There are two types of work at home positions: Telecommute and Freelance. When you telecommute you have a boss, you have to follow their schedules and guidelines. When you freelance, you are in effect your own boss and no one but you can decide how much you work. Here are some tips on finding the best freelance job for you.
1. Freelance work takes time and perseverance. You will not check email one morning and have a million dollar contract offer. You have to market yourself to potential clients and keep current clients happy so they will come back for more.
2. Know your market and use your skills. When entering the freelance market, there are many options available for skilled freelancers. One could find a contract position as a freelance software engineer or a bookkeeper.
3. Keep a schedule. It is extremely important that you manage your time properly. While you will have nobody telling you that you need to be at work at a certain time, you will lose clients and money by not being responsible with deadlines and production.
4. Search and become a member of freelance job boards and forums. Freelance job boards will give you a good outline of some of the best freelance jobs available. Forums will also give you great leads on positions and keep you apprised of what is happening in the freelance marketplace.
5. Take work even if it is not your dream job. Even if a position isn’t really what you are looking for, it’s still experience that can be applied to the freelance marketplace.
6. Be friendly yet professional. Treat every client you talk to as if they were your most important client. You do not need to be best friends with your clients, but a casual business relationship can be achieved with common courtesy and a friendly demeanor.
7. Expect rejection and don’t take things personal. Don’t expect that every position you apply to is going to be the best freelance job for you. It may be they have a better candidate, or maybe they were looking for a skill that you didn’t highlight in your resume.
8. Prepare to work hard. It is inevitable that you will work long hours with low pay for a long time. Rome was not built in a day, and neither will your business be!
9. Take time for yourself! Make sure to relax once in awhile it will keep you motivated and refreshed.
10. Have a space set up for work only. Whether your space is an office with a door or a corner of your living room it will work wonders to keep you on task and free from random distractions
11. Network. Forums will help you to network with other freelancers and can be a great resource for developing leads.
12. Update your resume for each position you’re interested in. Applying for a position as a freelance software engineer when your resume outlines all of your bookkeeping experience will not land you the job and just frustrate those who are looking for a particular skill set.
13. Keep your word. Do not take a position in which you cannot follow through. If you are to busy for a project be honest with yourself and your clients.
14. Hire an accountant. This will save you money and frustration in the long run.
15. Save money. There are good and bad times in every industry make sure you are saving for a rainy day!
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