When I first decided to become a freelancer, I thought I knew how everything worked. After all, the internet is full of “get rich quick” schemes promising the moon and delivering nothing.
But after two years of trying to do it on my own, I finally found myself at a point where I had failed so much that there was nowhere left to go but up.
It wasn’t until then that I finally decided to get an actual mentor for my freelancing career. And let me tell you it made all the difference in the world!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelancing mentorship can have a transformative impact on one’s life. |
| 2. Mentors provide guidance, support, and valuable insights to help navigate the freelancing journey. |
| 3. Building a strong network and finding the right mentor are crucial for success in freelancing. |
| 4. Mentorship can help avoid common mistakes and accelerate professional growth. |
| 5. The mentor-mentee relationship fosters personal development, confidence, and improved work-life balance. |
The Start Of It All
For me, the start of my freelancing career was just a natural progression of things. I had been working in marketing for years and was sick of office life.
My first job was at an ad agency and it was great until they started to get bought out by bigger companies and we lost our autonomy.
That’s when I decided to take my marketing skills into the freelance mode, but I didn’t know where to start!
I found my first project through Upwork where I got hired as a content writer for a client who needed help with her website copywriting. My first mistake?
Well if you’re not careful on Upwork then you can end up undercutting yourself by taking on clients who don’t pay well or have unreasonable expectations (i.e., clients who think that because they’re paying someone else instead of themselves that it should be free).
However, if you do manage your time well then there are plenty more opportunities available so it’s worth checking out!
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The Mentor-Mentee Relationship
Once you find someone willing to take on a mentee, the relationship between mentor and mentee can be one of the most fulfilling relationships in your life.
The purpose of this article is to help you get started in finding a great mentor for your career.
To start with, here are some things that mentors will do for you:
They’ll help you get started. If you’re new at freelance writing, there’s no way around needing someone with experience to guide you through the process.
A good mentor should be able to help teach the basics so that they can give recommendations on where and how often (or not) they should write articles or blog posts each week/month/year depending on their expertise level as well as their target audience demographic (age group).
They should also assist with improving their overall writing skills by providing constructive criticism when necessary along with tips.
Such as using proper punctuation conventions when making requests via email correspondence between two parties involved directly within an organization’s internal structure while conducting business professionally without compromising ethical standards set forth by industry regulations enforced by federal agencies.
Getting Hired As A Freelancer
The first step to getting hired as a freelancer is getting mentored. This can be the most crucial part of your new career, so make sure to do it right.
First and foremost, your mentor needs to be experienced in the field you want to work in.
They should have been there and done that (and have the awards and accolades to prove it).
If you’re looking for someone who can help you design websites or build apps, find someone who does that for a living.
Not someone who knows how because they studied graphic design in college 20 years ago but hasn’t touched Photoshop since then.
Second, your mentor must be interested in YOU rather than just making money off of whatever project you are creating together.
A mentor who cares about their student’s success will make sure that they’re learning everything they need before taking on bigger projects alone (or hiring their students out).
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Learning New Skills And Improving Old Ones
Learning New Skills
Learning new skills is one of the best ways to stay on top of your game as a freelancer. The internet, YouTube, and books are great resources for learning new skills.
You can also find mentors who will teach you valuable lessons. (See “Mentorship” below)
Improving Old Skills
If you’re more experienced, then improving old skills might be more important than learning something new from scratch.
For example, if you already know how to write web content but want to improve your speed or quality of writing.
Or if you already know how to design websites but want to improve efficiency in Photoshop your mentor will help with those things specifically instead of teaching every single thing at once.
Competition And Collaboration Between Freelancers
Freelancers are in a unique position. We’re not employees, but we’re also not independent contractors. We don’t have to answer to anyone except our clients, and yet without them, we’re nothing.
We have the freedom to do what we want but that means it’s up to us to stay motivated and engaged on our own.
And with so much competition out there, it can be hard for freelancers to stay on top of their game when it comes time for new clients and projects!
But the good news is that you aren’t alone in this struggle; there are tons of other freelancers just like you who can help guide your career as well as provide a valuable resource for networking opportunities.
You may even find yourself working together eventually if both parties agree upon it (which is pretty common).
