How I Became An Automotive Freelancer

I never thought I would be a freelance writer. In my youth, I had grand plans to become a dentist, a professional basketball player, or a secret agent. 

But as I got older and realized that dentistry was mostly about being nice to people and the NBA didn’t have any openings for 6-foot-tall white guys with no shooting range, I began to think of alternative career paths. 

As an avid consumer of the automotive industry’s journalism and an amateur mechanic who loves tinkering with cars in his spare time, one option seemed obvious: Why not become an automotive journalist?

HOW TO BECOME A FREELANCER (Without Quitting Your Job)
Takeaways
1. Building a successful career as an automotive freelancer requires dedication and understanding the market.
2. Freelance writers can specialize in the automotive industry and find opportunities in various areas.
3. Balancing a full-time job with freelance writing is possible with effective time management and prioritization.
4. Freelancing can offer flexibility and independence, allowing automotive professionals to work on their own terms.
5. Networking and building relationships with clients and industry professionals are crucial for long-term success as an automotive freelancer.

Passion Is Everything

There is no amount of money, fame or success that will make you happy if you aren’t passionate about what you do. The most successful people in the world are those who found their passion early on and can pursue it through all of life’s ups and downs. 

I know this because some of them helped me get started on my journey as an automotive freelancer by sharing their stories with me along the way.

I’ve always loved cars but never thought about working in the industry until I stumbled across a story about a guy named Michael Lewis who was making good money writing articles for Car & Driver magazine while he worked full time at his mom’s house painting cars by hand! 

That story inspired me so much that I decided right then and there that I wanted to be just like him someday (minus all that painting stuff).

Building a successful career as an automotive freelancer requires dedication, skills, and understanding the market. Learn more about why US freelancers charge higher than others and gain insights into the automotive freelance industry.

Find The Right Mentors

Mentors, as you’ll learn in any career-related book worth its salt, are people who have been where you want to go and can help guide you towards your goals. They can also point out pitfalls along the way.

If you’re lucky enough to find a mentor that has done what you’re trying to do, their experience will be invaluable. They may not be able to do it for you (because let’s face it: 

Nobody wants to be told how to run their business), but they’ll certainly be able to share advice on how they managed certain situations and give pointers on things that might come up down the line. 

Mentors don’t necessarily have all of the answers they’re just people who’ve taken an interest in helping others get more out of life but they can point out new opportunities before they come knocking on your door; there’s nothing worse than realizing someone else has gotten there first!

Be Willing To Do Whatever It Takes

There is no one-size-fits-all method when it comes to freelancing. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes, even if that means doing the dirty work and taking on tasks that no one else wants to do. 

The most successful freelancers are often those who are willing to take on any task, whether or not they like it because this allows them more time for their preferred projects and activities.

I’m not saying you should be okay with working long hours for low pay (although there is an argument that this can improve your skills). 

But if you want the opportunity to grow professionally and financially as quickly as possible while building up a solid client base. 

Then you will need to let go of some of your preferences around what type of work you’re doing or how much money clients are offering in exchange for your services.

Be A Sponge

Learn as much as you can from others. Find someone who is doing what you want to do and ask them questions. 

It’s the best way to learn about the industry and how it works, which will help you know what skills are most in-demand, where there are opportunities for freelance work, and how much money you’ll be able to make (or not).

If you don’t have anyone like that around, try reaching out on social media or through LinkedIn groups. You might find someone willing to mentor or teach you; if not, they may at least be able to point out some useful resources that could get your education started in the right direction!

A well-crafted portfolio can be the key to landing freelance jobs in any industry. Discover valuable tips and strategies for making a portfolio that gets you the job and stand out among other freelancers.

Be Willing To Work For Free

To get your foot in the door of automotive freelancing, you need to be willing to work for free. 

Of course, this isn’t a situation where there’s no money involved whatsoever you will eventually get paid for doing work but it might take months or even years before you’re making a full-time income from your freelance career.

To make yourself appealing as an employee and avoid being considered just another “kid who thinks they know everything” (a phrase I’ve heard so many times while working as an intern), you need to be willing to do whatever it takes. 

If that means answering phones on the first day at your internship in addition to writing blog posts and editing photos for social media content, then that’s what needs doing!

