How Did I Become a Full Time Freelancer?
In just more than a decade of working with various employers, never did it occur to me that my next job is to be a full time freelancer. During college I was more interested in finishing the degree that I’ve chosen and be successful in that field. I’ve discovered my talent way back in high school but I kept ignoring the fact that I love to work with computers more than building electronic circuits.
Anyway, I ended up working in both fields. I gained four years experience as an IT specialist, and the three years in a semiconductor firm just in time when the awful global financial crisis started. After that stint I became a freelancer.
I didn’t have a plan
Before I quit the last job, I was offered a huge freelance project from a potential client. I was looking forward to working on that after I had submitted my resignation. My plan was to earn income from that and use the funds in some business venture that I like.
That plan A failed and the project did not push through. I did not have a plan B. I was running out of money. I just decided to edit my old dusty resume from my aging hard disk and apply to some job openings in my location. Not long, I got some interviews from big established companies. One of them even gave me a lusty job offer which I eventually declined because I have that gut feeling that there seemed to be something bigger than grabbing that opportunity.
After that, there was silence. I did not new interviews from other companies that I’ve applied to anymore. At one time I regretted making the decision not to accept that job offer. For a while it seemed that I am on a crossroad: I was unable to decide where to go and what to do and how I was going to support myself and my kid.
The first streams of income
One day, someone gave me some jobs to do writing jobs. They’re quick, seemingly easy jobs, but at that time, I was not used to writing odd stuff. I took that job anyway and learned how to churn one article after another. These writing jobs are not really high paying jobs and didn’t beat the paycheck that I received in my last job, but these articles were still worth doing. Not long, I became curious on where my writing stuff goes. That was when I learned that these were used as articles on blogs which give really serious money the most successful bloggers were even able to quit their day jobs. Soon enough, I started my own blogs and began writing stuff that I like.
I did not stop at earning from blogs. One day, I was looking at my near-empty wallet and got hold of a sleek black card which I got it free from Payoneer – the oDesk Mastercard. I suddenly remembered creating an account in oDesk when I was still working as an employee, after an IT friend mentioned that it’s possible to get freelance jobs this way. Back then, I realized that I did not have time to do freelance gigs after work.
As I was learning the ropes of blogging and freelancing, I was reading business books to learn how businesses work and got inspired by successful Filipino entrepreneurs. I stopped thinking as an employee, adapted the entrepreneurial mindset and spirit and applied what I have self-learned: Build several streams of income. Set attainable goals, plan and take steps to achieve those goals. Network effectively and don’t burn bridges – keep in touch with old friends and set out to meet new ones.
As months and years went by, I discovered that freelancing is what I love doing and what I’m best at. I’m juggling freelance jobs from several clients each week as well as squeeze in some writing time to update my blogs.
I could say I just got lucky enough because my existing IT skills were easily aligned to the type of jobs that clients are looking for. The global financial crisis had semiconductor and electronic companies drastically reducing their workforce. I would probably end up as another unemployed person in these times with no idea on what to do next.
Risk it all, or play it safe
I was really willing to risk it all, quitting the job and letting destiny decide, and this was where it led me. I never tested the waters; I plunged in and went on with the flow of the tide which led me to an island that holds riches I never even imagined.
I understand that not everybody is willing to risk it all as I did. Some people may want to try out first and see whether it worked for them or not. Of course, there are also others who aren’t up to risking it out and want to be sure that they are on the safest side.
This may not be the best route: it’s either I just got lucky or I just know where to dig for those riches.
ChiQ Montes
June 20th, 2009 at 6:04 am #
I actually did the very same thing.. I simply plunged in and took the risk.. and as they say, the rest is history. Now, knowing I’m a freelancer and how I’ve never been employed, people would ask me, “what is your dream job?” and I would say.. “This is my dream job!”.
Let’s keep on rocking!
zplits | what's the latest?
June 20th, 2009 at 9:18 am #
Risk is what all it takes.
I know i’m new in freelancing world as i have just graduated from college. But freelancing i think is the best job in the world. Why? because you are the boss, no time-in and no time-outs. You set your own working time and sleeping time 
You avoid too much stress. You have a chance to meet new friends (it’s really good to have a lot of friends) and build lasting friendship.
As of now, i’m employed. But I’ll just add this in my bag of experience. I’ll be back as a freelancer next year.
Ate Gem, thank you so much for all the help and support you have showed to me. I owe you….Thank you so much.
Gem
June 20th, 2009 at 10:18 am #
You’re welcome. Being employed for a company is not really that bad, in fact I really miss the office banter and those company outings and those gimmick nights with the boss. Anyway, that will still be a good experience, and many of the people skills that you will badly need in freelancing is also learned in the office.
