Where You Can Find The Best Freelance Jobs

Have you been considering making the switch to freelance writing?

Perhaps you want to make a career change or pick up a side hustle.

Whichever it is, freelance jobs are a great way to find flexible and consistent work.

But if you’re new to the freelance game, you probably have some questions.

There’s a lot of ground to navigate when you’re first starting, so if you’re looking for more information on becoming a freelance worker, you’re in the right place.

What Are Freelance Jobs?

The basic definition of a freelancer is someone who works for various companies but isn’t an official employee.

Freelance jobs hire people for a brief period to do specific tasks.

The most common freelance jobs include writing, IT work, or design, but you can find assignments in many industries.

Which Type of Freelancing is Best for Beginners?

As a novice freelancer, you’ll have a lot of options to dive into the market.

Here are a few fields worth considering.

Writing

Freelance writing is a great way to put your writing skills to use professionally.

Freelance writer jobs are available for blog writers, content writers, and even authors.

These writers can get jobs writing for websites, businesses, or organizations.

Editing

Freelance editors work similarly to freelance writers.

In many cases, they’ll work for the same types of organizations.

Other freelance editors will edit works in the publishing world, such as independently published books or something else.

Graphic Design

Freelance graphic designers design marketing materials, website graphics, and other web content.

Organizations that don’t have a formal marketing department will often hire freelance graphic designers to take on much of their web-based graphic content.

Web Development

Becoming a freelance web developer might be a good choice if you want part-time web development experience with a flexible schedule.

Freelance web developers will design websites or web pages for individual clients.

Teaching

Experienced teachers can make a living by teaching freelance.

Examples of freelance teaching jobs include teaching online classes, developing course content, or running webinars.

Freelance teaching can be tricky to break into, but you can become a “teacherpreneur” with some hard work.

Translating

Translating services are popular and in demand across all industries that have a global presence.

So if a publishing house, business, or large organization needs content translated into a specific language, freelance translators are typically the first place they look.

How Much Do Freelance Jobs Pay?

Freelance rates vary based on industry, job scope, and experience.

For example, a freelance writer who’s just entering the field will earn significantly less than one who’s been at it for ten years.

Freelance rates are determined based on the job.

For example, writers will get paid per word or piece, while web designers might get paid a flat fee for an entire project.

Keep in mind these are averages.

For example, writers can make as little as a penny per word, while programmers can earn $100 per hour with the right experience.

Where Can You Find Freelance Jobs?

Are you ready to start looking for freelance work?

Fortunately, there are several freelance websites where you can search for assignments.

Like Monster.com, you can search these sites to look for freelance jobs in your niche.

The following list should give you a few good starting points.

1. Upwork

Upwork is a job search engine specifically for freelance work.

Freelancers in all fields can find work on Upwork, from single jobs to long-term contracts.

So, whether you’re looking for a job in your freelance writing niche or want to do some freelance marketing, Upwork will have you covered.

2. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is known for connecting people within and across industries.

It also has a job board where you can find plenty of freelance opportunities.

Head to LinkedIn’s work database to see what’s available in your freelance field and create a business page so that employers can find you.

3. Toptal

Toptal is where businesses go to look for the best of the best in the freelance world.

Toptal hosts the top 3 percent in every freelance niche.

Freelancers include software developers, finance experts, and project managers with extensive experience.

4. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is similar to Upwork in that it connects buyers to freelancers.

However, the main difference is that job seekers must apply to become certified freelancers before accepting work.

Once approved, workers can search all of PeoplePerHour’s available work.

5. Guru

Guru is a global platform that connects clients with expert freelancers.

Potential jobs include computer programming, design, secretarial work, sales, and writing.

Clients can post jobs on the job feed, and workers can apply by sending quotes for their work.

6. Freelancer

Freelancer is your essential freelancing website. Job seekers can search for jobs that clients post on the job board.

It’s a simple, efficient way to find and post jobs, making it one of the most straightforward sites to find work on.

It’s set up similarly to Upwork, so if you’ve explored Upwork, you’ll be able to dive into Freelancer quickly.

How Do You Get Freelance Jobs?

Acquiring a freelance position is often as simple as just applying.

However, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops before you’re ready to start applying for jobs.

Develop Your Skills

As with any other job, you’ll need to build up your professional skills to become a freelancer in your chosen industry.

A great first step for developing your skills is to create a portfolio to showcase your skills clearly and cleanly.

A portfolio will give businesses something to look at to see proof of your qualifications.

Polish Your Resume

Freelancing is an appealing gig, so you need to polish up your resume so it stands out.

Include detailed descriptions of previous work experiences.

If you don’t have any work history, outline any relevant educational experiences and include a portfolio of work.

Get Some Practice

Practicing your craft is the best way to make sure your skills are sharp.

You can do this by adding a few new pieces to your portfolio or taking an online course or two.

Depending on your field, you could consider volunteering somewhere.

Look for Jobs

Once you have your ducks in a row, you can start looking for jobs.

Start by exploring the sites listed above.

After you get a feel for what’s available, narrow your search.

And remember–don’t undersell yourself.

Research what others with your experience make and provide comparable quotes.

Start Signing Up

The best thing about freelance work is that you can take one job or five, depending on your field.

For example, bloggers can pick up jobs for multiple websites.

You can choose among common blogger jobs and work as much or as little as you want.

Work and Get Feedback

As you work, make sure to get feedback from clients.

Build good rapport with them so they seek you out in the future.

Most importantly, keep a record of all your feedback because you’ll need it when it comes time to build your website.

Ask for Referrals

When you near the end of each job, reach out to your managers or contacts and ask if you can use them as a referral.

As you progress in your field, clients will require more references.

Therefore, you want to build a diverse group of references you can use for each job.

Start a Website

A website is an excellent way to showcase your work.

Although a simple portfolio will suffice early on, once you gain more experience, you’ll want to have a larger body of work.

A website is an effective vehicle for organizing and presenting your past achievements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have a few questions about freelance work?

It can be a pretty complex field, so here are the answers to a few common questions.

Wrapping Up

Freelance work can be rewarding, fun, and an excellent way to build experience.

You can find freelance jobs in most industries, so if you want to change things up, check out some of the job boards listed above to see what fits your skills and needs.

Have you worked as a freelancer before?

Drop us a comment to tell readers about your experience and give any tips or tricks that you’ve picked up during your freelancing journey.