Hello, I am Berke! Currently, I work as a full-time freelance software developer. Even though I completed various freelance work from time to time, I did not consider myself in the "freelancer" category in my software journey, which began approximately 10-11 years ago (is that all? :) ). Furthermore, all of the works I made in Turkey were. As you are aware, the country's economy only allows me to work abroad at present.
Although I usually work through Upwork, I also work directly with a few other companies. For now, Upwork is my primary income.
When did you decide to become a freelancer and start to work? When did you get your first job?
As I previously stated, I believe I did not select to become a freelancer but rather began my freelancing career. After that, I held a couple of corporate jobs. Finally, for different reasons, I felt that being a freelancer was the best option, and I returned to being a freelancer.
Putting aside my previous experiences, I began working as a freelancer full-time in the summer of 2020, and I received my first job through Upwork that summer. Since the beginning of April 2021, I've been solely focused on freelancing.
How did you handle it before deciding to do that? What was the rush point?
In my perspective, the most significant challenge/concern was not being able to generate a consistent financial income. Initially, finding a job is more complicated than doing the work. This is undoubtedly one of many people's primary concerns. When your financial situation affects not just you but also your family, you are more concerned with them than with yourself.
This is, in my opinion, a very reasonable concern. Because, as far as I can tell, the vast majority of people are freelancing for the first time. This, of course, comes with some risk. Getting your first job might be challenging, no matter how experienced.
The level of competition is excessive. It's just as crucial to know your business as it is to be able to show yourself to the customer. Also, acquiring your first job does not necessarily imply that you will be paid regularly.
Long-term work has always been my preference at this point. Only the first job I got through Upwork was temporary; the others' contractors are still open, and I am working. Although taking short, low-paying jobs can be beneficial in terms of time and money, I concentrated on finding long-term positions because I found it challenging to maintain consistency.
Of course, this is a very personal decision. For you, the work you want to complete and other factors may make the opposite sense.
My suggestions to new freelancers
As far as I see, becoming a freelancer does not suit everyone. I know about this working, which is why I have never had any problems. However, I am not sure who has no experience with it.
Becoming a freelancer means getting out of your comfort zone. At least, in the beginning, you lose the benefits of being a full-time employee.
Being a freelancer means running a small company and doing all positions. You'll discover clients, define the job, plan and negotiate the fee, do the work, and hand it off. This is merely a high-level overview of how a smooth process works. Otherwise, you'll be dealing with a slew of troubles.
If you are reading this blog, I think you wonder about freelancing. To me, you should try it and see whether it is suitable or not. You cannot know without trying anything. At this point, Zekeriya shares lots of articles and information. Join Freelancer Guide platform. Meet the people and share your ideas. However, I think it won't be an easy process. In the first stage, you can be like;
To sum up:
- If you're curious about becoming a freelancer, try it.
- In the first stage, it's natural to have challenges, don't say I can't do it. It is required some patience and perseverance.
- It's very natural if you don't think it suits you. Everyone's tastes and lifestyles are unique.
- Try to move forward with a little more confidence in the country's current economic situation. Do not force yourself to be a freelancer or to have to work. My advice is to start freelancing in your leisure time; it will require you to work hard for a while, but it will at the very least allow you to advance financially.
After this trial time, you will better understand what freelancing entails. Then, based on your experience, you can decide whether or not to continue.
