On Starting As a Solonopreneur: 3 Key Things Project Managers Should Know |
Posted: December 16, 2015 |
Escaping the cubicle and starting a freelance career seems to appeal to a lot of young professionals. According to a recent study by Upwork over 53 million Americans have chosen to work for themselves rather than sell their souls to the corporate world. The Freelance economy is on the rise and by 2020 it was estimated that over 40% of the American workforce would work as independent contractors for hire. I have started freelancing back in 2012 when there was less of the freelance hype out there. As a returned from my slightly extended sabbatical that turned to be an amazing adventure through South-East Asia and a year as a World Teach Volunteer. Returning to my old office job seemed like a soul crashing experience, so I’ve started a side-hustle as an independent project coordinator. At that time, there were less remote positions available and fewer companies felt comfortable taking a freelancer for a long-term commitment. I’ve learned a few good lessons during my low times, which still stand true today. So, if you are considering a freelance career in project management, here are some essentials you should know. Finding the first gig is rather difficult for newbie freelancer. So far, you have zero credentials, non-existent portfolio and no client testimonials that validate your business. But how do you get those unless you land a job? That’s the catch-22 Here’s my advice – tap into your existing network. It’s bigger and more effective than you think. Step 1: Upgrade your LinkedIn profile.Write a new snappy description clearly stating that you are now working as an independent contractor. Add all your skills and ask your connections to endorse you and leave testimonials about your performance. Upload all the certificates/accolades you have. Your LinkedIn profile is your new CV – make sure it shines. I also started curating relevant news/blog posts on my profile; joined a few niche groups and published a few posts on LinkedIn Pulse to raise my credibility for potential recruiters. Step 2: Start Reaching Out Your network is bigger than you think, especially if you consider your “weak connections” e.g. the startuper boyfriend of your cousin. Start with your closest circles – friends and family. Does anyone need help with coordinating an event at their shop? Ask them to ask their friends and make introductions if possible. Next, reach out to your former employers (considering you do have good relationships with them) and ask whether they happen to know someone in need of your services. Once you get some contacts, start crafting a letter of introduction. Keep it short and simple – highlight your top achievements and experience (here are some great templates for project coordinator position that I’ve used); list how you can help the company and add a link to your LinkedIn profile. Step 3: Sound Professional, but Not Boring.When reaching out to potential employers or responding to job ads, most of us tend to become just too wordily. We want to squeeze all our awesomness in one lengthy email that is likely to get ignored. (Guess what? Most employers are really busy people). Be brief and to the point. If the job description says you should write a short intro about yourself, list your core experience and attach a project brief – do so. Don’t go into unwanted details like your education, or hobbies or all the jobs you’ve taken in the past two years. Ideally, it’s nice to create a portfolio website and just drop a link to, so that the recruiter could get to know more about you. That’s the place to show your personality, list all your accomplishments and full credentials.
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