contact various publishing companies. Mary laughs as she recalls-

‘Teaching was definitely not for me! The job was not fulfilling, the compensation left much to be desired, and because there were so many of my friends doing the same, there was strong competition, and it was hard to find students – especially as I had no way of developing my client base’.

Thinking things through, she decided to get herself more highly qualified in English to have a better chance of securing a job in the publishing world. She decided the best place to study English was of course in England, and as this was pre-Brexit, she was able to begin her MA course at Newcastle University. It was to prove a very challenging time because in the following February, the world was gripped by the global pandemic and all her course work was moved online-

‘I certainly got very good at using zoom and while we covered all coursework online; the dynamics were very different because there was no opportunity to meet face to face’.

The early days were difficult

Mary realised that there would some hurdles to get over once she graduated as getting a suitable job during lockdown was going to be extremely difficult. While she was preparing her dissertation, she decided that to ‘bridge the gap’ she would get her profile uploaded onto a few freelance platforms including Upwork. She also watched a number of videos on YouTube that taught her how to best showcase her skills.

She well remembers her first jobs which were editing and providing feedback to clients self-publishing fiction. She finished her studies and as the months passed the number of job offers she was getting through Upwork were steadily increasing and she was being recommended by clients who were delighted with her work to their friends.

‘I did find the early days difficult because I was totally on my own and I did make some mistakes. Unfortunately, there are always going to be people trying to scam you or take advantage of you and I did get caught out once, but learnt a tremendous amount from this experience’.

So what are the main attributes that she feels a freelancer should have?

‘I think that you do need to be able to interact well with your client. It is very important to understand exactly what they are expecting you to do. When I am communicating with a potential new client, I always offer to write/ edit a piece for them so that they can understand the way I work. I want to give them the space and time to make sure that I have the skills they need and that I will be a ‘good fit’ for the job. I am always very sensitive to the fact that when I am editing a client’s work, it really is their work, and I am purely correcting errors and grammar and not trying to inject my character into it in any way. If I have an idea for a particular part, I will always provide it in the feedback and discuss it thoroughly with the client’.

I would go for ‘The job was not fulfilling, and the compensation left much to be desired.’

(Although I am not interested in tutoring, I wouldn’t want this to reflect badly on any future consultation endeavours)

My volume of work and earnings on Upwork speak for themselves

Mary has Upwork clients who have employed her as their editor for several of their projects. One of her first clients regularly asks Mary to edit his books and when the first title was published in the United States, he sent her a paperback copy. Seeing her name listed on the acknowledgement page with the dedication was a particularly rewarding moment -’it suddenly made it all real’.

Since then, Mary has undertaken numerous editing jobs and provides excellent feedback to her clients. She gets real satisfaction learning that their novels have been successfully published and are selling well and the fact many contact her again and again to help with their various projects is testament to the quality of her work. Mary is proud of the positive feedback clients leave on Upwork as this is both recognition and confirmation that they are pleased with her work. She feels strongly that leaving feedback is something a client should do voluntarily-

‘I never ask my clients to leave feedback as I feel that it would be wrong to pressurise them. If they do so without being prompted, it is a very special moment when I read how delighted they are with my work. If they do not leave feedback, my volume of work and earnings on Upwork speak for themselves’.

Mary feels very confident using Upwork as a freelance platform –

‘Upwork is very transparent and it is impossible to hide as your experience and the jobs you have completed are there for all to see. It is important to spend time ensuring that all the documentation regarding each job is in place. With escrow protection, you know that the money you have earned will be paid to you. Having said that, because it is such a large organisation, it is important to be wary too as there are people using Upwork who are scammers and who want to exploit freelancers and this is an important fact to always bear in mind. Some potential clients like to interview you using the platform’s service, but I prefer to exchange messages and keep communication in the chat so that everything is on record. That way, I can re-read our conversations to understand the work needed and to decide if it is something I would like to do’.

I really like freelance flexibility

For Mary, being freelance brings many bonuses –

‘I really like the flexibility and the way that I can schedule my week to suit my other commitments and leisure plans. If you are a freelancer, it is important to clearly define your working and leisure times. This can be tricky and sometimes the line does get blurred!

A huge bonus for me is that being freelance means that I am able to travel whenever I want and visit the countries of my choice and my family, who are very important to me – with a laptop in my bag, it is easy to take my work with me! I certainly plan to travel as much as possible in the years ahead’.

In the early days, Mary did find it difficult establishing herself as a freelancer and since then has been asked for advice by fellow grad students and friends. Since the pandemic, there has been a huge increase in the number of people wanting to turn freelance and work remotely, but many lack confidence to make the leap into the freelance world.

‘I remember these feelings well and am at present preparing to start my own consultancy to help people wanting advice on how to successfully make the transition and to support them when they leave the security of a 9-5 job to go freelance. There are so many points to consider and questions to be answered, I believe that my help will prove invaluable to many’…

If you would like to get in contact with Mary Tsiara for helpful advice about becoming a freelancer, you can email her on maryt.freelancingservices@gmail.com or message her on her LinkedIn and UpWork profile.

We will bring you full details of her new service early in 2023.

This interview was first published in Freelance Life Magazine Issue No3. If you want to check other interviews and other articles from the magazine, read the magazine completely free.

The post Mary Tsiara appeared first on Freelancelifemagazine.