To be more specific, Online home base freelancing, is the most in-demand or call-to profession now a days. And locally when they hear about it, people have that notion of a "wooh you're rich!" because of the thought that this people are earning a constant flow of dollars. But the unlikely truth is, it's not always the case.
When people first knew that I am doing home-base suddenly they wanted to do the same too. Many thinks that I have all the time and pleasure to choose my own time and the maximum of time that I work for a certain project or client.
So here's the reality and misconceptions in freelancing specifically, Home base Online Freelancing Jobs. Below are some items/questions/factors/misconceptions that I come across:
1. WEALTH and CONSTANT FLOW OF INCOME. Well unlike office-based jobs, there's no so called job security in Freelancing. Almost everyday is a job hunting day, most specially if your a project based freelance provider, where you will be paid for the specific task or project that you have done and then that's the end of the contract.Unless they are satisfied with your output they will rehire you and make you do another job. And if you're lucky enough they can hire you for a long term project and pay you either bi-weekly or per month, which doesn't happen that often.
2. DOESN'T PAY GOVERNMENT TAXES AND OTHER GOV'T FEES. Well this maybe true for some freelancers, but for me I continuously pay for tax and other government fees like PhilHealth, SSS (Social Security System) and PAG IBIG Fund. I have the option not to pay for this but if you want to continuously be blessed with WORK and PROJECTS be honest in paying for your taxes and government fees, but if you don't want to it's your decision. But for me, I treat it as forced savings, so that in the future if I can no longer work for a living, I can have my pension :)
3. NO HEALTH BENEFITS. This is true. So if you love your life and love your health you can pick or get your own LIFE Insurances or Pension plans to take care of your health in case of emergencies. Again this becomes my forced savings, so in the future I have something to use or my future family or beneficiaries just in case something unlikely will happen. We don't live forever in this world. Right?
4. YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR TIME. This maybe true for some. But some clients do require time of log in. Some clients even use time tracking software to seriously track your productivity hours.
5.YOU CAN WORK WHEREVER YOU ARE. This is true if you have a good working Laptop/Netbook and portable plug-it Internet connection. You can't expect WIFI to be present at all times in anywhere you go. If you are a virtual assistant who won't be answering client calls or business related calls then you can work on the beach, in a car or to wherever you are as long as Internet connection is available. But if you don't have that portable device, then this "you can work anywhere" craze may not fit you. If you're getting a home base call center job where you take in income calls or do outgoing calls for clients, you need a sound proof or a zero background noise environment, so it greatly depends on what time of job you have and on the conditions set by your clients.
6. IS A VERY EASY JOB. Well everything is easy when you are enjoying it. If you're doing something that you don't like/love then you will definitely call it as a job. But if you're loving what you're doing, the things that you do daily for your client is something like a hobby,where you spend time to perfect it and enjoy every second doing it.
7. YOU CAN LAND ON A JOB EASILY. Freelance Job hunting is never easy. There are a lot of applicants all over the world. A lot of people are trying to grab the beauty of home base jobs. If you'll search online you'll find a lot of freelance hubs that hosts freelance job posts but not everything is legit. So beware of scams, since there are a lot in the Internet. In most of the sites, getting a project/task/job as a freelancer involves bidding for the price of the project, and most of the time the lowest bidder gets the job.
From my experience, it took me 3 months to finally land to a legit online home base work. And doing it at the same time with the my Office-based job was not easy (that's why I salute those people who survive doing it at the same time). Landing a job is never easy, just like office-based jobs you need to be patient.
8. NO BOSS. Well this is a big misconception. You're client is your BOSS. They supervise you with the things that you need to do or accomplish, they pay you for the project/task that you have done for them and they coach you when there are things that you personally need to change or improve, most of the time with your work ethics. But unlike office-based immediate supervisors, you don't really interact with them physically, most specially if your are working directly to the client, because there are also virtual agencies in the Internet where they act as middle man. They are the once who talk to clients directly and course through informations to you. So if you are in an agency, your BOSS or immediate supervisor is the owner of the agency or an online team-leader, who tracks your productivity hours and checks the quality and accuracy of your work. The difference is you either interact with them through email, skype or chat :).
9. NO CONTRACT. Some clients don't have binding contracts with their Independent contractors and some do have. But whether you have or you don't have, if they feel that they don't need your service or expertise anymore they can end your contract immediately without informing you months or days ahead. You are lucky enough if you'll get a client who will inform you way ahead and give you heads up to look for a new client before your last pay.
10. EASY MONEY. It may look it is but it's not. You maybe overwhelmed seeing success stories online about that great fortune in work from home jobs, some of them are true but a lot of them are scam. Don't be fooled with the easy money process that you can see online. Always remember, great things starts with small things. Their stories are inspiring but you just don't know the pains that they have been through while claiming that fortune of work from home. Article writing jobs starts at $1 per 250 words, hourly rates starts at $0.5 it's so low but there are a few grabbing those rates just to get the job. But if you believe that the quality of work that you can provide for that client is higher than that you don't have to settle in such a small amount.
MY POINT: If you wanted to go on Online Home Base Freelancing ;
- Be patient. Some may be able to land on a job in days, some takes months just like me.
- Bid bid bid. Don't bid too low that it would look like as if you're giving a free service to a client. Come on you're making a living not a charity. :)
- Beware of scams. There are a lot in the Internet.
- Know the industry that you wanted to go to, ask those people who have been working Freelance to give you some tips and advice.
- As you build your online portfolio, always remember Great things starts with small things, just be patient.
- Don't push for freelancing if it's not for you. How would you know? ( Oh well, I couldn't tell, how about you?)
=============================================================== Xy-Za Y. is a Biologist/Chef/Solo Entreprenuer/Freelance Virtual Assistant/Social Media Marketer working from Home. She is residing in the Philippines. She has experience working with the Business Process Outsourcing - Call Center Office Environment. Certified Microsoft Customer Service Representative and QuickBooks Certified User. To know more about the services she offers, you may visit http://lindle323.blogspot.com.
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