Kyle asked me over email just the other day:
I am a web and graphic developer who works in Makati. My salary is not sufficient so I’m trying to look for ways to augment my income. I had created an account in oDesk but I am confused. Please help me.
The original wordings of these sentences are in Taglish (mixed Tagalog and English), but I had translated Kyle’s question for the benefit of the majority of the readers.
I usually get these kinds of emails but I had already grown tired of the typical responses I give. Usually I’d say they should visit this post about how oDesk works to get an overview of the entire system. Then I would give them this post on additional tips on how to land on that oDesk assignment. I would also mention the useful tips on how to collect their payment from the internet.
Too often many fulltime workers start their freelance career on the wrong mindset. These employees are often trained on how to perform well at their job. Freelancing is entirely different. Even the best tips on how to draft a good cover letter and write a very good freelancer profile is not simply enough. I realized that successful freelancers possess on vital ingredient for success: proper mindset and attitude for the job.
So my reply to Kyle went this way: before you go freelancing, ask yourself:
- Do you have time to commit to a job? Most freelance sites start out by bidding on projects. If a client is interested, he or she would initiate an interview, which is can be done over instant messaging, email and even voice calls. Even if the employee prefers to speak to clients outside of this work, he might find that arrangement difficult. Too often clients aren’t much sensitive to the preferred chat time of the freelancer. Freelancers lost their jobs to other available freelancers.
- Do you have entrepreneurial skills? Freelancing is more of a business rather than having an employer-employee relationship which is typical to any corporate workplace. The client is still the boss, because of the fact that he pays and he directs all the instructions needed to execute the project.
- Am I able to communicate well? Communication plays a big role in the success of a project. Even the best designer isn’t able to satisfy a client’s expectation if the project expectations aren’t relayed well. I believe freelancers are the ones who should get into the way of making clients comfortable to the task. Very good communicators know ways on how to determine a client’s needs before the client realizes that he needs that in the project.
- Are you able to market yourself? This is somehow related the second point, because this is a part of being business minded. An ideal provider to me is the one who know how much his services are worth and knows how to seal the deal. He would also need to walk out from any bad negotiation.
Everybody may want to be freelancers, but not everyone is fit enough to be successful freelancers. If you believe you have those four points, then you are not far to being a good freelancer. I would bet that with the right traits of a freelancer you might even consider to eventually quit your day job.
Good points!!! Yes, I think a lot of full time workers are “dreaming” of getting a freelance work, sideline as what they call. But they forgot to think of, if still have that spare time for the freelance work.
For me, if one is a full time employee, and would wish to be a very successful freelancer… my tips…
- be willing to sacrifice your sleep time, can you not sleep for some days? or just sleep 2 or 3 hours a day?
- if at the office, can you use instant messengers, send email, or sometimes talk to the client on the mobile phone or voice chat (just like gem said)
- can you set aside the mall, the movies, the vacation?
- and just like gem said, communication skills. you need to be like an analyst, or a businessman communicating and catering what your clients need. you need to communicate well and right with your client.
… based on my freelancing experience
makinig kayo kay ladyprogrammer
June 2, 2009 at 9:53 am
Well thanks. Actually those are your tips. hehehe. Points well said to those who are holding full time jobs.
June 2, 2009 at 4:38 pm
You got it straight, Gem. I also joined oDesk but since I have a full-time job, my profile is just sitting there for now. Being in freelance work can’t be sideline in my opinion, especially IT work. If you wish to join online freelance IT jobs, you have to choose one: It’s either your current 8-hr job or the freelance job. Your time and energy is critical and not just the extra money. You may end up sick with more money because of lack of sleep.
My sister joined oDesk and she chose to resign in her full-time day job in favor of freelancing. You can not serve 2 masters (or bosses)
Edwin´s last blog post..Do You Also Want $100?
June 2, 2009 at 11:08 am
Really? I think for writers in oDesk, it’s a different situation for them. For one, they can just follow those instructions emailed to them. I know – because I was doing writing first before I started freelancing. However, for IT personnel, instant messaging is the best medium to communicate to buyers.