Gem
June 20th, 2009 at 10:23 am #
Really? You’ve never been employed at the start? Good thing you’ve found your dream job early. Good luck to us and thanks!
berryblitz
June 20th, 2009 at 1:52 pm #
This post is an inspiration to all employed ones who wants to try freelancing. As I’m reading your post, on my mind… “That’s it???” When one would read your post, it’s like too easy to be a freelancer. You are talented. You made it look too easy, but I know it’s a risk one willing to make, just what you did, because you are on a dead end.
People sometimes need a push to do something they are dreaming of. On your situation, the never ending economy crisis pushes you to be a successful freelancer.
You became successful with the luck you got for knowing someone who would introduce you to the writing jobs, and for the curiosity that drives you to dig where all your work goes.
And by the way, freelancing is not online work online, it’s any kind of work that makes you not tied up with an employer.
Ang pagbenta ba ng relo and stuffed toys, puede bang matawag na freelancing?
WhatsaCoder
June 20th, 2009 at 2:39 pm #
Have you tried a freelancing job involving programming in php? I want to try that one but I don’t have the courage to do it.
.-= WhatsaCoder´s last blog ..Kim Hyun Joong of Boys over Flowers =-.
pchi
June 20th, 2009 at 2:57 pm #
you make it a lot easier than it is, Gem
you have skills that’s why you made it this far
I think discipline is also a big factor
thanks for sharing!
like you, I think I am also missing the company outings, sportsfests and other gimmicks with colleagues
it’s kinda hard to do as a freelancer
Patrick
June 20th, 2009 at 3:13 pm #
I kind of agree with berryblitz that you make it look easy with that post. ^_^
I just resigned from my first IT job (used to be in a callcenter) and I’ve been seriously thinking of going on freelance mode since I don’t think I’m really cutout to do 8-5 jobs. I’m currently still unemployed but I’m trying to update my blogs to regain the knowledge I lost while I was employed.
.-= Patrick´s last blog ..My Tweets for 2009-06-20 =-.
Nino Natividad
June 21st, 2009 at 10:51 am #
Hi Gem,
You’re a great freelancer. To your success.. *cheers!*
Nino Natividad
http://www.ninonatividad.com
Gem
June 21st, 2009 at 12:20 pm #
Hindi freelancing yan sis, that’s business haha. Freelancing is more like selling one’s skills and talent to a client for a agreed period of time. Yung product selling hindi ka rin tied sa employer, but it is not technically freelancing.
.-= Gem´s last blog ..eBook Search Queen: Straightforward Search and Download Resource =-.
Gem
June 21st, 2009 at 12:21 pm #
I do WordPress jobs right now – many times I need to trace along PHP code.
.-= Gem´s last blog ..eBook Search Queen: Straightforward Search and Download Resource =-.
Gem
June 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pm #
True, that’s one thing that you would miss out as a freelancer, BUT freelancers ought to find ways to reconnect with others – forums, social networking, blogger meets, outings with old office mates and friends – those are some things that would still keep me sane in between jobs, haha.
.-= Gem´s last blog ..eBook Search Queen: Straightforward Search and Download Resource =-.
berryblitz
June 21st, 2009 at 1:05 pm #
ah hehe nalito lang ako bigla… hmmm freelancing, hindi ko alam kung makakapag freelance pa ako
berryblitz
June 21st, 2009 at 1:11 pm #
If you want to try sideline/freelancing with your PHP programming skills, ito lang ang isang question na I tell people to answer “yes” before they go freelance… “Can you create a program on your own?” as in yung walang IT head, yung ikaw nagdedecide.
If your answer is “yes”, and yet is kind of scared, try to get a small project first, kahit hindi galing sa online. Or if you are scared of maybe your PHP skills is not good enough, just get a web project involving simple PHP skills.
WhatsaCoder
June 21st, 2009 at 2:51 pm #
cool! nakakagawa ako pero not sure with the security!… hehehehe so ano po ginagawa mo sa wordpress?
reyane
June 21st, 2009 at 6:01 pm #
wow… great info…. thanks for this Gem…
MJ Ces
June 21st, 2009 at 7:43 pm #
They say necessity is the mother of all inventions. In your case, I guess it had a hand to your success, or at least to where you are right now.
Plus you made good with what you know and learned new stuff along the way… stuff that made you better as a freelancer/entrepreneur.
Experience is key. You got your feet wet in freelancing, liked it, enjoyed it and now you’re gaining from it.
