5 Skills Every Freelancer Must Possess
With so many people giving up their monotonous 9 to 5 jobs, freelancing is becoming a popular choice among the youth. Freelancers, as the name suggests, are not bound to or specified to certain companies or managers.
A common reason for people shifting to freelancing is the flexibility it brings with itself. From choosing your own working hours and days to choosing your charges, you are your own boss. However, with every comfortable thing comes its responsibilities.
No matter how effortless and glorious freelancing looks, it brings some real-time problems that we didn’t even know existed while working full-time.
You cannot just quit your job and start freelancing in a day. If you’re planning on doing freelance work full-time or part-time, you need to self-check for these skills.
5 Skills to Master for Freelancing
1. Time-Management
When you’re working full-time, it’s easy to shut everything down once the clock ticks 5. However, when you’re freelancing, you completely lose track of time. You might end up working 12 hours one day and just 2 hours the other day. It is your time management that’ll help you through this journey. Time management is highly essential for freelancing. Most freelancers end up working more and getting paid less because of poor management. With no one to mark attendance, you’ll wish to start late and end even later. Well, it is up to you to choose your working hours, but meeting deadlines is as scary as reaching the office on time. So, be ready to work even on weekends if needed.
2. Finance-Management
You can’t just laze around and check with your bank for your monthly salary anymore. One very essential skill for any freelancer is managing finances. Most people do not know about managing their money in the right way. You are your own finance department (and every other department). So, from managing taxes to investing in your work, you have to do it single-handedly. You should get familiar with the financial framework that’ll go with your field.
3. Communication Skills
Communication is by far the most essential skill for any freelancer. It is your words and work that’ll bring you, clients. As a freelancer, you need to communicate a lot. Efficient communication can bring you lots of work and opportunities. The ability to explain, convey, and sell your service is what’s freelancing about. If you can sell your service through your words, written or oral, you’re good to go. If you’re not, it’s time you improve and prepare yourself for some real conversations.
4. Marketing Skills
Did I say you’ll be your own marketing agency as well? Every business or service needs marketing. It is your marketing that can land you some really good opportunities. The right marketing will reach your target audience. You should be ready to spend day-in and day-out managing your social media marketing. However, you first need the knowledge of choosing the right marketing tactics. It is better you dig deep, read books, or listen to marketing podcasts before you start. It is always better to learn everything before you start.
5. Stress-Management Skills
To be honest, freelancing is not a cakewalk. It affects one’s mental health more than a full-time job. Freelancing is a roller coaster ride. One month you’re riding really high, but the next month you’ve come down. Being self-employed is not as stable and constant as other jobs. There are times when you’ll feel low due to lack of work, and there’ll be days when you’ll be stressed with deadlines. The point here is to be able to manage your mental health while freelancing. You should stay patient and persistent throughout the journey. Also, keep your head clear and do not overwork yourself.
