by Rachel Smith
19 September 2018
Hi there. I’m working full-time at a national paper and thinking about going freelance or possibly taking an upcoming redundancy. I have a lot of things I want to do (work related) which I can’t do when I’m working full-time, but I’m thinking freelancing would give me the flexibility to chase some of those opportunities. The trouble is, I’m a bit terrified – mainly because I want to get enough freelance work to match my in-house salary before I take the leap. Don’t know if that’s even possible. Help! Anon
I think if we could guarantee that a lot more people would be jumping ship, for starters – but I understand your anxiety and your need to ‘take the leap’ with even a small sense of security. The trouble is, freelancing doesn’t provide that for most people starting out, not initially anyway. Here are my suggestions:
If a redundancy is indeed on the cards and you want to take it, that can provide a buffer while you set yourself up and start getting some freelance work locked in. But be aware that if you do this, there’s probably a clause in the contract which will prevent you from freelancing for them for a while, which cuts off a probable client immediately.
…float the idea that you write for them as a freelancer; if you can lock in a regular section or certain amount of work per month, even better. And if you can secure, say, a three-month retainer, that’s ideal.
If you’re confident that freelancing could bring a range of possible income streams your way, start researching those. Do you need to upskill? Is there training you can do online or at night? Where does that kind of work come from? Are there sites (like Rachel’s List!) that you need to join so you get job alerts? What kind of Facebook groups should you be in? Are there any LinkedIn groups you could join / engage with? Or networking events you should be going to, in order to connect with new people and make contacts?
A slick, functional website is essential. If you can’t be found via a Google search, you’re essentially invisible. Similarly, your socials should be busy and relevant to your niche. Engage with others, post regularly and build those platforms as much as possible.
Upload a great photo, personalise your headline with relevant keywords so you pop up in specific searches. Pack it with a variety of clippings, and connect with as many colleagues as you can. This post by Lister Darren Bagueley has some great advice on creating a killer LinkedIn profile.
… and if it’s allowed in your current work contract so you can jump ship knowing you’ve locked in some work already.
I also want to mention that freelancing is very different from working in-house. I spoke on a panel a few years ago to journalists who were made redundant at Fairfax about just how different it can be. You’re essentially responsible for everything: finding work, chasing clients, closing deals with clients, invoicing, chasing invoices, pitching stories, re-pitching stories that have been rejected, managing tricky clients, organising your time without a boss breathing down your neck, handling your own IT, networking, marketing yourself… and the list goes on. You have to be wholly dedicated to freelancing and the flexibility it offers to take all that on and make it work. I don’t mean to make you glum or put you off. I’m living proof that it’s an amazing way to work and very hard to go back once you’ve carved out a niche. But it’s definitely an adjustment. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Listers – what did I miss? Any advice for this reader before she jumps ship?
