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KAREN HESLOP| Contributor
Last year, I walked away from a well-paying job because it was wreaking havoc on my health and general well-being. It was a huge risk but it was something I knew in my heart that I had to do. Suffice to say, if you’re working in a toxic environment that’s sucking the life out of you and you’re scrambling to find another job, maybe you should consider freelancing. However, before making this life-changing transition it is important that you formulate a practical and foolproof plan.
Build an Emergency Fund
Since you’re thinking about leaving your job, you need to have an accurate figure for the amount of money you’ll need to cover your expenses until you have a steady income. Some persons use their previous job’s pension withdrawal until they have an established income from their freelance work. However, that might not be the right fit for everyone. Ideally, you should start bringing in some income from your freelance venture so you’ll know how much money you can make on your own. Thereby, showing you how long your emergency fund will last.
Revamp your resume
When you’re starting a freelance venture, having a resume that fits is imperative. This new resume must play up the strengths related to said venture. If things are looking a bit thin once you remove your traditional accolades, look into ways to build your skills. This can include picking up some new responsibilities at work or volunteering your services with a well-known organization. In my case, as a freelance writer, I decided to write a few pro bono articles for online magazines. This gifted me with the opportunity of creating a portfolio that I could showcase to potential clients. Additionally, utilizing sites like Coursera can assist you in learning new skills for free or at affordable rates.
Work on a client base
It goes without saying that you can’t have a successful freelance career without a client base. Start with your immediate network and branch out with professional organizations. Along with setting up an income stream, this can give you an indication of how much appeal there is for the services you provide. Initially, this might take some time so you could also start with the world of remote work housed on platforms such as Indeed and Glassdoor.
[Featured image courtesy of Career Contessa]
Karen Heslop is an eloquent wordsmith with a knack for inspiring her audience in her capacity as a Freelance writer.
