Freelancing probably did not have much appeal to salary earners before the financial crisis when opportunities for career moves were plentiful, but today it is being considered as an interim arrangement for people who find it difficult to secure full-time employment. However, people will be amazed at the diversity of sectors and professions where freelance work is available, such as graphic design, copy editing, accounting, secretarial administration, marketing, hairstyling, image consultation and event management. Most freelance opportunities exist in service-oriented industries and usually require specific skills or professional knowledge.
Starting out is always difficult for inexperienced freelancers. It is not easy for people to change their role as a salaried employee to a self-employed worker who does not have financial security.
'Taking the first step is always hard because the income may be much lower than before, but freelancing has its perks such as a flexible work schedule, the feeling of being in control of my life and the absolute freedom to do things that I enjoy doing,' said Wilson Lau, a freelance journalist who worked as an editor for a trade magazine for more than 10 years. He has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong and has been freelancing for various publications for two years.
Because of the lack of a stable income, freelance work may not be suitable for people with family and financial commitments. Samantha Sin, a freelance commercial photographer who used to work for several major media companies, said: 'When you start from scratch, don't be afraid to use your existing network or call up people and companies that you know and let them know that you are looking for freelance work.' She has since 2003 built up a broad base of clientele from a wide range of sectors, including retail, banking, catering, fast-moving consumer goods, media and advertising. As income is calculated on a project basis, it is important for freelancers to get as much work as possible. But Ms Sin warned that they should not sacrifice quality for quantity. She said it was worth the investment for freelancers to create an impressive portfolio including previous work to demonstrate skills and experience to potential clients.
'Sometimes this means you should be ready to offer free service to potential clients just to kick off. It is also important that freelancers should not consider money as their top priority in the beginning. Attention should be focused on delivering quality service to win a client's confidence and trust in your work, which will help land the next assignment and beyond,' she said.
Freelance work offers people a rare opportunity to work for a diverse range of people, subjects, companies and industries. According to Ms Sin, word of mouth is a key marketing tool to get more clients and more work opportunities through referrals. 'It is worth the time and effort to invest in relationships with your clients. This means you need to deliver quality work every time and be ready to provide quick and professional service. Each time I have completed a job, I will ask clients for feedback on the service.'