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The Side Hustle
How I Landed My First Freelance Gig
Finally, I landed my first gig on Upwork. I learned about the website while doing some Google searches about how to get into freelancing. You hear about other people being freelancers and it comes across as being something that is out of reach. I’ll admit, it is hard to land a gig freelancing. But here is what I did to get my first gig.
First thing’s first, you have to be realistic about your abilities. Don’t take on a job that requires expert knowledge if you are just starting out. You’re trying to build rapport as a freelancer and the reviews you get will matter. You don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself by getting a job you can’t complete.
Next, look for easy jobs. These jobs can include data entry, user testing, research, writing intros or bios, anything that will not take a ton of time and will allow you to show the scope of your work. I work with data in my current position so, data entry jobs stand out to me. If you’re a designer, seek out easy graphic design projects. There’s no shortage of jobs available.
On the Upwork platform, you have to submit a proposal. I haven’t worked on any other platform than Upwork, so I cannot speak on other sites. The goal is to essentially persuade that client to hire you. So, showcase what you can.
