If you’re reading this article, then you’re maybe considering a career change after years and years of working for someone else helping them make their dreams come true.
Maybe you simply need a change and get out of the “same s*** different day” routine, either way I think it’s important to share my story.
Having worked for two marketing agencies since early age of 19, I managed to obtain invaluable amount of knowledge and expertise to be able to stand on my own feet in the digital world. It was a truly fantastic experience, I’ve managed to get to know many nice people as well as set up long term relationships.
Last few months, I felt like I was burnt out and my performance at work wasn’t at its peak, so I thought it was the right time to make the step I’ve always wanted to do. However, be aware it was a very difficult part of my life and before you make your mind up, you need to be 100% sure this is what you want. For me personally, it is a perfect work-life balance, I get to do the work whenever I want as long as the deadlines are met, most clients don’t mind late night or early morning emails.
Having been there and done it, here is my advice:
Find your niche
Do you want to stand out from the crowd? Find yourself a niche – start a course and concentrate on this particular area. The demand is out there and the more difficult it is to find your skillset, the more you could charge for your work.
Find some clients before you quit your full-time job
You don’t want to end up with no income for months before you secure your first contract work, therefore it’s always a good idea to get some business relationships set up beforehand.
Take any work – anywhere
You have to be ready to go after the work. Any web development contracts in your area might be gone quickly and someone with experience working as a contractor might be given preference. Therefore, if you’re based in Manchester and there’s work in London, go for it – don’t be too picky.
Be confident
You have to be confident about your skillset and your work. Of course, at the same time, it’s important to be careful about your choice of projects. If you choose a project you are not sure you can complete, consider spending some of your free time to learn a new skill or decline the project. The last thing you want at this stage is to let your client down.
The right price
Being a freelancer newbie, it could be very difficult to price yourself correctly. You don’t want to charge too little or too high. Research the market – day rates differ in certain areas of the UK. If there is any specific field you’re interested in, you can charge more, if you’re just “a developer”, you should be prepared to negotiate your day rate because your potential client could simply approach someone else who is prepared to do this.
Last but not least, we only live once, what’s the worst that could happen? If you have savings and you feel like making the step, go for it – any situation you find yourself in, you’ll simply deal with it there and then. Good luck!