Here are 10 things you need to consider before you decide on becoming a full-time online freelance worker
#1 Do you really own your time?
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| Time is precious – image source: commons.wikimedia.org |
Even as many online freelance workers work at their own pace and at their own time, there are some clients who ask their workers to be online at a certain schedule. These clients are normally companies requiring their workers to work with each other. And many of these workers live in different time zones. Due to this, the client would require their workers to be online at night here in the Pearl of the Orient. The closest experience I had with this situation was when a potential client asked me to be online for an interview. It was not much of a problem since I am normally more productive at night so I was able to stay online for the interview. So before you apply for any online job, just make sure you read all the details, especially if the client would require you to go online at a certain time of the day or night.
#2 Will you be productive?
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| Are you productive? – image source: flickr.com |
There are some people who work best when somebody is monitoring them. There are also some people who work best when they are left to their own devices. Which type of person are you? Can you work with minimal supervision? Or do you need someone to hover behind you while you work? Well, this is actually not an issue if you need to be online at a specific time since your client would likely be online as well.
#3 Can you work alone?
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| Working Alone? – image credit: Peter Parcon |
One thing I miss about working in a company is working with other people. Due to this, I normally work inside a coffee shop. At least in this environment I get to see people. Heck, the baristas in the coffee shop where I work already know what I order and they immediately punch it in the moment I approach the counter. There are also some times when I work at the Workplace Café and the people there already know who I am. How about you? Are you a kind of person who can work without anyone else around you? This is one question you should answer before becoming a full-time online freelance worker since you will essentially be on your own.
#4 How fast is your internet connection?
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| Is the internet speed fast enough? – image credit: Peter Parcon |
There are some jobs that require a suitable internet connection. This is normally for hourly jobs where you would have to log into an online app that will record your work. There are also some jobs that do not really require a fast internet connection since you essentially work offline and go back online to submit or post your work. Before applying for an online job, just make sure to read all the details especially when it comes to the internet connection. This is particularly important if you rely on the internet connection of a coffee shop or you are using those pocket Wi-Fi devices. Some clients would even require a wired connection, especially those that require you to work on the website of the company.
#5 Do you have a separate area in the house where you can work?
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| Do you have a suitable work area? – image source: biz.uiowa.edu |
This is connected to the second question since it may be necessary for you to find a quiet nook in the house where you can work without any distractions. If you will work as a customer service representative for your client, that place should be quiet. It would not look good if you call or receive a call from the customer of your client and the sound of a dog barking is in the background. I got to talk with a college friend and she said online freelance work was not for her since she is always distracted by the household chores she needed to do. It is always better to make sure you have a separate place in the house where you can work. Or you can also try the different co-working zones in the city, including Regus and the Tide.
#6 Are you comfortable with communicating through email?
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| Do you like communicating through email? – image source: pixabay.com |
Are you a kind of person who likes to have a face-to-face discussion on the task at hand? While some clients prefer communicating through Skype, there are some clients who prefer communicating through email. Are you comfortable with this mode of communication? You see, in this mode of communication you would not get any answer until your client checks his or her email. For me, I prefer communicating through email. How about you?
#7 How much will you earn?
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| Earn in dollars – image source: pixabay.com |
An online freelance worker with all the necessary skills can earn way much more than any other worker. In fact, I know of some people who work online earning twice or three times the salary of other people in the same industry. But this would depend on your skill set. The more skills you have, the higher your pay. One thing I like about online freelance work is that your clients do not base your pay on what school you graduated from or if you graduated at all. They base on the results you give them. They are results-oriented. So, if you have all the necessary skills, you can probably earn much more than what you used to earn when you worked in an office.
#8 What are the benefits?
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| Will you get medical benefits? – image credit: Peter Parcon |
While an online freelance worker earns much more than an ordinary office worker, they have lesser benefits, unless you get a great client who will provide everything. I know of some online freelance workers who received cash to buy a brand new laptop from their clients. There are also some who receive generous bonuses. But this does not happen often. So, you should consider this since you have to get your own HMO and you will likely not get any 13th month pay or bonuses.
#9 How can I pay taxes?
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| Bureau of Internal Revenue – image source: philstar.com |
Online freelance workers have to pay their own taxes. I actually posted a procedure on how you can pay your taxes. While the process is quite tedious, it will work out to your advantage if you pay taxes. An Income Tax Return (ITR) is a very useful document, especially if you are planning to get a credit card or a loan for buying a car or house.
#10 How can I get paid?
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| PayPal is one of the preferred payment systems of OFWs – image source: commons.wikimedia.org |
If you are looking for jobs through Upwork and other online job sites, they have a payment system where you can get paid. All you need to do is to link your bank account with these online platforms. But if you find a client outside of these websites, you can opt to be paid through PayPal or any online payment systems, like Payoneer. For me, I use PayPal for clients who found me through my blog or LinkedIn profile. For local clients (Philippine-based clients), I usually ask them to send it straight to my bank account.
Starting a career as an online freelance worker is a very big decision for anyone. It is always important to take into account a number of things before you quit your offline job and join the world of online freelance workers.
