How to Successfully Freelance Across Multiple Specialities
Top Tips for being a Jack of all Trades
Want to Successfully Freelance Across Multiple Specialities? Read this article to become a Jack of all Trades!
The concept of mastery
The idiom: “Jack of all trades, master of none” is often met with ambivalent reception. Many consider it to be true, however, within freelancing circles, there is an increasing demand for varying skillsets from entrepreneurial workers. Adapting to lockdowns over the last few years proved how adaptable and flexible freelancers are and need to be, and this digital wave makes it more possible than ever for one to master many trades.
The interesting word here is master. Well, is anyone really a master of anything, and how do you determine it? We think you don’t need heaps of qualifications and experiences to become a master at your trade(s). Your skill set and passion are sufficient to fuel your confidence, attract clients and boost your income. So let’s get started!
How to get started
We at Revolancer believe a good tip for getting started is to find some extra work that you like. Why not take on side work and passion projects, alongside one main, marketable skill?
Learning and marketing only new skills is unlikely to encourage your highest potential income, as you won’t have any extensive experience. Committing to one main trade while taking on new projects successively allows you to build up a substantive portfolio. This will help you maximise a foundation and root from which your experience, work and income can develop.
A word of advice for deciding on new trades is to take a close look at your main source of income and develop complementary skills to the ones you have, or need, for this trade and branch out from there. Try to freelance across many specialities in one niche. Taking on something completely different may increase the work necessary to become a Jack of all trades.
Look at your hobbies
We believe you should be enjoying the work you do, so why not take inspiration from what you enjoy and see if there’s potential to profit there?
The best way to build up a good reputation and income is to be skilled and knowledgeable about your work. Turning your hobby or interest into something profitable removes the need to do any further learning. This is the knowledge you already have or will pick up far easier when having a base level of knowledge, saving you time and effort that you may not even be billed for.
Another positive to this way of starting is that you will be enjoying your work and getting paid to do what you do anyway. Just be mindful that there is the potential to lose the passion for the hobby outside of the work, as in, you may still enjoy doing it for work, but not so much as a hobby outside of that.
The Pros of Freelance Across Multiple Specialities
So, you think you have what it takes to give being a Jack of all trades a go, but you’re worried about whether it’s worth it. Fear not, we’ve investigated a few positives and negatives of taking on this kind of work to fully prepare you.
Learn New Skills
The Jack of all trades mindset is often met with initial negativity. Many believe that attempting to master multiple interests can hinder your growth, skill and passion. This can be true if you attempt to master many at the same time, however, wise planning will allow you to master your desired area, while at the same time developing and mastering skills on the side.
With a little interest and dedication, you can open your portfolio up, and introduce yourself to new skills and a whole new client base.
Problem-solving
Upscaling your freelance workload allows you to face more challenges, and increases your responsibility and the number of deadlines.
These problems, while increasing the pressure freelancers face, allow you to think outside the box, and increase your experience in multiple areas. This will ultimately expand your skill set, network, and potential income.
Choose big or small clients
An important place to start is to provide some structure to your work. Take a look at the clients you wish to work with. As the number of trades you have under your belt expands, so does the number of clients available.
Exercising some control over who you work with, whether a well-known client to you or the industry, or whether you filter out clients based on them being a big or small company can prove helpful.
Having a say in the work you do, and planning ahead allows you to still keep your options open and be flexible, at the same time ensuring you don’t burn out.
The Cons of Freelance Across Multiple Specialities
Burnout.
While freelancing can be a fun and flexible approach to work, initially setting up your business and establishing your reputation can be tiring. Especially if you’re consistently working above and beyond to master your trades.
This demanding set-up can lead to burnout and tiredness, both of which can contribute to loss of passion. Ensuring you take adequate time to learn your trade and set realistic goals, incorporating holiday into it, you can reasonably achieve your goals and look after your health.
Prioritising Passion
When choosing your trades based on your passions, you will always have one you enjoy the least. As is typical, you may be met with a streak of clients asking to employ your least favourite trade.
However, you never know where some doors might lead you, so be open and patient in warming up to it. Another helpful tip is to set your boundaries and manage your expectations. Maybe you only want to work with three clients in a row of one skill and keep rotating. This keeps the projects you’re working on new and exciting and can prevent the boredom that comes with repetitive tasks.
With these tips and overviews in mind, you’re well on your way to becoming a Jack of all trades.
Before you go
Now that you know how to successfully freelance across multiple specialities be sure to read, ‘5 effective opening messages to send a client’ as you strive for that initial connection. To make the most of the 0% commission fee freelancing, be sure to check out Revolancer Plus!
Freelance marketplace: Revolancer