The novel coronavirus has disrupted life as we know it. Businesses are probably the worst hit since the unavailability of adequate labor has halted production and adequate services. Governments are facilitating corporations and their employees to maintain the status quo, but little help has been offered to the freelancer. Amidst this crisis, how is the freelancer to stay afloat?
Freelancers are quite familiar with non-work periods since once a contract ends, they are left to wait indefinitely for the next one. However, financial instability is taking away prospective clients from them, as no one has enough money to spare. In these circumstances, platforms like Symposium are engaging freelancers to make money off of their innate talents. The user-friendly video interface allows freelancers to showcase their skills with an aim to educate, entertain, and inspire. Additionally, there are certain other measures that you, as a freelancer, can take to sustain yourself.
Spend wisely
This should be a no-brainer. At a time when the inflow of money is limited, you should be careful about where and how much you spend. A careful evaluation of your finances will get you through a few months of a financial crisis. Increase liquidity of your assets and curb expenses. This way, you will have some financial support to back you up even if you aren’t employed for a couple of months.
Innovate with your skills
You don’t need a client if you can be your own boss. As a freelancer, you should already be quite agile, but when your options are limited, you have to get even more creative. Try and look for new avenues to exploit your skillset. I already mentioned one platform in the beginning of the article. But think about the type of work you’ve done until now- the requirements that you have adhered to, the quality and quantity of work you have produced, and so on- and devise a plan to highlight your capacities on a different forum. Explore different avenues to employ your professional capacities and you’ll be greeted by new opportunities every day.
Use this time to sharpen your skills
Although you can’t earn right now, you can use this time to brush up on your talents. You can learn the tricks of the trade from other successful freelancers who are happy to share their expertise to groom the next generation of professionals. There are excellent resources available for writers, journalists, and other specialists to learn and grow their faculties.
Grow your network
Although it does not feel like it right now, the COVID crisis will end soon, and you’ll be back in business. This crisis has forced governments to take a long, hard look at the facilities they provide their employees, and the protection they are awarded. There will be an improved conversation about financial stability and an increase in resources both for full-time and part-time employees. It will finally reveal that all employees stand on a similar plane and are liable to receive similar comforts and protections.