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VANDITA SINGH - FREELANCER
WHAT CAREER WHERE YOU IN BEFORE YOU BECAME A FREELANCER?
I was a research analyst and virtual assistant in market research.
WHY DID YOU QUIT YOUR JOB?
I quit my regular job to explore more in my career. When you become a freelancer you start working on your own terms. You search for projects, deal with clients, and you can work as many hours and on as many projects as you want. All of these helps you to grow in your career.
I like that I learn something new every day and that I can acquire experiences in a variety of fields. There is also the opportunity to work by yourself or with a team, and you earn as much as you want. I found these opportunities are not readily available in regular jobs.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT THE FDN WORK -LIFESTYLE?
The FDN lifestyle allows me to work from any place in the world, and it gives me the freedom to choose my working hours at my remote locations.
WHAT MISCONCEPTIONS (MYTHS) ABOUT THE FDN LIFESTYLE EXISTS?
1 – That our work is not that important since we work from home or a remote location. Many people don’t always see an FDN’s work and time as valuable as someone with a regular job. The reality is that freelancers also have commitments towards their clients which they have to fulfill. We choose to work from our remote location, but that doesn’t mean we are not working.
2 – Job Security: Most people think FDN’s don’t enjoy job security. That is not true for me. Over the past 5-years, I’ve always had projects and clients that help me reach my monthly income target.
“I like that I learn something new every day and that I can acquire experiences in a variety of fields.”
DO YOU WORK MORE HOURS AS A FREELANCER COMPARED TO YOUR 9-5 JOB?
Yes, I am working more hours. But it’s every freelancer’s choice; we are in control to choose the number of hours we want to work each day.
WHERE ARE YOUR TO-GO-TO PLACES TO FIND CLIENTS?
Upwork – It an authentic platform where I have found real clients with real projects; unlike other shady websites. Also, Upwork’s’ policies not only ensure that I get paid after the work is complete, but it also offers a rating system for both freelancers and clients. My rating helps me a lot to get new clients.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE INCOME (P/MONTH) AN FDN CAN EXPECT TO MAKE IN A SIMILAR FIELD TO YOURS?
It really depends on how many hours you choose to work. I tend to earn around $850-900 per month.
WHAT ARE TWO COMMON MISTAKES WHEN JUST STARTING AS A FREELANCER?
1 – Don’t commit to more than you can deliver. It often happens that freelancers overcommit or bid on projects they don’t have the skills for because they are more concerned about the amount of money they will earn. Never do that.
2 – Always be honest with clients about your skillset. Before committing to any project, let the client know what you can do and what area you are not an expert in.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS A FREELANCER NEEDS TO GET STARTED IN FREELANCING?
1 – Skillset: Before starting, a freelancer needs to analyze what their strongest skills are and how they can use these to work independently.
2 – Working Hours: Decide in advance how many hours you need to work, whether that is per day or week.
3 – Dedication & Time Frame: You need to be dedicated towards your client. Always deliver the project within the agreed upon time frame.
WILL YOU GO BACK TO A ‘NORMAL’ 9-5 JOB?
No.
IS IT HARD WORK TO BE A FREELANCER?
Yes, definitely. It takes hard work and commitment to be a successful freelancer.
WHAT ARE THE HARDEST ASPECTS ABOUT FREELANCING?
When I just started, it was hard to get that first project and win the trust of prospective clients. Clients don’t know who we are and don’t trust us until we show them that they can trust us.
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES?
I had faith and trust in my skillsets. When I applied to projects I was very precise about how I was going to handle the project and told the client so. This way, the client understood that I knew what I was doing and gave me a chance.
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 BENEFITS TO YOU OF BEING A FREELANCER?
1 – Being able to work remotely.
2 – Working as many hours as I want.
3 – The exposure I get by working on as many projects as I want and learning new skills and abilities every day.
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One Response
Interesting to read about how oyher freelancer do it…