How to Get Started in Freelancing Without Any Work Samples
I believe students and new graduates are now given more options to pursue other means of income online, even if they haven’t gained work experience. This may not apply to all students, but at least online freelance sites as well as blogging makes it easier for them to gain extra money.
I did not have that kind of option to earn extra money when I was still a student. The only option visible for me to earn more income is to follow the traditional way of earning money: be a working student. However, a working student is required to lessen the number of units taken up each semester until the entire course is finished.
Things are now different: some students figured out that they can earn online and even earn as much (or even much more) as what salaried employees get. As a result, I keep on finding more students who are interested in getting jobs from freelance sites.
One of the most common questions I get from them is: how do I get freelance jobs if I have no work experience and portfolio to show to clients?
Obviously, to gain an edge in the competitive world of freelancing, they have to build their portfolio.
image credit to patti haskins
Working Examples
This is probably easiest way to produce samples. The more samples to show, the better.
A single sample is NOT often enough. Have at least five examples for demonstration purposes. Make the demo samples as good as the real ones.
Volunteer Work
This is committing to do work for free. Usually, friends and family ask for professional help and the freelancer is often expected to work for free or with little compensation. Why not turn this situation into something that can be placed as a work experience as well as one of the strongest items in the portfolio?
Another way to work for free with non-profit organizations. This is usually favorable to web designers: do a website project for these organizations free of charge. In return, try to ask for a certificate or other written document for that work experience.
This way, new freelancers are motivated to do quality work than that simply offering a set of demo samples. Implemented projects speak strongly to a potential client than a bunch of demo samples.
School Projects
School projects may also be another strong proof of work. If you happen to compose a good school project (and better yet, if you had completed that project on your own), then it can be added as a strong item in your portfolio.
Successful freelancers started out with nothing on their portfolio. They had been probably to built their work experience probably through one or more of the items listed above.
Blogjoints.com | Rate this Article
February 10th, 2010 at 10:56 pm #
How to Get Started in Freelancing Without Any Work Samples…
Every successful freelancer started out with nothing – no work experience and probably even no work samples. So how can a freelancer get his first freelance job?…
Hesham @ FamousBloggers
February 11th, 2010 at 3:50 am #
This is for sure a great way to get work samples, if someone try to go back in years he/she will find so many thing done in the old days!
I some times remember when I first started my work in web design, I had no work samples, and I had to remember the designs I made while I was studying, this helped me lots as getting a nice portfolio from my studies and workshops!
.-= Hesham @ FamousBloggers’s last blog ..How to add a stylish sidebar image buttons to Thesis Theme, get PSD and Sample Files for FREE =-.
dlysen
February 11th, 2010 at 3:35 pm #
Just show them who you are. If you are confident for your you get a business. Experience are only for the old guys but you are young to start. Start your business now.
.-= dlysen’s last blog ..Factors Leading To The Extraordinary Success =-.
Archon Digital
February 11th, 2010 at 9:05 pm #
I worked my way doing volunteer work when I was young and creating dummy artwork to build up my portfolio.
.-= Archon Digital’s last blog ..Facebook Fan Page & Fan Box I’m a Sucker for Widgets =-.
uberVU - social comments
February 13th, 2010 at 5:07 am #
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by LadyProgrammer: [Lady Programmer] How to Get Started in Freelancing Without Any Work Samples http://bit.ly/9oeCqN...
eRLyN
February 13th, 2010 at 12:54 pm #
So true, kids these days have lots of opportunities to earn online.
.-= eRLyN’s last blog ..Philippine Science Centrum Celebrates 2 Decades of Fun and Learning =-.
bloggista
February 18th, 2010 at 7:33 am #
Confidence and determination are the most important keys to succeed in the freelance world. Doesn’t matter whether you are an expert or a newbie. If you don’t have something to show, don’t be shy in giving out your proposal. Let the prospect client feel that you are serious in delivering.
Don’t get discouraged when people reject your proposal – forget about it and go on to the next opportunity. If you know someone who’s well into freelancing, offer help where you can and don’t expect too much. Such experience can help in building your credentials and reputation.
Freelance world is only for the tough people, there’s no room for if you’re shy and lack self-confidence.
Oh, nice article Gem. (hopefully this last sentence won’t be considered spam by your anti-spam agents. LOL).
.-= bloggista’s last blog ..Ads by Request and How to Make Money Online from it =-.
Gem
February 19th, 2010 at 1:59 pm #
Thanks for your thoughts! Actually this one ended up in my spam folder. LOL!
I agree. Confidence and determination are two strong values that are essential to success.
Jena Isle
February 22nd, 2010 at 11:15 pm #
Good pointers Gem. There are many online opportunities, you’ll just have to be brave enough to start writing.
.-= Jena Isle’s last blog ..A Tryst on Valentine’s Day =-.
Juliet
February 25th, 2010 at 11:58 am #
i like to work as a freelancer cause you don’t have to mind your time, unlike if you work in a company you will have the time in and time out. how i wish…anyways, thanks LADYPROGRAMMER for visiting my blog also.
.-= Juliet’s last blog ..Joomla Bliss Launches Its New Website Design Firm in Ottawa =-.
Kimwell
February 25th, 2010 at 8:16 pm #
Hi there gem.. I’ve been actually “stalking” your blog for quite awhile now. I only got the time to comment today due to a busy schedule. Anyways, I am also an Electronics Engineer and is also a freelancer even before I obtained my license. I am also doing online jobs and I really agree that volunteer work is one way of building a portfolio. It slowly builds your contacts and reputation. Though there are really times that you feel that your “volunteerism” suddenly turned sour because some would really abuse your skills without any compensation at all.
HotMomma
March 1st, 2010 at 10:06 pm #
Nice post! very helpful indeed.
.-= HotMomma’s last blog ..Trip Snippets Chickens, Anyone? =-.
Mitch
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:47 am #
When I decided I wanted to write to make some extra money, I took some old articles I’d written as well as a couple of blog posts, modified them, and put them up as my portfolio. Anyone looking for writing gigs has written many things usually, and there’s nothing saying one has to go out of their way to create something totally new.
.-= Mitch’s last blog ..Are You Missing The SocialĀ Part Of Social Media? =-.
Eric : Blog De Manila
August 10th, 2010 at 5:36 pm #
I just did one Free website last week for an NGO group and yesterday, they recommended my work to a paying client.
Tweets that mention Career Portfolio Samples -- Topsy.com
August 10th, 2010 at 11:44 pm #
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by jangeronimo, Gervie Macahia. Gervie Macahia said: RT @Jan_Geronimo: How to Get Started in Freelancing Without Any Working Samples | The Lady Programmer http://ff.im/-p0NYE [...]