Make sure your freelance job doesn't interfere with your day job before you start looking.
JD Hancock/Flickr
Raises aren't what they used to be, and neither is job security.
For these reasons, some workers turn to freelancing. If you're looking
to supplement your income, or test the waters for a whole new career,
freelancing might be the answer. Here's how to find the best freelance
jobs for your skills, needs, and experience.
1. Networking.
At least
60 percent
of all jobs are found through networking. Freelance gigs are
particularly well-suited for this job search method, because employers
are more willing to give you a chance if you come recommended by someone
they already know and trust.
How do you get started networking? The good news is that you're
probably doing it already. If you socialize with present or former
colleagues or anyone in your industry, you're making and forging
connections that will help you find work, freelance or otherwise. Your
goal now is to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities.
2. Social Media.
Social
media is the would-be freelancer's best friend. Your favorite social
network can be your personal website, free advertising, and electronic
business card, all rolled into one. You can leverage your existing
social media presence by quietly announcing to certain connections that
you're looking for work, or post a general notice on your own profile
that you're now accepting freelance clients.
Just watch those
privacy settings.
If you've connected with your boss -- or the office tattletale -- on
social media, you could inadvertently be announcing your intentions to
the wrong person.
3. Job Sites.
When you think of
job sites,
you probably only think in terms of full-time work. But in fact, most
of the major job search sites allow you to search for freelance gigs as
well, either by keyword, filter, or category.
In addition, there are plenty of sites that cater specifically to folks looking solely for freelance work. See
this page for an ever-evolving list.
Most
industries have professional associations; it's worth it to research
the ones in your field, to see if the membership dues come with access
to specialized job boards, career advice, education, or other support.
To find organizations in your area, start with your best friend Google
-- and don't forget to ask your real friends and colleagues for their
recommendations, as well.
Know Before You Look for Freelance Jobs:
If
you're looking for extra work on top of your full-time job, you need to
take special care that your part-time gig doesn't interfere with your
main source of income.
This requires a bit of advance planning, even before you start looking for freelance jobs:
-
Make sure your employer doesn't have a policy against moonlighting. In
some cases, you will have signed a legal document prior to starting your
job, which specifies whether you can work another job, and what kind of
jobs are OK. If you've been at your current job a long time, this might
have slipped your mind. Now's a good time to check on your employer's
policy. (But
don't tell HR directly that you're working part-time elsewhere. You might send a message you don't intend.)
- Trade secrets.
Even if your boss doesn't care about your working for another company,
your employer might have a policy about using information you've learned
in the course of your regular duties to earn extra cash for a
competitor.
- Scheduling issues. Once you've
figured out that you're legally in the clear to take on extra work, make
sure you won't paint yourself into a corner, time-wise, by doing so. If
freelancing will make it hard to find time to do your full-time job,
it's not worth the money.
In any case, start small. Don't commit
to 20 hours of extra work right off the bat. Take on a few hours of
work, or one project for a single client, to get an idea of how you'll
cope with the extra workload, before you commit more time and resources
to freelancing.
