Mike Taylor https://rightpeoplegroup.com 4m 1,041 #projects
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
4 Good Reasons Why You Should Consider Onsite Projects As A Freelancer And 3 Tips To Find Your First Onsite Project
Freelancing for some equals remote work, as opposed to permanent staff working onsite. However, in today’s working market, there are many in between options and the number of contractors and freelancers working onsite at clients is increasing.
Whether it is attractive for you to work onsite as a freelancer rather than on remote projects depends on your priorities. Before you make up your mind, you should consider these three assets of onsite projects:
1. As an onsite freelancer, you avoid the harsh competition of the global markets place (- and get a better pay for your work)
Globalisation in combination with digital platforms has created huge opportunities for remote work. While this might also be an enabler for your freelance career, it also means that you are in competition with the world when you are looking for new remote assignments. Needless to say, that this is something that influences the pay you can expect and your chances of being selected.
With onsite projects, it is an entirely different story. Qualified IT freelancers based in India, will not consider an onsite project in London, just as the freelancing American globetrotter who like to spend his time in Asia, will not bid on a project in Chicago.
For the same reason, you will be paid at a level that matches the cost of living in your area and if you have the right qualifications and availability, the chances of being selected for the onsite freelance project are better.
2. It can boost your earnings!
On top of the better pay per hour for onsite work mentioned in point no.1, there are also other reasons why onsite contractors have more to spend at the end of the month.
Let’s face it: Not many remote freelancers are able to invoice all their working hours. You spend 40 hours on an assignment, but have agreed with the client that you can solve it in 20 – and that is what you will be paid for. Moreover, it takes time to find new assignments, handle admin task, pitch your ideas and have meetings with potential clients. All things that none of your clients wants to pay you for this, this is time you invest in future earnings.
With onsite projects, you can invoice a significantly higher percentage of your working hours: You go to the office in the morning and leave again in the evening and everything in between – except your lunch break – will be paid working hours. Even more important is the fact that onsite assignments tend to also be longer assignments and that one project is often followed by another, meaning that you could end up staying at the customer for a long time without the need of any efforts to sell yourself.
3. It’s social!
As you might have noticed, it can be lonely to be a freelancer, or at least you have to put more efforts in being social during your workday. Taking on onsite assignments means that you will get “colleagues”; people that you can exchange your professional ideas with, go to lunch with or join for a beer after work. (If you are introvert, you might actually find the obligations that come with a being in a shared physical workplace exhausting…)
4. You get a decent work space – free of charge!
Some freelancers love the fact that they can work from their couch dressed in their pyjamas. But in the long run, it can be tough on your back if you don’t have an appropriate work space. Then of course there are co-working cafes and offices, but they can be noisy and maybe not the most efficient setting for getting your work done. Moreover, this adds extra expenses to your company budget. As an onsite freelancer, your client will equip you with a desk and normally also all other necessary equipment.
Onsite projects – yes please!
If you think onsite projects could be interesting for you – maybe in combination with your remote assignments – then the next step is to find out where you find relevant projects in your region. Maybe you are also willing to relocate for an onsite project and can search beyond the region you’re living in.
1. Market yourself.
Professional social media platforms like Linkedin are a great place to find and be found for an onsite assignment. Let your network know, that you are available for a new project and what you can offer. The first step for a potential client would be to check out your Linked profile (or whatever platform you go for). This means that you need to have a selling profile with the right information, the relevant keywords and a professional picture. Make sure to write a concise summary that highlights your key skills and what kind of assignments you are looking for. Basically, a lot of the same information that you already gathered for your CV.
2. Use freelancer sites and job portals.
There are a lot of freelancer sites dedicated to remote work, and some of them also include onsite assignments. Since the physical location is important for you, you will need to find a platform with clients based in your area. A place to start, could be to check your local Craig’s List https://www.craigslist.org and also offer your services there proactively.
Many job portals actually also include contract jobs, so check the large job sites in your region and filter on contract/temporary jobs.
3. Use freelance consultant agencies.
Just as it can be hard for you as a freelancer to find the perfect next project (and find the time to find the perfect next project…), it is hard for the clients to find the perfect freelancer for their new onsite project. To bridge this gap, freelance consultant agencies have specialised in matching request from customers with a suitable freelancer. Depending on the working model, you can either get your CV into the consultant company’s database or you can sign up for a project newsletter which will be sent to you whenever a project in your region and competence areas is published, as you can with European Right People Group.
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