Published 4 Sep 2018

How to Take the Leap and Turn Your Freelance Work into a Career

by CoursesOnline Contributors

Freelance working. In our minds, it looks like a beach, with a laptop in one hand and a cocktail in the other. While the flexibility on offer allows for this scenario, there are several things you need to remember. It’s a lifestyle of being your own boss, organising your taxes, and staying positive. No matter how hard that can be.

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People in the UK consider Themselves
Freelance Workers

Here at CoursesOnline, we love bringing you exciting tit-bits you might not know. One juicy piece of gossip is that many of our writers are freelance. Furthermore, the author of this article is wildly handsome and, more importantly, a freelance writer.

But the world of freelance isn’t just reserved for writers, nor even just creatives. In this article, we want to give you all the information you need to turn your freelance work into a career.

What is Freelance work?

To be self-employed and hired to work for different companies on particular assignments

Pros and Cons of Working Freelance in the UK

Pros

Flexibility: Work as much as you want, wherever you want
Unlimited income: In theory, there is no limit to what you can earn. The only restriction is the time you can put towards your career
Work from Home: If all you need is a speedy internet connection, why not work from a café? Or in another country?
Be Your Own Boss: Not a fan of being bossed around or waiting on corporate bureaucracy? One of the best aspects of freelance work is that you decide which projects you take on

Cons

Taxes: Chasing the British Benjamins is all well and good, but it’s essential to follow the correct protocol when it comes to tax. The government has some great helpsheets for you to follow.
Invoicing time: Most clients deserve a gold star for their invoice payment methods. However, invoicing time can vary depending on the client
Social Life: You’ve escaped the office politics, but you may find that you miss the kitchen small talk and workplace friendships

Increase in the number of freelance
workers in the UK

Top Skills Needed for Freelancers

Time Management

Self-Motivated

Communication

Organisation

What Are the Most Popular Freelance Careers in the UK?

While there is no set route to the freelance life, here are some steps to consider:

Research
The first step is research. If you’re an SEO expert or digital designer, send emails out to companies and check job boards like Indeed.co.uk to see what the demand is for freelance work
Build Your Portfolio
Once you know there’s work out there, build up your portfolio. Potential clients are going to want to see previously created artwork or evidence that you can get them up the Google search results
Be Visible
A well-constructed, suitably designed website can be a great tool to land clients. Information about yourself, samples of your previous work, and testimonies from earlier clients answer most questions that a recruiter may have about you
Full-Time or Side-Hustle?
If you haven’t already, there may be a time when you need to take the leap of faith out of full-time work. You’ll find yourself torn between taking on more clients and your time in the office. The only way to find out is to take that step

So, how can I start freelancing and go down the path of self-employment?

Not every career path is suited to the flexibility that freelance work offers. Most careers in this area have small, on-going projects or multiple clients and tend to have a strong creative-focus. So, can I earn enough to make this a career? The simple answer to this question is yes. If you’re prepared to work hard and establish yourself as a reliable worker in your industry, then it’s certainly possible. As we mentioned, the earnings are only capped by how much you want to work.

Some of the most popular freelance jobs in the UK include:

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Freelance Teacher

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Freelance Web Designer

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Freelance Translator

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Freelance
Writer

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Freelance Graphic Designer

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Freelance Social Media Coordinator

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Freelance
Administrator

The Best Advice if You’re Considering a Career Freelancing

Work will come, and it will go

It’s important to remain calm and confident during any lull periods. Take advantage of this time to take a trip somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. Furthermore, you can work at irregular hours, so visit that museum that’s always busy or simply get some fresh air.

The wrong clients aren’t worth the hassle

Whether it’s dodging payments or being uncontactable, you should prioritise the right clients. They’re why you wanted to go freelance in the first place, and there are plenty of them out there

Minimise distractions

In an age of easily accessible entertainment and endless social media scrolling, it’s essential to keep your attention on-task. Do this by allocating work hours or scheduling tasks. Tools like Trello are great at keeping you organised

See where it will take you

Whether it’s paying your expenses as you travel across the world as a digital nomad or allowing you to spend more time with your family, a freelance career is hugely rewarding. Put the work in, and you never know where you’ll end up

To explore alternative courses and qualifications that may benefit your freelance life, why not look at the options available:

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