It’s true oDesk is getting to be famous among Filipinos. The rate per hour is high compared to full time jobs. More than a year ago, there are less freelancers in oDesk, and it was easy for me to find the first job, but right now, even ones armed with a very good portfolio samples find it difficult to land on their first job.
June 2, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Thanks, for telling me this, Gem. So it might be hard for me now to land a job because of too much supply and less demand. I’ll remember that also before computing the figures.
And yes, it’s higher than working in local offices.
Edwin´s last blog post..May 2009 Update
June 4, 2009 at 4:40 pm
The rates will always be higher, as long as there are long term clients to work with or have several gigs lined up.
June 6, 2009 at 11:40 am
I tried “serving” 2 masters before. Well, now, I thought that it’s really not a good idea.
I always hear people say that it’s so cool I got 2 jobs at the same time. I earn a lot!
But right now, if I can only go back to the past, I wouldn’t take the freelance job.
It affected my memory. Naging makakalimutin ako sobra!
So it’s not that cool after all. Health first before money.
June 2, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Really? People say that probably to make you feel better. But I agree, it’s difficult to work in between jobs, especially in the Philippine setting where work in the private sector is up to 48 hours per week.
I did not know that freelancing affected your memory.
June 3, 2009 at 10:27 am
i don’t sleep for 3 days straight, then meron akong 1 day with 4 hours sleep.
kaya naging makakalimutin sobra.
June 3, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I tried doing a sideline on an IT project before. I know it’s the same feeling with oDesk when it comes to work together with a full-time job. It affects performance on both sides. It’s a relief when I stopped. But with the long years of working, medyo may memory gap na.
Edwin´s last blog post..May 2009 Update
June 4, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Yup it’s true for me, at least on my electronics engineering skills. I had been in Information Technology very long, so may memory gap na rin ako with regards anything that has to do with electronics.
June 6, 2009 at 11:07 am
ako naman i cannot sacrfice my time for facebook games para mag-freelance. hahaha. ok na ako sa extra money that i get from blogging.
Calvin´s last blog post..FMCC shirts at Robinson’s Galleria
June 2, 2009 at 3:09 pm
ah yeah hahaha super kaaddict ang facebook games. naglalaro nga ako ngayon while replying on this post hahaha
June 2, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Yup true, it’s addicting and my kid wants her hands on those games too. May kaagaw talaga ako.. Hayyy!
June 3, 2009 at 10:41 am
eh bilan mo na ng mini laptop, yung mura na pang mini games nya hehehe. my husband is thinking of buying one. kc kaagaw nya si baby ivan. ayan baby pa lang nakikiagaw na.
June 3, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Sa ngayon, I still have other priorities hehehe. Upgrade computer, pay the tuition. Well, time management na lang muna. Anyway, my kid’s going to school na, kaya wala na masyadong kaagaw.
June 6, 2009 at 11:42 am
I’ll be doing freelancing in the future, specially I’m in the I.T. field but right now I have to experience real office work first.. then
make my own website then after that I’ll be freelancing…
WhatsaCoder´s last blog post..Lupin III vs. Detective Conan ???
June 2, 2009 at 10:58 pm
You know, it doesn’t have to be always that way. I did not even have my own website when I started out freelancing, and I did not have all the right skills when I started out.
June 6, 2009 at 11:43 am
actually gem, hidden talent na lumabas ang nangyari syo, sa pagkakaintindi ko sa situation mo. u r talented!
and yes, one doesn’t have to have a website to get freelance work.
all u need to have is the skill to do what u r doing, hindi yung panay bola lang. then u’ll survive, plus the right communication and approach with the client.
June 6, 2009 at 11:27 pm
I have tried my hand at freelancing, even putting up a website to offer my services. I learned a lot from it:
1. It required long hours especially because I had to juggle it with my day job. Before I only need to work from 9 to 5. When I tried freelancing, I was working almost 20 hours a day.