Nice to read your story.
Dexter | Techathand.net
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm #
Risk is all it takes .. but I still don’t have the courage of doing a free lance job.. Maybe someday when I open up a business
.-= Dexter | Techathand.net´s last blog ..We Just Survived A Car Accident ( Toyota Camry ) =-.
Dexter | Techathand.net
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm #
I always dreamed of becoming a boss
.-= Dexter | Techathand.net´s last blog ..We Just Survived A Car Accident ( Toyota Camry ) =-.
elmot
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm #
doing freelance is really very uncertain and would need one lots of guts to do and fare well. grabe, laki ng risk pero kung meron ka ngang determination and focus, ok sa alright lg. ehehehe
.-= elmot´s last blog ..Don’t Tell Your Children Not To Lie? =-.
Motz
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 pm #
I like freelancing more than being under a employer.
Skills and talent plus experience. Armed to bid na. Show off your portfolio to your client(s).
They just need the work done and “polished”.
jjmags
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm #
Hi Gem,
Mind you, your blog was an inspiration for me to create my own blog. This is not really a good one but I still continue in learning in honing my writing skills and other skills as well.
Anyways, it seems that we have things in common. Like you I am also a licensed ECE , has more passion on computers than electronics. I also engaged myself reading enterpreneurial books, articles in the internet, anything about having a business.Just wanted to know if you did have some regrets when you decided into freelancing?
Thanks
Currently, I am now in the stage of deciding to go into freelancing but there is still fear since it is too risky.
Alisa Rogers
June 26th, 2009 at 7:45 pm #
Great blog! Keep up the great and fabulous work! You have such a Great resource for all of us Freelancers.
rovielran
June 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm #
wow this inspired me to write how i became a freelancer too
great job and keep it up!
.-= rovielran´s last blog ..washing lang =-.
Tyrone @ Millionaire Acts
July 7th, 2009 at 12:35 pm #
There are really more freelance jobs available in the field of IT.
Mary joycelle
July 16th, 2009 at 1:05 pm #
Hi there!
I stumbled upon your profile yesterday while browsing some Filipino providers at odesk. And when I was browsing (again!) friends being followed by my other tweeter friends, I saw (again!) your profile. Heheheheh!! What a coincidence!
Anyways, as I read your blog, I can deeply relate to your ideas girl. I am once an employee also myself, and the experiences which I had before can not be compared to the kind of lifestyle or should I say, I’m more comfortable with what I am doing now – FREELANCE WRITING…
I am already a mother of two, and homemaking is a choice of mine that’s why I resigned from work. Nonetheless, it never stopped me from pursuing my goals in life. So I ended up getting freelance jobs here and there. I am currently a freelance writer and researcher yet the compensation is not enough though because bigger bucks goes to the direct contacts of the clients. I’m just one of their pool of writers. Anyways, I still enjoy what I’m doing and from here, I learned the ropes too of blogging, and other ways to get more direct jobs in freelancing. That’s why I started trying Odesk. After three months, I’m now able to realize the many opportunities that could possibly be derived by a Freelancer like me. Interviews are now pouring in and in days to come, I might be able to start my freelance gigs with Odesk. =)
As I read a lot of testimonies from you guys who already have emerged as successful freelancers in your respective fields at odesk, this makes me become more confident to strive my best and achieve the same luck as you guys!
Kudos to all freelancers! =)
Clarisse
July 17th, 2009 at 5:04 pm #
Hi,
This is my first time here. I’ve learned about you through Ma’am Micah…I can’t help but be inspired about how things worked favorably for both of you. I am also into freelancing…I write articles for various clients in oDesk. I am now earning well enough to support myself, but I am not sure if it will work out for me for a long time. My knowledge is pretty limited to writing so I am quite anxious that I may not be able to stay in the industry for very long…I wish to up my knowledge on SEO and wordpress, but I am not sure where to start. I am just an ordinary internet user and I don’t have any programming background. I hope you can give me tips on where to start and what to learn first…and, will there be a need for me to have upgrade my wordpress blog to change its theme and add photos? This may sound stupid, but I’d rather risk sounding stupid than to stay where I am. I wanted to make it big in freelancing, just like you and Ma’am Micah…I am going to have a baby soon and I wish to give him everything that I am unable to enjoy when I was still a child because of lack of resources…This is the primary reason I wanted to continue to learn and grow as a freelancer. I hope you can give me a hand through some tips.
Thanks
,
Clarisse
.-= Clarisse´s last blog ..A Good Start for What I’ve Learned Today =-.
