If you’re a customer service professional, you’ll know that freelance customer service jobs can be some of the most exciting and rewarding opportunities out there. But freelance customer service jobs are not for everyone.
You need to be self-motivated, organized, and able to meet regular deadlines. You also need to have the experience and expertise required to work on projects with minimal supervision. That said, these qualities are quite common in people who enjoy freelancing as a career choice!
But what about those who aren’t sure? Perhaps you’re considering leaving your full-time job for freelancing but want more information about this line of work before making any big decisions. Or maybe you’re simply open-minded about your future career prospects and want to know more about this kind of job before ruling it out entirely.
In either case, here are 17 reasons why freelance customer service jobs may well be the perfect career move for you
Takeaways |
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1. Freelance customer service jobs offer flexibility in work hours, allowing individuals to have control over their schedule. |
2. The potential for higher income is a major attraction of freelance customer service jobs. |
3. Freelancers have the opportunity to choose their projects and work with a variety of clients. |
4. Working as a freelance customer service representative allows individuals to develop a diverse skill set. |
5. Freelance customer service jobs provide the freedom to work remotely and avoid commuting to an office. |
6. The ability to balance work-life commitments is enhanced in freelance customer service roles. |
7. Freelancing offers the chance to pursue personal and professional growth on one’s terms. |
8. Freelancers have the autonomy to shape their career path and take on projects aligned with their interests. |
9. Building a freelance customer service business can lead to long-term financial stability. |
10. The demand for freelance customer service professionals is growing, providing ample job opportunities. |
11. Freelance customer service jobs can offer a higher level of job satisfaction and fulfillment. |
12. Freelancers have the ability to work with clients from various industries, expanding their knowledge and experience. |
13. The freelance nature of customer service jobs allows for a greater work-life balance and flexibility for personal commitments. |
14. Freelancers can leverage their customer service skills to work with clients around the world, expanding their cultural understanding. |
15. Freelance customer service jobs provide the opportunity to build a strong professional network and connections within the industry. |
1. You Can Work From Home
The most attractive aspect of customer service jobs for freelancers is that you can work from home, on the road, or from wherever you have an internet connection. This equates to more freedom and a happier lifestyle that allows you to be your own boss.
Now let’s talk about why it’s so great to be your own boss. No one will give you orders or deadlines in a way that makes you feel like an idiot simply because they’re in a higher position than you are a feeling we’ve all had when dealing with an annoying boss before.
You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that no one will know if you are wearing fuzzy pajamas all day long while working and will never see your messy house because they’re not coming into your space. You also get to set your own schedule and pick and choose projects based on what hours work best for your life, instead of having someone else dictate it for you (always at their convenience).
Building a successful freelance career requires finding the right niche. Check out our guide on 14 Best Freelance Jobs for Customer Service Specialists to discover a range of opportunities in customer service that can help you thrive in the freelance world.
2. You Don’t Have To Deal With An Annoying Boss
As a freelancer, you don’t have to deal with an annoying boss. You’re your own boss, and that’s one of the main perks of freelance work. Not only do you not have someone telling you what to do or how to do it, but they can’t tell you that you did it wrong either.
Even if they try, your paycheck doesn’t rely on them approving of your work. As long as you’re getting paid for your work (and doing high-quality customer service), who cares if the client or company doesn’t like your method? It’s all about getting results when it comes down to it!
3. You Never Have To Commute Again
Working from home means that you never have to spend precious hours commuting to and from an office again. This is a big deal because commuting is one of the most frustrating parts of living in an urban area.
Think about it: all those minutes and hours wasted in traffic every day are time you could be spending making your money, relaxing with friends, or creating something amazing out of your own free will. And let’s not forget about the money spent on gas for your car, public transportation tickets (which keep getting more expensive!), repairs for the said car when it inevitably breaks down…why do all that when you can work from home?.
Commuting isn’t just a pain because it’s time-consuming and expensive. It can also be stressful and unhealthy, often involving sitting in cars or taking public transit where people are coughing their germs onto you, and dangerous, since driving even one block can throw you into harm’s way if there are reckless drivers on the road.