2. It’s exhausting. Perhaps only because I wasn’t a full-time freelancer.
3. You can hit big time with just one deal. Once I got a project that paid me the equivalent of my regular job’s one-month salary. I bought a laptop from it.
4. There are also dry seasons. Especially since I was just new to this freelancing gig, there would be times when I didn’t have any client at all. Those are the times when I ponder the viability of going full-time freelancing.
I have currently put a halt on my freelancing because I want to focus more on my regular job. Why? It gives a regular pay, and I need the assurance of a fixed salary since I am saving on certain expenses like my forthcoming wedding, house payments, etc.
Freelancing on the side is very tiring (no doubt about that!) and it has taken its toll on my health. I agree with BerryBlitz: Health first before money. That is why I am postponing it for now until I have the freedom to pursue it on a more regular basis. Which is hopefully after the wedding.
June 3, 2009 at 3:13 am
Hello Gem! Musta? I absolutely agree with your points. To be a freelancer, one needs to have a certain attitude, personality and push. Not everyone is entitle to be one and many fail to realize the end-game in freelancing. Serious freelancers are looking forward in becoming entrepreneurs. It’s one factor that makes them successful in freelancing. They have the blood of a businessman.
When I started freelancing 8 years ago, it was really tiring but just during the first 6 months. Time management is a crucial ingredient for you to enjoy it. Today, I still work almost 13-15 hrs/day. Do I enjoy it? LOL! Yes I do! I love it so much. People who are just starting out needs to find that rhythm for them to enjoy it.
Thanks!
Rob Angeles´s last blog post..Take A Sneak Preview On The Future Of Conversations
June 3, 2009 at 5:01 am
Great tips Gem. Saw your profile in oDesk and definitely, if I am a buyer, I couldn’t find any reason why I shouldn’t hire you. I wish I have the same amount of diligence and patience as you do.
Ang problema ko talaga yung procastination. Lalo pa pag naka online, nakakasira ng focus. I wonder how you guys can handle that.
Frenchy´s last blog post..Google Just Released A Faster And More Stable Google Chrome 2.0
June 3, 2009 at 11:33 am
Personally, I tell myself that I do not want to disappoint my clients. My principle in freelancing is to always take care of your clients since it’s harder to find new ones. I learned this that hard way and don’t want to screw it up again. Also, getting serious with time management helps. There’s a time for everything. But that’s just me.
Rob Angeles´s last blog post..Take A Sneak Preview On The Future Of Conversations
June 3, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I don’t actually have this kind of principle, but I have another principle that I practice which can result to the same effect – give out all my best for each and every project that I work on. I got that tip from other freelancers.
I lost and gained clients along the way, but I learned lessons too along the way.
June 6, 2009 at 11:37 am
whoa! haven’t been here in a long time and there are so many changes
the changes are really great… (y) -> thumbs up sign in skype
really nice article sis!
right now, i am not ready to be a freelancer
and i don’t have the right mindset
i realize it’s tough and one might need to devote more time than in an office
pchi´s last blog post..Untitled Haiku
June 4, 2009 at 12:30 am
Thanks. If you want to be one then develop those right mindset then. Hehe.
June 6, 2009 at 11:16 am
Like Edwin I also have a full-time job but I am greedy that is why I joined oDesk and GAF last year. But I barely have time for extra work; 24 hours is to short a time to be able to successfully juggle your day job, blogging, family, and freelance work. I thought I’d manage but I wasn’t able to make it. Blogging alone eats a lot of my time. But blogging gives me a lot of extra income. As of now I’ll just stick to blogging as my source of extra income, I am quite satisfied with what I earn from it; last month I was able to earn around P22,000 from my blogs (that’s Adsense and paid posts earnings combined). On June 26 I’d be making a another trip to the local Western Union branch to get my $391 from Adsense. I haven’t counted what i’d be earning from paid posts for this month yet. I guess I should be satisfied with this as of now because if I’d push it further by getting more extra work, i’d be on the brink of sacrificing my health.
Pastilan´s last blog post..Tetris Game
June 7, 2009 at 12:22 am