Gem
July 19th, 2009 at 10:48 pm #
Thanks for visiting Clarisse. Micah was one of my clients and I had happily set-up and customized a blog for her. If you want to learn a lot about SEO, you actually need to have very good writing skills. If you want to learn more about tweaking WordPress blogs, technical – particularly programming and design skills are needed, if you are into coding and math (most WordPress jobs in oDesk are more of the PHP and CSS coding work, as well as graphic design). Either way, you have to learn new skills in any of those fields – you can always enroll in a school that offers these courses or just do the hard-way of self-learning.
I often share stuff via Twitter, if you want to take the self-learning route and be skilled in doing WordPress blogs. That self-learning route though, might take more time than enduring some months in a computer school.
A self-hosted WordPress blog is very helpful in learning the codes behind a WordPress blog. It’s a good start for you to self-learn WordPress. I have not been blogging in WordPress.com for a while, but I still believe WordPress.com had not disabled that functionality (please contact WordPress.com for support).
I wish the best for you and for your child, as I had been also in the same situation as you are.
Gem
July 19th, 2009 at 10:53 pm #
This is great. I had the same experience. I got three jobs in one day. My team members whom I’m trying to take jobs aren’t really lucky, perhaps because there are too many Pinoy’s already in oDesk?
I got into oDesk when there were a few freelancers around.
Clarisse
July 20th, 2009 at 11:23 am #
Hi,
Thank you for your response.
I plan to study at a computer school after giving birth. For now, I guess I’ll have to be contented with the income that my writing jobs generate for me… I hope to be able to set up my personal page though as i know it will be necessary to stay in demand in freelancing. How much do you think will it cost me? Should I upgrade my wordpress blog and pay for my own domain? Finally, I hope I can afford your services. I’ve seen your work and I really love it.Please let me know of your rates.
Thanks,
Clarisse
.-= Clarisse´s last blog ..A Good Start for What I’ve Learned Today =-.
Kelvin Servigon
August 1st, 2009 at 10:14 am #
I’d been in freelance jobs too, like writing jobs, and graphic designing.. pero hindi gnun kadami, hehe
Robert Robles
August 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am #
Hi Gem,
I luv your blog!!! having the same area here as doing freelance work fuels my interest and energy to continue doing it, even though my wife is urging me to find a better steady income arrgh!
I do believe in freelance work…basically the freedom of doing your work + creativity at your own pace(+pressure load).
I luv your article bout Unionbank’s EON withdraw to bank account + the EON to smartmoney sending… saves lot of time+money how to figure it out.
Guess what I joined oDesk yesterday. Thanks for sharing, good things will come to you.
Robert
.-= Robert Robles´s last blog ..The Unplugged Book – New Development Metholody? =-.
Gem
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:40 pm #
My reply is late, but receiving warm thank you’s through the comments is something that I appreciate so much.
Gem
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm #
Dadami rin yan, as you get more work, you get to be an expert. Baka clients na ang maghahanap sa iyo.
Jodi
October 12th, 2009 at 7:49 pm #
Most of the time I feel like I am runningin deep sand. I do not know if I am makeing any progress or not. There is so much out on the web, it is so hard to know what freelance sites are the ones that most of my effort should be directed towards.
madj
October 20th, 2009 at 11:16 am #
hi, i like to be a fulltime freelancer but I am concerned on issues like paying SSS and the like (pag-ibig,tax, ITR…). I still have a job currently. Pano ba un if example I have an on and off job for a month, how this is settled? can you enlighten me in this stuff?? thanks so much!
Kristine
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:57 pm #
Hi Gem! I stumbled upon your site in oDesk
nice to hear that you found your love in freelance writing. I have my own story on how I got in the industry, too..and it was pretty much like yours 
I never got to work in a corporate setting (with the exception of an internship in Europe – but it was a small private school, too), and I found my love for freelance writing.
Your blog surely enlightens other people about freelancing. Others usually say that freelancers are bums – but I beg to disagree! Even if we just stay at home, and we aren’t putting on makeup or going to offices, we still work hard at home. Boo to those people!
Keep up!
And you have a new follower in me 
Gem
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 pm #
Hi Kristine, I’m not actually a freelancer writer – if you stumbled on my profile I am selling a different set of skills in that freelance site. I do have several blogs that I maintain such as this one. And thanks for the comment – you made my day!
Kristine
October 24th, 2009 at 12:01 am #
Bleh, what did I write…I mean to write, “nice to hear that you found your love in freelancing…” not freelance writing per se…
My mind’s all mixed up.
I linked this post to one of my blog posts
All the best