Commuting also isn’t good for the environment; according to research published in Environment and Planning A journal, getting rid of “inefficiently used vehicles” like those used during a commute would reduce pollution emissions by up to 20 percent overall. All things considered, avoiding the daily slog of commuting sounds pretty good! If that appeals to you, then freelancing may be right up your alley
Are you looking for ways to make a living while enjoying the freedom of freelance work? Learn how to secure a stable income with freelance customer service jobs by following our comprehensive guide on finding and landing the right opportunities.
4. You Can Set Your Own Schedule
One of the biggest draws of working as a customer service representative is the flexibility it offers. Being able to work from home gives you the flexibility to set your own schedule. This allows you to adapt your working hours around other commitments such as childcare, if you have an irregular sleeping pattern or if you’re a night owl and work best at 2 am!
This also means that you can work around other jobs that you have, so if your dream job doesn’t pay enough for rent and bills, then having another job on top can help with this – so long as it fits in with your schedule.
It’s also helpful for those who like to plan ahead if you have a holiday coming up and need time off, the good thing about being freelance is that that time off will not affect any full-time employees in terms of holidays taken, because there are no full-time employees!
This ability to set your own schedule also means that there is less pressure – instead of sitting in an office environment all day if things get too stressful then having the ability to take a break when needed means that productivity levels are higher and stress levels are lower.
5. You Can Pick And Choose Your Projects
You can pick and choose your projects. As a freelancer, you’re not stuck doing one thing for one client. This means that you get to diversify your skills, try out different roles, and experiment with a wide variety of ways to make money as a freelancer.
If you’re starting out as a freelancer, it can be tough to figure out which role is best for you. One way to find the right path is by taking on temporary work or volunteer jobs that allow you to get hands-on experience in the type of work you think might be a good fit for your life. For example:
If you want the stability of steady income, look for long-term contracts or part-time jobs.
If you feel like something different every day, look into a temp or seasonal positions where there’s less demand for consistency (and where noncompete clauses aren’t usually enforced).
6. Everyone You Work With Is A Remote Employee Too
A freelance customer service position will also work to your advantage in that you’ll be surrounded by other people who are also working from home.
This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to exchange recipes over the phone with a random client, but it does mean that everyone with whom you interact will know how important it is to follow deadlines and deliver quality work. Also, as more companies begin to see the benefits of hiring remote workers, you’ll have a much larger pool of employers to choose from when seeking out new positions. Basically, everyone wins.
As a freelance customer service representative, it’s crucial to stand out and excel in your role. Unlock the secrets to success with our guide on 12 Secrets to Success as a Freelance Customer Service Rep, where you’ll discover valuable tips and strategies to enhance your performance and build a thriving freelance career.
7. Customer Service Is A Skill Nearly Everyone Has, But Not Everyone Uses It Right
Now, you may be asking yourself, “But what is customer service?” Customer service is a skill nearly everyone has, but not everyone uses it right! The reason for this is that a lot of people still believe that good customer service only applies to in-person interactions. And yes, typically you would use your customer service skills when you are face-to-face with someone. But in the digital world, you need to know how to provide good customer service online, too.
Good customer service isn’t all about being polite and courteous. A great customer experience manager knows that it’s not just about answering questions or having the ability to solve problems on the spot; they also have empathy and foresight as well as other critical soft skills required for client management. So what makes a great customer agent?
Empathy: You want your customers to feel special and cared for just like how you’d like them to treat you if you were on the receiving end of their queries. Be sincere in all your interactions with clients because sometimes even one wrong line can make or break a relationship!
Good Communication Skills: This means understanding different communication styles and languages so that no problem will go unresolved without proper translations or explanations are given firsthand; it’s important that everyone feels heard by their peers at work so they’ll know they’re valued employees too!
8. If You’re Good At What You Do, You’ll Get Positive Reviews And More Offers
Being your own boss is great, but it also means you don’t have a manager or supervisor to judge your work. Freelancers are instead evaluated on their profiles, which include reviews from former customers. Worksites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr allow the customer to rate your performance at the end of each project.
