The Main Mistakes of Student Freelancers – How to Avoid Them?
The term “freelance” often refers to work without a contract, freelance work. Freelancing is sometimes called teleworking or telecommuting. Freelance began to gain popularity in the mid-80s of the last century. With the development of modern technologies, the emergence, and widespread use of the Internet, the opportunity to be a “free artist” is used by tens of thousands of people around the world: programmers, translators, journalists, writers.
The following list of common student freelancer mistakes with tips on how to avoid them can be very useful for you.
Error №1: Failure to Perform Work Within a Strictly Defined Period (Deadline)
The reputation of any freelancer is directly proportional to his ability not to violate the deadlines, not to go beyond the “boundary line” (literal translation of the English word deadline) time. And a reputation as a freelancer is his only asset. Violated deadlines once, the second, the third – and the client, tired of it, will reach out to your colleagues.
How to avoid mistakes: remember that the deadline is just as important as its quality. Before you start working, evaluate your capabilities – will you have time to meet the deadline or not. When you start working, divide the whole volume into several parts and do it step by step.
Error №2: Prices Are Too Low
Beginners in the freelance business often underestimate themselves and ask the employer for less than their work actually costs. There is nothing wrong with this just if you are just starting to try yourself as a freelancer and do not have experience or business reputation behind you. However, as soon as you feel quite experienced and qualified freelancer, do not hesitate to mention the real amount as a fee.
How to avoid mistakes: before you start working as a freelancer, “probe the ground”. Talk to acquaintances who work in the same field as you, view ads on the Internet, and find out the average earnings.
Error №3: Quarrel With The Client
The workflow may not always go smoothly, so be prepared for changes to be made a hundredfold at the last minute, the workload increased, delivery time shortened, and a few more points added to your responsibilities. Of course, one should defend one’s rights as an employee, but with a cool head. When you learn about unpleasant changes in your work, you should not blame the evil on the client – it is unprofessional and will certainly damage your future reputation.
How to avoid mistakes: if the problem is in the client, the main thing – do not communicate with him immediately after you learn about the unpleasant news. Let off steam in another place: talk to your best friend, take a walk, have a cup of coffee. In short, master yourself.
Then contact the client and calmly discuss the problem with him. If you need additional work, or the deadline has been postponed for some reason, discuss the possibility of fulfilling the client’s requirements and additional rewards for yourself. Do not forget to note that you are ready to enter the position of the client, but hope that such situations will not happen again. In this way, you will show that you are a calm and professional person.
Error №4: One or Two Sources of Income
A freelancer should never have only one or two sources of income. If your main employer suddenly stops needing your services, you are in danger of a financial crisis until you find another great client.
How to avoid mistakes: work with different clients. Starting your business as a freelancer and finding one great client, do not stop there. Have a few customers who will provide you with a steady job (even if the volume is small, you will take the quantity).
Error №5: Performing Uninteresting Work
Often a freelancer grabs any part-time job to earn extra income, forgetting that the transition to freelance work was associated with the desire to do only what is interesting.
How to avoid mistakes: choose for yourself the field of activity that brings you not only material but also moral satisfaction. Don’t be afraid to turn down offers that you are not interested in.
Error №6: Laziness
Let’s face it: there are days when you don’t want to work at all. There is nothing wrong with this if you correctly calculate your time and “catch up” with the unfinished amount of work the next day. However, a few days of laziness means that you are depriving yourself of income and disrupting deadlines.
In the End
How to avoid mistakes: sometimes you really need to give yourself a break, after all, many people go on a freelance basis precisely because they can plan their working hours. However, if the deadline is “on the nose”, do not give yourself any concessions! Obviously, freelancing will come into conflict with your academic responsibilities, which is why you might want to delegate some of your academic load to a descriptive essay service where professionals will help your educational situation.
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