Landing your freelance job: How to catch a recruiter’s eye
The freelance boom is officially in full swing now that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to rethink how to do business. With uncertainty looming large, many employers are looking to rely more on flexible talent, at least for the time being, to cut down on costs without compromising on quality. A quick scroll through LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or any other job search website will show that while hiring freezes may be in effect for many companies, freelance gigs are plentiful. If anything, more and more hiring managers are getting on board with contracting work out to independent professionals.
If you’re thinking about getting into the freelancing game, this is certainly the time for it. Here are some useful tips to get you started and catch recruiters’ attention.
Sign up for professional talent platforms
One of the most important rules of marketing is “to make yourself known.” Job hunting is all about marketing yourself, so you really need to put yourself out there. Sign up for job search websites and make a profile so that recruiters can find you. Instead of randomly emailing your CV to an inbox that someone may never check, having a profile means your information is always online and ready for viewing. Nowadays, with freelancing being so popular, there are dedicated websites for those looking to freelance to showcase their skills and offer their services. Take advantage of these sites - most of them are free.
Take the time to develop your profile
You reap what you sow when you are job hunting, so put in the effort to personalize your profile. Describe yourself with a short and snappy bio that will help others see your potential and want to continue down your profile page. A good introduction takes multiple edits to get down, so ask a friend to review it for you and work on it with people who know you and what makes you a unique job candidate. Most job search platforms will also have sections for you to write about your professional experiences and even upload a portfolio. Take advantage of these and actually input the information because an aspiring freelancer really needs to demonstrate a successful track record and share glowing performance reviews.
Unlike an applicant for a full-time position, an applicant for a freelance or contract position may have the additional pressure of proving that he or she can familiarize themselves with a project right away and deliver results without much training or coaching. After all, the ability to seamlessly integrate into the company and do the job is what employers are looking for when contracting out. Therefore, your profile needs to emphasize how you have been instrumental in reaching targets, completing projects and/ or contributing to a company in a significant way. Tell your story as a professional with tangible cases, figures, etc.
Be proactive and follow up
Unless you are famous, chances are recruiters aren’t knocking down your door daily. It is instead up to you to be reaching out to them. The obvious way is by applying for the jobs that you see listed. However, it is just as important to connect with recruiters directly, especially if they have their own profiles that you can message and add as a contact. Being proactive and keeping in touch not only increases your chances of securing a job, but it makes it more likely that you are the person the recruiter thinks of when another job comes up in the future.
This is certainly the time for freelancers as companies look to be more flexible with how they employ and how they work. Yet, you need to keep in mind that if you are thinking about freelancing, the guy sitting next to you at work right now is probably thinking the same thing. To make yourself stand out, all you can really do is hunker down and put in the effort. Read up on how to personalize your profile; brush up on the skills you are looking to offer. The rest will work itself out.
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The freelance boom is officially in full swing now that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to rethink how to do business. With uncertainty looming large, many employers are looking to rely more on flexible talent, at least for the time being, to cut down on costs without compromising on quality. A quick scroll through LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or any other job search website will show that while hiring freezes may be in effect for many companies, freelance gigs are plentiful. If anything, more and more hiring managers are getting on board with contracting work out to independent professionals.
If you’re thinking about getting into the freelancing game, this is certainly the time for it. Here are some useful tips to get you started and catch recruiters’ attention.
Sign up for professional talent platforms
One of the most important rules of marketing is “to make yourself known.” Job hunting is all about marketing yourself, so you really need to put yourself out there. Sign up for job search websites and make a profile so that recruiters can find you. Instead of randomly emailing your CV to an inbox that someone may never check, having a profile means your information is always online and ready for viewing. Nowadays, with freelancing being so popular, there are dedicated websites for those looking to freelance to showcase their skills and offer their services. Take advantage of these sites - most of them are free.
Take the time to develop your profile
You reap what you sow when you are job hunting, so put in the effort to personalize your profile. Describe yourself with a short and snappy bio that will help others see your potential and want to continue down your profile page. A good introduction takes multiple edits to get down, so ask a friend to review it for you and work on it with people who know you and what makes you a unique job candidate. Most job search platforms will also have sections for you to write about your professional experiences and even upload a portfolio. Take advantage of these and actually input the information because an aspiring freelancer really needs to demonstrate a successful track record and share glowing performance reviews.
Unlike an applicant for a full-time position, an applicant for a freelance or contract position may have the additional pressure of proving that he or she can familiarize themselves with a project right away and deliver results without much training or coaching. After all, the ability to seamlessly integrate into the company and do the job is what employers are looking for when contracting out. Therefore, your profile needs to emphasize how you have been instrumental in reaching targets, completing projects and/ or contributing to a company in a significant way. Tell your story as a professional with tangible cases, figures, etc.
Be proactive and follow up
Unless you are famous, chances are recruiters aren’t knocking down your door daily. It is instead up to you to be reaching out to them. The obvious way is by applying for the jobs that you see listed. However, it is just as important to connect with recruiters directly, especially if they have their own profiles that you can message and add as a contact. Being proactive and keeping in touch not only increases your chances of securing a job, but it makes it more likely that you are the person the recruiter thinks of when another job comes up in the future.
This is certainly the time for freelancers as companies look to be more flexible with how they employ and how they work. Yet, you need to keep in mind that if you are thinking about freelancing, the guy sitting next to you at work right now is probably thinking the same thing. To make yourself stand out, all you can really do is hunker down and put in the effort. Read up on how to personalize your profile; brush up on the skills you are looking to offer. The rest will work itself out.