Keeping In Touch With Your Mentor
Your mentor is a resource, and you should use them as one.
They are not just a person who can help you with one thing they’re someone who has years of experience in the industry and can give advice on many different things.
That’s why it’s important to stay in contact with your mentor after the initial mentorship period. If they have time.
It may be worthwhile for them to teach you new skills or techniques that will help take your freelancing career to the next level.
If not, then at least keep up with what they’re doing so that you can ask for advice when necessary (like if you need some feedback on an important project) or keep tabs on how far ahead they’ve gotten since last time so as not to fall behind!
This way even though there isn’t an official relationship anymore between either party involved, both sides remain connected which is extremely beneficial.
It shows mutual respect while also helping each other grow as individuals.
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The Hard Part Is Over Now
The hard part is over now. You’ve graduated, and you can do what you want. Now that you have a mentor, and know how to do more than one skill, it’s time to learn new ones!
Why not take some classes in something really fun like cooking or dancing? Or if your interest is more academic.
Go for something that will help advance your career may be a business or computer science.
Whatever skills you’re looking to master (and even the ones where you might feel a little out of place), remember: don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Your mentor is here for guidance, but ultimately they want their students to succeed on their terms.
They’ll be happy if they see this kind of initiative in the people they’ve mentored before;
They’ll be proud when they see how well-rounded their protégés are after spending time with them in class or at a party; that’s why mentorships provide so much value!
And remember: even after graduation ends there will always be ways for this experience to benefit us later down the road too.
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The Best Thing You Can Do When You First Start Freelancing Is To Get A Mentor And Do What They Tell You To Do
The most important thing you can do when you first start freelancing is to get a mentor.
Mentorship isn’t just about getting hired, it’s also about learning new skills, improving old ones, and becoming a better writer than you already are.
A good mentor will push you to think outside of your comfort zone and try things that make you uncomfortable because that’s how we learn!
Embarking on a freelancing journey from the comfort of your home? Our comprehensive guide on freelancing from home: a beginner’s guide provides essential tips and strategies to kick-start your freelancing career and thrive in a home-based work environment.
Conclusion
It’s not easy to start freelancing, especially if you don’t have any experience. But as I’ve learned from my time working with Luke, it is possible to succeed at it you just have to find the right mentor.
If you make sure that they are knowledgeable and patient enough to help you through the first few months of your freelancing career, then they can guide you towards success.
It won’t be easy at first, but eventually, things will start coming together for you!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore:
How to Find a Freelance Mentor: Discover strategies and tips for finding a mentor who can guide you in your freelancing journey.
You Don’t Have to Go It Alone: How to Find a Mentor as a Leader: Learn about the importance of mentorship and how to find a mentor as a leader or entrepreneur.
How I Made $100,000 in My First Year of Freelancing and Maintained Work-Life Balance: Gain insights from a freelancer’s success story and discover tips for achieving work-life balance while freelancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Freelancing Mentorship?
Freelancing Mentorship is a service that helps you get started with your freelance career.
We provide you with a mentor who will guide you through all the steps and help you overcome any challenges that may arise.
How Much Does It Cost?
The price varies depending on the package you choose, but it’s very affordable! To find out more about our pricing, visit [link].
How Long Does It Take?
It depends on what package you choose and how quickly you can learn new skills.
We recommend that you start with our basic package and then upgrade as soon as possible to get the most from your experience.
Do I Need Any Experience Or Qualifications?
While we do accept some students who are just starting, it helps if you have some knowledge of HTML/CSS or another coding language.
If not, we’ll teach them everything they need to know during their mentorship program!
How Can I Get Started?
There are a few ways to get started with freelancing. If you know exactly what service or product you want to provide.
It may be as easy as setting up an account on the platform where you want to sell your work.
If you’re not sure of what product or service you want to provide or if there isn’t already a platform out there that addresses your needs then it’s time to start exploring!
Try visiting some of the sites we’ve highlighted in our guide, like Upwork and Fiverr, as well as LinkedIn, which has a section for freelancers.
You’ll find other sites for specific industries and types of work, too: graphic design, writing and editing, web development, marketing, and advertising…the list goes on!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
