Tag / Freelancer Job

by caitlyncallahan14

one year ago

One year ago today, I was sitting at home, scared, anxious, depressed, and unemployed.

At the beginning of April 2020 I, along with hundreds at my organization and thousands across America, was furloughed.

A year ago, I was probably sitting on my patio on a lawn chair (because I hadn’t bought patio furniture yet), wondering how I was going to pay my bills, still in shock about the furlough situation and unsure about the state of the world. They had told us it could be three months before we got called back. I had just bought a house – how were we going to make ends meet?

I spent the first month crying and worrying, busying myself with unpacking and getting the new house together, and obsessively searching for freelance contracts to help tide us over in the meantime.

I accepted a couple of small contracts in April, and then landed a large contract that made me cry tears of joy. Things started looking up.

By the time May came around, I was getting used to being home. I started to embrace the time I’d been given (for the first time ever) to just enjoy life. I spent hours reading and writing, sitting on my patio and bird watching, and giving myself time to breathe.

By June, I’d thrown myself into the freelance-at-home lifestyle. I’d gotten a true taste of the life I’ve always dreamed about, creating my own schedule each day on my own time, completing work for clients, writing… I had a lifestyle I designed. I could so easily picture how my life would be if I was a full-time freelancer because I’d been living it for two months. I wasn’t balancing a full-time job or other responsibilities (since everything was shut down and we couldn’t leave the house). I was just doing my thing. It was magical.

Honestly, it was hard to go back.

Obviously I was so thankful to return to work, and knew and appreciated how lucky I was considering the thousands that didn’t get to. But I’d had a real taste of my dreams becoming a reality. And I wanted more.

It’s crazy to think about what life was like last year at this time. Businesses shut down, exponential unemployment, the inability to see friends and family, people sick and dying.

But for me, it was also a blessing in disguise. And it gave me the inspiration and motivation to keep building my business. To work hard, crack down, build my book, and write like there was no tomorrow. Because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and now that I had that taste, I wanted it more than ever.

Last week I wrote about balancing building a business and life, and asked if it was possible to keep living and also build a successful business. I still don’t know the answer. But today, as I sit on my patio, watching the birds, reminiscing on and writing about the past year, I’ve found a newly renewed motivation to keep going.

And I encourage everyone else reading this, whether you’re in the same place as me or you’re miles down the road, to keep going. This year has been hard, but I hope you’ve had time to find yourself, find a new love or passion, grow personally or professionally, read, learn, and do something you enjoy.

Keep doing it. Keep going. Build your lifestyle. Find your passion. And once that happens, don’t let it go.

by caitlyncallahan14

tips for interviewing your clients

If one of your goals for 2021 is to build your book of business, hopefully you’ve already started taking steps toward accomplishing that goal. Soon, you’ll have clients accepting your bids and proposals to begin working together.

When a client reaches out to you to start a working relationship, it’s important to remember the relationship should be mutually beneficial – you get a client and a paycheck, and they get the services they need and are hiring you for.

That being said, when talking with a client and determining whether or not that relationship is the right fit, you are just as much interviewing them as they are you.

When I first started Upwork, I quickly learned I was not in charge of my own freelancer destiny… the client was. I had to apply to the job, compete with sometimes dozens of other freelancers, be interviewed by the client and even occasionally do a “test” project. Sometimes I got the contract, sometimes I didn’t. And while I’m not under the delusion that clients will come flocking to me and let me do my best work as I wanted, I had a lot less control than I had originally dreamed of.

And, letting my clients run completely run the show has led me into situations where I had to end the contract because the relationship wasn’t right (see my post on when it’s not a good fit).

What I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) is that in order to have a lasting relationship, I must be an active participant in the beginning. I can’t just sit back and just be grateful to have the contract (though I am incredibly grateful). I have to respect and stand up for myself and my business.

Much like a traditional job interview, it’s important to do the appropriate research and ask the right questions before deciding whether to move forward working together or not.

First, research the company/person.

  • Check out their website and social media presence. Try to understand their current brand presence and engagement with audiences.
  • Read any reviews on social or Google.
  • Check Glassdoor to read what previous employees have to say about them.
  • If you’re on a platform like Upwork, read the reviews from past freelancers they worked with.

Ask questions. Some questions I ask include (but are not limited to):

  • What is your website/the website my work will be showcased on? Do you have any brand guidelines or information about your company/product/service/brand you can share? (I like to ask for as much information up front so I can really dive into and understand the client.)
  • What are your expectations as far as work load, deadlines, and rate?
  • What are the expectations for this job? (For example, will I be provided with a topic/outline and have to simply write the post, or would you like me to pitch ideas to write? Will I have to find images, post to the website, etc.?)
  • How long would you anticipate the contract or our relationship lasting?
  • Would you be ok with me listing you as a client in my portfolio, and/or linking to any of my work you publish?

Try to understand the client and company as well as the job you’ll be contracting for. The more you can get a feel for the client and expectations up front, the more likely you are to have a positive working relationship moving forward.

If you don’t have a formal “interview” process, send questions in an email or ask to chat with them before finalizing the contract. This is so important.

Next, be clear (respectfully) what your expectations are as the freelancer.

  • If you aren’t comfortable with something they are asking you to do, or you prefer to work a different way, share that information. (Again, respectfully.)
  • If their proposed rate is too low, negotiate.
  • Outline communication expectations (via phone, email, Slack/Trello/another platform, etc., how often, will you be required to have “meetings,” etc.)
  • Share your preferred way to invoice and discuss expectations for payment.
  • Do you offer revisions? How many rounds are built into the rate? What if more revisions are necessary?

Finally, be personable.

Whether you’re working with this client on one assignment, or the contract is long-term for the next several months or even years, it’s important to establish a great rapport with the client. This helps ensure a positive working environment and relationship for both of you throughout the contract, and increases the likelihood they will 1) come back to you in the future if they need work, or 2) recommend you to others.

Connect with them on some personal level. You don’t have to share each other’s life stories or be too detailed or intimate, but don’t forget you are both people, and connecting on a deeper level will help make the contract go smoother.

Do you have any tips for interviewing your clients? What helps you establish a great working relationship right off the bat?