Picking up freelance work can be a great way to earn extra income. The money earned from these type of gigs can be used to help supplement your current income, pay off debt, or build passive income through a high yield investment. As the job market continues to feel the pain of the global recession, freelance jobs are becoming more and more critical.
With employers still reluctant to hire full-time workers and employees lack of trust in most companies, freelancing can offer some financial security. As this trend continues and as technology makes it easier to obtain freelance work, it is hard to ignore this potential income stream.
If you are interested in finding freelance work, here are 3 places you can start looking for opportunities.
1. Freelance Websites
Technology has opened up many opportunities for freelance work that were just not available 10 or 15 years ago. On the downside, it has also increased competition for freelance jobs and introduced foreign competition. Websites like oDesk and Elance provide a place where those looking for freelance work can bid on open jobs posted by employers.
Some of the more popular forms of freelance work posted on these sites include – website design, technical writing, blog and article writing, software development, graphic design, and much more. If you have any of these types of skills, you may want to start checking out a couple of these websites.
2. Former Employers
Former employers can be an excellent place to find freelance work, provided you left on good terms. A previous employer may be inclined to hire you back on a contractual basis to work on a project or specific set of tasks. By hiring a former employee, the company saves in training costs and understands the type of worker they are paying for.
I recently completed my first paid freelance assignment through a previous employer. My former employer actually contacted me for the job, as they felt I had the skills and prior knowledge of the work that needed to be completed. The employer saved money as I began working on the project immediately while I added a profitable short term income stream to help out our finances.
If you are looking to earn some extra income, then I highly suggest contacting a former employer to see if they have any freelance opportunities.
3. Networking
Networking is one of the most important tools used to find freelance work in today’s economy. Social networking sites like LinkedIn create an environment where freelancers can network with potential employers for future freelance work.
The nice thing about sites like LinkedIn is that they can be used at no charge to promote your services and skills to potential clients. Some freelancers also leverage popular sites like Twitter and facebook as another way to advertise their services at no cost.
I have received a few inquires about potential freelance job opportunities just from my LinkedIn account. While the timing did not fit with my schedule from these opportunities, I am planning to leverage this tool to find other freelance work that may become available in the future.
Final Thoughts
The traditional work environment is changing from what it once was. Most people I know from the baby boomer generation stayed employed with one company their entire careers before retiring. That just does not seem to be the case anymore. Whether it is the poor economy or improved technology, the trend of earning an income from freelance work is growing.
Freelancing is a great way to start a side business or begin a full-time job on your own. As the economy continues to struggle and companies are hesitant to hire on full-time employees, freelance opportunities will continue to grow. Employers who need specific jobs or projects completed are turning to part-time help to get by until they are confident of hiring again.
Now may be the best time to start considering adding on freelance work as a new income stream. I know that I am exploring several opportunities in this area to help supplement my income and work to become financially independent once and for all.
Do you pick up any side freelance jobs to help supplement your income? What other places can you suggest to find opportunities for those starting out?
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I found a newly launched freelancing network like Odesk and Elance, http://www.ataskfreelancer.com. It’s free to register too. Love the article, I think I will find many of the ideas useful
Thanks!