As with any online review system, ratings can be a double-edged sword: You need enough good ones to stand out from other freelancers but not so many that clients find it hard to trust you!
Of course, this doesn’t just apply to freelancing. Anyone who works in an industry where interpersonal skills are important will understand why reputation is so important.
But for freelancers, this pressure is heightened because there isn’t anyone else around to ensure clients get good service. Whether or not the client leaves negative feedback can be totally up to you.
9. There’s No Ceiling On The Amount Of Money You Could Make As A Freelancer
If you’re freelance, there’s no limit to the amount of money you could make. Sure, you might start out slow and bring in a few hundred dollars as you build your client base and increase your skills. But with time and experience, there is truly no limit to the number of projects or amount of hours that you choose to work and consequently, there is no ceiling on the amount of money you could make as a freelancer.
A good rule of thumb for freelancers is that their rates per hour should double every three years they’re working in their field. Additionally, if they’re just starting out and don’t have much experience, they may want to charge less than this doubling figure suggests that’s okay! It’s important to do what makes sense for your business.
For example A customer service freelancer who charges $20 an hour at the beginning of her career can expect to nearly quadruple her rate in three years if she follows this doubling rule perfectly (a little less than $20/hour x 2 x 2 = $80).
And that’s assuming she only worked on one project per month. If she worked on four projects per month at a rate twice as high as her original hourly rate ($40), then she would earn twice as much from each project per month ($320 vs. $160).
And remember: That’s just a projection for one year! After three years, when her theoretical rate jumps from $78/hr to $156/hr ($78 x 2), she will be earning even more from each project (approximately $200-$250 more each per month!).
Effective problem-solving is essential in freelance customer support. Learn how to navigate and overcome common challenges faced by freelancers with our comprehensive guide on How to Solve Common Customer Support Issues Freelancers Face, empowering you to provide exceptional service and maintain satisfied clients.
10. You’ll Never Be In Danger Of Being Replaced By A Machine
Who wants to be replaced by a machine? Nobody, that’s who. And with this freelance customer service job, you’ll never have to worry about that! Why? Because customer service is personal.
Customer service is the face of a company in many instances. It’s the human connection and the moment of clarity when an angry customer finally begins to feel heard and understood. And in this age of advanced technology, robots can’t replicate these vital human characteristics just yet!
Most companies are now realizing how important customer service really is for their business. The bottom line for most businesses today is that happy customers equal more profit, and unhappy customers equal fewer profits (or potentially even losing money).
So it’s in every company’s best interest to ensure they have good customer service agents working for them–agents who truly care about helping out customers and making sure they are satisfied with the end result.
11. A Lot Of Remote Customer Service Jobs Require Little More Than A Computer And Internet Connection
All you need to get started is a computer, an internet connection, and some free time. Once you’re ready to take customer service calls, you’ll also want a quiet place to work—ideally, a home office with a door that you can shut.
This means that the cost of starting your freelance customer service career is very low: You don’t have to lease office space. You don’t need to buy furniture or pay utility bills. And if your computer breaks down or gets stolen, in many cases your client will send you another one as part of the agreement for working remotely.
12. You Can Learn New Skills And Develop As A Person As Well As A Professional By Working Remotely
While working remotely, you can learn a lot of new things and develop as a person. Here are some examples:
Communication skills; When you work remotely, you need to communicate with other people more constantly and be more precise.
Problem-solving skills; Proactivity is crucial when it comes to remote working.
A new language; The market is global – so why not expand your opportunities by learning a new language?
New software; As a freelance customer service agent, you will be expected to use certain specialized software according to the company’s needs and requirements. So, learn how to take advantage of this software!
Listening skills; Of course, listening skills are key for any job in customer support and freelancing doesn’t change that! You will have clients from all over the world with different accents and pronunciations; that’s something that requires undivided attention in order for the conversation to proceed effectively! It’s also true that not all clients have such great communication skills themselves.
New cultures and industries knowledge; In online freelance jobs such as customer support services, you get in touch with people from various cultures around the globe – they can provide you with valuable insights into their culture and society! Additionally, this kind of job gives you the chance to work with customers in various industries (B2B or B2C) which empowers your know-how greatly!
