Being a freelancer can feel like a continuous job search at times. Freelancing encourages you to constantly put yourself out there for new chances, rather than settling into one solid position like you would in typical employment for that you will be needing some job hunting tips.
Yes, it can be exhausting and difficult at times. But there’s good news: it doesn’t have to be excruciatingly unpleasant.
Your first instinct is to write an incredible resume, upload it on an international job board and wait for the magic to happen, sometimes that may not be enough.
So, what precisely do you need to know when you’re on a job search? Here are 10 must-know job hunting tips for you.
Highlight your value
You must emphasize what you bring to the table in any job search. Clients, like any other employer, are more interested in what you can do for them than what they can do for you —it may sound self-serving, but it’s true.
This means you should resist the impulse to list all of the ways that freelance work would be beneficial to you and instead focus on how you can help them.
Will you help them raise the number of visitors to their blog? Are they able to provide high-quality product photography that draws their customers’ attention? Improve their search engine results by optimizing their website? Whatever you have to offer, make sure you emphasize the good outcomes of your work for that possible client. Being less self-serving is beneficial.
Be prepared to show your work
In a standard job search, a CV and cover letter are required. But, to be honest, It’s not typically requested to submit a formal resume when applying for a freelance job.
What exactly are they searching for if they don’t want an overview of my professional history? Samples. There are a lot of samples.
Prospective freelance clients are less interested in hearing about your expertise and more eager in seeing it for themselves. So, instead of spending hours perfecting your resume, focus on putting up some work examples that you’re proud of. You’ll be asked to share those a lot more often.
Ask for client referrals or testimonials
When it comes to job hunting, the old adage “it’s not about what you know, but who you know” is often repeated. But here’s the thing: it has some merit, particularly for freelancers. You don’t have any better supporters than your past customers (provided they were happy with your work, of course). With that in mind, it’s a good idea to use them as a resource and a conduit for new opportunities.
Send them an email asking if they would be willing to refer you to additional options. It’s a terrific approach to get freelance jobs that’s quick, easy, and distinguishes you from the competition right away.
If your previous clients are unable to refer you to anyone, ask them to write a glowing testimonial for you.
Tailor your approach
Number 4 in our list of job hunting tips is a general approach in any job search.
If you’ve ever done a traditional job search, you’ve probably been told that you should tailor your CV to each position you apply for. As a freelancer, you won’t be handing your resume, but the guideline about personalizing your approach still applies.
I understand how tempting it is to send out general, blanket emails that say something like, “Here’s what I offer—please pay me to do it for you.” However, that method proves to be useless in the end.
You’re much better off taking the time to research possibilities you’re passionate about, figuring out who to contact about those chances, and then sending a well-crafted, focused, and impressive email to throw your hat into the ring. Is that going to take longer? Yes. It does, however, produce far superior results.
Make It short and sweet
The majority of people who hire freelancers are preoccupied. So, while you’re talking about how you’re ideal for the position and all the reasons why, keep your pitch brief and sweet.
Make it simple for companies to glance over your main points and understand why they should hire you. If you have a personal portfolio website, make sure it’s user-friendly and has a variety of examples of your work.
Be proud of your online presence
If you’ve been living under a rock, we have some bad news for you: people will look you up online when you’re looking for work (whether it’s freelancing or traditional). It’ll most likely be one of the first things they do.
It’s especially vital to have a professional web presence when applying for freelancing jobs where you’ll be working, corresponding, and connecting with customers mostly online.
Take a few minutes now to clean up your LinkedIn profile and remove any inappropriate or unprofessional stuff from your public profiles. After all, you don’t want that to be the thing that gets in the way of you getting the job of your dreams.
Master the art of the follow-up
Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone responded to your first email? That sounds fantastic, but it’s also far from reality. You must be prepared to follow up respectfully after your initial communication, pitch, or application in any form of employment search. It’s all part of the process, especially if you’re a freelancer.
To keep track of when you apply for work and who you contacted, I recommend using a spreadsheet, Trello board, or even a handwritten list. This will assist you in determining when it is acceptable to check in again. Be forewarned: wait at least a week after your initial contact before following up. Anything before that appears overly eager—and, to be honest, a little obnoxious.
When you have a freelancing career, you must continually be on the lookout for new chances, which can make your job feel like a never-ending job search. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it appears. Put these techniques to use, and you’ll have a much better chance of landing amazing freelancing gigs—without the sweaty palms that come with traditional job hunting.
Use job alerts
You can do this on LinkedIn and job boards. After you’ve completed a job search on LinkedIn, you’ll notice a ‘Job Alert’ button, simply click it to receive job alerts for similar positions. On job boards, there is a similar function.
Don’t lose your current clients
It’s critical to keep your present clientele from leaving. As a freelancer, your reputation is built on how clients refer you to one another. It’s critical to keep your clients informed about your work if you want to keep them and increase their range. Furthermore, do not submit projects after the deadline has passed.
Also, when dealing with clients, maintain a kind and compassionate demeanor. This has a significant impact on your image and reputation.
Research Your Clients
Before pitching anyone or applying for freelance jobs, do some research. By doing some internet sleuthing or conversing with your network, you can avoid potential issues with clients.
If you’re not interested in freelancing and looking for hacks to kick off your job search read our 5 simple ways to kick off your job search.
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