| the rising prices of commodities, it is not surprising that | | | | and attitude, as this will help your freelance career. |
| people are looking for other ways to earn money. | | | | Avoid Conflicts |
| Extra work is no longer an exception but a rule, | | | | Although there is no law against freelancing while being |
| especially in cities where the cost of living can be high. | | | | employed by a company (unless it is stipulated in the |
| Now, people hold two or three jobs just to pay their | | | | contract you had signed when you were hired), it is still |
| bills. And this is not just a trend for students, but also | | | | important to consider ethical points before accepting a |
| for people who have established careers. Nowadays, | | | | freelance job. |
| everyone has an extra job to earn extra income. | | | | One of the things to look into is the conflict with your |
| One of the most popular sources of extra money is | | | | company and the freelancing assignments that you |
| freelancing. Unlike part-time jobs, like babysitting on | | | | are hired to do by another company. It is ethical to |
| weekends or doing some hours at the local movie | | | | refuse freelance assignments from companies that |
| house after work, freelancing allows you to practice | | | | directly compete with the company you are working |
| your profession. This way, you are able to use what | | | | for as an employee. |
| you are already doing in your regular job. | | | | Freelancing for the first time can be daunting, especially |
| Freelancing also affords the person more free time | | | | if you lack experience. Freelancing is not a career that |
| compared to other side jobs. This is because | | | | everybody can take on without sufficient experience |
| freelancing does not require the person to render a | | | | and contacts. If you have to do it, make it your sideline |
| specific number of hours. Jobs are often per project | | | | job first and then gradually ease out of your regular |
| basis. The schedule is given at the start of the | | | | job if the pay is enough to support your monthly |
| contract. It is up to the freelancer to manage or budget | | | | expenses. |
| his time so that he can finish the job on or before the | | | | Establish Your Contacts |
| deadline. This is actually a benefit to freelancing. The | | | | The number one thing you have to do when starting to |
| job is finished when the person is finished with it. | | | | freelance is to establish contacts with potential clients |
| Another benefit about freelancing is that you can | | | | who are in your industry. Establishing contacts not only |
| freelance without being physically present. The World | | | | means to get their contact information, but you also |
| Wide Web and the speedy transfer of data allow | | | | have to make sure they remember you by establishing |
| people to telecommute. Although they would still be | | | | good rapport with them. |
| doing the job, they don’t have to be in the | | | | Build A Solid Reputation |
| same area or location as the company they are | | | | Make sure you do every job well. Remember that |
| working for. They can do the transactions over the | | | | freelancing is a job that relies on the assignments |
| Internet. You can even live in Europe and freelance for | | | | given to you by others. Unlike a regular job where you |
| a company based here in the United States. | | | | have a steady income and a fixed number of hours, |
| But of course, not all things are as easy as it seems. | | | | with freelancing, the work is anything but stable! You |
| Like everything in this world, freelance work can also | | | | have to compete for every job. For this, you need a |
| be hard, especially if you are not used to doing it. | | | | solid reputation to see you through. |
| An excellent resource to learn about launching a | | | | Start Small |
| freelance career is Andy Anderson’s book or | | | | Freelancing does not mean you have to leave your |
| audio book, “How to Make Money from Home | | | | work and be a full-time freelancer. You can actually do |
| as a Freelancer,” published by | | | | freelance work on the side while still earning a steady |
| To freelance successfully, consider these points: | | | | income with your regular job. Of course, you have to |
| Build A Reputation | | | | make sure freelancing on the side is acceptable with |
| Many established freelancers who earn steady | | | | the company you are working for. This is where the |
| income build their freelance careers by referrals and | | | | personal ethics will come into play. |
| repeat job orders. Unlike your regular job, which has a | | | | In doing freelance work while still holding a regular job, |
| fixed income and hours of work, freelance | | | | you have to make sure you are not doing jobs for |
| assignments will largely depend on orders from repeat | | | | companies or people who are direct competitors of |
| clients and prospective clients who have heard about | | | | your company. As much as possible, stay out of the |
| your services via word of mouth or referrals. | | | | industry that you are in and only accept jobs that are |
| The freelance industry is quite small, when you think | | | | for a different industry. This way, there will be no |
| about it. It is important to make sure you do your job | | | | conflict with your work. |
| well. Guard your reputation, especially your work ethics | | | | |