So you want to be a freelancer…

Written By Stephen Cocchiara

I don’t have to tell you- you’ve seen, heard, or have even been a part of the millions of furloughs and lay-offs happening in the US. During this time you may be considering a job/career change or may even be wanting to go freelance or work remotely full-time. Even under typical circumstances it can feel intimidating or scary to make the leap to new ways of working. The concerns we hear most often are: where do I find my first client? How do I stay motivated working from home every day? And, how will I get/pay for health insurance?

Believe it or not, recruiters are a great resource for this. For freelance opportunities, folks like us at Rain or Shine can help get you in front of hiring managers so that your portfolio and resume are seen. Submitting yourself to larger staffing firms like Vitamin T, The Creative Group, Mathys + Potestio will get you in the queue for contract roles in addition to full-time needs as they start to open up. You should also tap into your network and reach out to former bosses or colleagues who can refer you for projects at their current companies.

If you still want to work full-time, but don’t want to go back into an office, then your search should be focused on companies who are known for (or are shifting to) remote work. Now is a great time to explore options, as a lot of our clients that were previously committed to on-site hires are much more open to staffing creative talent remotely in the wake of COVID-19. 

Here are a few recently posted reqs we found to get you started:

When it comes to staying motivated, you should have a dedicated space where you can work every day. This signals to your brain that it’s “work time”. From me, it really helps to wake up at the same time I did when I was going into an office, take a shower, eat breakfast, then head into my dedicated space at home. Since you’ll have time back from not commuting, you could also add-in a workout, read the book you’re in the middle of, or just browse the internet before getting down to business.

As for the all-important health insurance you were probably getting in your full-time job, there are decent options out there for freelance and self-employed people now. Some of these companies and services include Sidecar Health, Freelancers Union, Pivot Health, or if you qualify, health insurance subsidies and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.

Hopefully this helps you feel a little more confident if you’re thinking about a change and, as always, feel free to reach out for help with resumes, portfolios and remember to submit your info here to get added to our talent roster so we can be in touch as opportunities come up.

Stephen Cocchiara
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