It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that with the economy in the state that it is in and corporations shipping jobs overseas to the lowest bidder, jobs in the United States are difficult to come by. Many job seekers need to reconcile with the reality that even if they are lucky enough to find work online or in the paper, they will need to take a pay cut and work for less than they previously had been. If your prospect of finding a job that pays you what you are worth is bleak, then you should consider looking for work somewhere you may not have so far. You might consider trying to work for yourself.
While the poor economy has cost millions of people their jobs and homes, it has also inspired many people to work online as freelancers. Rather than working for another person’s dream, these up-and-coming entrepreneurs have made a decision to set their own terms and pay themselves according to the quality and quantity of projects that they take on. Just be sure to understand that the decision to work for yourself does not give you a golden ticket to financial freedom. Owning your own business or working freelance requires perseverance and effort but the fruits of your labor can be lucrative.
Finding Your Niche
The most simple and cost effective way to work for yourself is to search for your work online. A simple search on any search engine will yield a host of different freelance sites that provide work for writers, programmers and many other professionals. You may find freelancing work in your current expertise, but if you don’t, this shouldn’t put a damper on your plans. There are plenty of jobs available that you may qualify for if you have special interests or talents.
Be wary of freelance sites that charge you fees before you obtain work. It is fair to pay a percentage or fee if the site finds you work, but you do not want to pay excessive fees upfront to find work. There are many sites such as Craigslist that post listings that you can respond to for free. Do not get discouraged when you struggle at first to find work as you need to establish a client base and network from there in order to truly be successful as an independent worker.
Network, Network, Network
As you gain more clientele, you will be able to build your portfolio and reputation while gaining access to well-paying clients on a regular basis. Ask every client for referrals and pitch those referrals with your service by using your previous client as a reference. The key to success is to utilize every possible resource and look for work online in locations that you may not have thought to look. Most importantly; remember that if you work for yourself, your results will always match the effort you put in and if you work both smart and hard there is nothing you can’t accomplish.