Interested in the world of freelance customer service? Discover the many benefits and opportunities that await you with our guide on 11 Good Reasons to Be a Freelance Customer Service Rep. From flexible schedules to the ability to work remotely, this resource will inspire you to embark on an exciting and rewarding freelance career in customer service.
13. You Can Wear Whatever You Want
Unless for some reason your job requires you to wear a uniform, no one will know if you’re wearing fuzzy pajamas while working from home. You can work in your underwear if that’s something that interests you. You can work in your socks. (But not those stinky ones with holes in them).
If it is cold outside, you might want to grab a sweater or a hoodie so that you don’t get too chilly. Or turn up the heat! Your electric bill is going to be lower since most of your energy is being spent on things other than transportation and AC/heat for an entire office building.
14. The World Is Reducing Its Carbon Footprint All The Time, So When Your Work Positively Impacts Society
The world is reducing its carbon footprint all the time, and minimizing your impact on the environment is a great way to start. This is especially true if you work remotely. Remote jobs use less energy, which means fewer emissions for the planet. This can make you feel good about your work and how it positively impacts society.
15. Time To Spend With Family And Children
If you’re working from home, your time is more flexible and you can make your own schedule at least to a certain degree. You may have the opportunity to spend more time with your children and family. Or simply take better care of yourself physically and mentally. It can be easier to stay fit when you’re not commuting to an office every day.
You’ll have time for exercise classes or daily walks in the park. And it’s likely that you’ll be eating healthier if you’re cooking meals at home or going for lunch at restaurants near your house, rather than grabbing something quick from a food stall on your way back from work in the city center.
Wrapping Up
Freelance customer service jobs have a ton of advantages over a traditional office job, from more flexible hours to more exciting work. If you’re interested in working as a customer service representative for a busy call center, freelance customer service jobs are the way to go!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore the benefits of freelancing:
Benefits of Freelancing: Discover the advantages of freelancing, such as flexibility, increased earning potential, and the ability to choose your projects.
15 Popular Reasons to Become a Freelancer or Entrepreneur: Explore 15 compelling reasons why many individuals choose the path of freelancing or entrepreneurship, including independence, pursuing passion projects, and personal growth.
10 Reasons Why You Should Go Freelance: Uncover the top 10 reasons to embark on a freelance career, such as having control over your schedule, the potential for higher income, and the opportunity for diverse work experiences.
FAQs
What are the benefits of freelancing?
Freelancing offers several benefits, including flexibility in work hours, the ability to choose your projects, and the potential for higher income compared to traditional employment.
Is freelancing suitable for everyone?
Freelancing is a viable option for individuals who are self-motivated, have good time management skills, and are comfortable with the uncertainties of managing their own business.
How do I find freelance clients?
To find freelance clients, you can leverage online platforms, build a professional network, showcase your portfolio, and actively market your services through various channels.
What are the potential challenges of freelancing?
Freelancing can come with challenges such as fluctuating income, managing client relationships, and the need for self-discipline and self-motivation to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work.
How can I ensure financial stability as a freelancer?
To ensure financial stability as a freelancer, it’s important to budget effectively, diversify your client base, maintain a consistent workflow, and plan for periods of reduced or no income.
What Is The Best Way To Get Freelance Customer Service Jobs?
The best way to find a remote freelance customer service job is by using a website like FlexJobs, which has thousands of listings in its database. The site vets companies thoroughly, so users know they’re getting legitimate postings and not shady scams.
We’ve also written an article on how to find flexible work that includes more tips on finding remote jobs and other websites where you can look for them.
How Do I Find A Legitimate Remote Customer Service Job?
Use FlexJobs.com or another reputable site like it. The site vets companies thoroughly, so users know they’re getting legitimate postings and not shady scams. You can also search for remote positions directly at some of the big companies out there that offer them (like Amazon).
Another helpful tool is Google Alerts you can set up alerts based on keywords like “remote jobs” and “freelance customer service” so you’ll be notified when new listings are posted online that match your criteria.
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