Finding work can be hard work in itself. There are only so many hours in a day, and rejections can be really disheartening. Luckily, across February and early March, Rebecca Roberts is here with some top tips to help us secure more freelance work.
There are many job boards online aimed at attracting freelancers for projects, so it is often hard to know where to start. Here are three top tips:
1. Test out some freelance job sites
Check out websites such as Upwork, Freelancer.co.uk, People Per Hour or Worksome that are just for freelance work. You could also try sites relevant to your area of expertise, such as Behance for freelance creatives, or 99Designs for freelance designers. However, with these job sites there is a fee taken from what you earn. It can also feel like a race to the bottom with freelancers competing to offer the work for the cheapest price.
Despite this drawback, these platforms can help you get started and boost your portfolio. If nothing else, they can give you an idea of the kind of areas of work that are regularly offered to freelancers.
2. Search through job sites
Job boards that you might see as just for employees often have freelance opportunities. Indeed, Jobsite and Reed are good places to start. You’ll find companies looking for services that may fit your expertise, and some may even ask specifically for short-term contract support or freelancers.
You may get some success in approaching the recruiter or HR department directly to offer some short-term freelance support while they recruit for a permanent position, or find out some more specifics about a contract and whether it would work on a freelance basis.
3. Keep an eye on company job pages
This could be through LinkedIn or a company’s own website, for example. Often where there are gaps in the team, or roles being recruited, there could be short-term projects to support.
Approach the organisation directly to see whether you can offer anything, as this may lead to a further conversation. If nothing else, they may keep your details in case something comes up in future.