A good way of becoming familiar with the automotive industry is by reading magazines such as Autoblog or Car & Driver or even taking some classes at local colleges such as The Art Institutes International Minnesota. 

Since there are so many different aspects related specifically to this field (marketing/advertising campaigns; writing press releases; building websites). 

It can sometimes feel overwhelming when trying to figure out where exactly one fits into all of these different worlds especially if most people don’t have experience directly managing brands like Pirelli tires or Porsche motorcars.

Bring Value To Others

The secret to getting hired is bringing value to others. Value can be defined as anything that you bring to the table, whether it be your knowledge of a particular subject or skill set, your ability to complete tasks promptly, and/or how much you care about the work that you do.

To bring value to others, think about how your skills and talents can help them achieve their goals. Maybe you know how to solve problems that are holding back an employer from achieving success. 

Maybe you have skills that will allow an employer’s business process to run more smoothly and efficiently than ever before. 

Or maybe there’s some way in which you could use your expertise or experience as leverage against another company trying to compete with them for a contract award or project proposal win (which could land both parties new business).

Utilize Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for freelancers. It’s used for everything from sharing your work, getting feedback on your work, connecting with other people in the industry, finding jobs and clients, and even finding talent.

There are several ways you can take advantage of social media:

Share your portfolio your website or blog should be an extension of your portfolio. If you don’t have one yet (or if it’s not up to par), then now is the time to get started on it! 

Consider investing in a professional designer and developer if needed. But remember: don’t just share any old thing; make sure it’s something that speaks well about who you are as an artist.

Stay connected with others if other artists do what you do or even remotely similar things within the automotive industry (especially those working freelance). 

Try networking with them on LinkedIn or Facebook Groups related to this topic area so that when opportunities arise where they may need someone like yourself, those connections can be very helpful in getting recommendations out there quickly (and hopefully securing new clients).

Getting feedback from other professionals this type of connection will help improve both how well known/respected an individual artist might be within their respective industry space and also gives them access to places where new ideas might emerge from discussions between different industry experts sharing their knowledge base.

Balancing a full-time job while pursuing freelance writing can be challenging but rewarding. Dive into the experiences and advice shared in how to maintain a full-time job and freelance writing without losing your mind on to learn effective strategies for managing both roles.

Meetups Can Be Amazing For Your Career

Meetups are a great way to meet people, learn new technologies and make connections. In the automotive industry, they can be an excellent resource for freelancers or anyone looking to start a career as an automotive engineer.

I’ve been to several meetups in the past year and each time I learn something new about my field. At one meetup I met someone who worked at a company that had just been acquired by Ford Motor Company (F). 

He told me about a project he was working on and gave me some advice on how F hires contractors which helped me get my foot in the door when I applied there later!

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Start A Podcast

Now that I’ve given you a few tips to help get you started, let’s talk about the most important thing: how to build your audience.

The best way to do this is by starting your podcast on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. Podcasts are great for building an audience because all the listeners have to do is subscribe and listen, so it doesn’t take much effort on their part. 

If they like what they hear, they’ll tell their friends and family about it, which can lead to additional listenership and more money in your pocket!

I’ve done several podcasts over the years and each one has gotten me more freelance clients than all of my other marketing combined! If you’re looking for somewhere to start, here are some tips:

  • Find topics that relate directly back to what kind of work you do as an automotive freelancer (i.e., if you fix cars or work on engines).
  • Have someone record the episodes instead of doing them live (this will save time).
  • Ask guests who have similar interests as well as those who may not be involved with cars but can bring new perspectives from other industries into play

You Need To Be Passionate About Your Goals And Willing To Work Toward Them In An Untraditional Way

To succeed in any field, you need to be passionate about your goals and willing to work toward them in an untraditional way.

I didn’t always feel this way. When I was younger, my passion for cars was just something that kept me busy when I wasn’t studying or playing video games. 

As soon as I graduated high school and entered college, I knew that automotive repair wasn’t going to be my career of choice. My plan was simply to learn enough skills so that if the opportunity arose where someone needed help with their car or truck. 

They’d think of me first instead of another student who had chosen a different major entirely (like English). It wasn’t until after graduation when I landed my first job at an auto body shop that things started coming together for me professionally speaking:

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Conclusion

I’m someone who has always dreamed of working for myself, and I don’t think I could have found a better place to do that than Upwork. 

It allows me to help small businesses in my home country succeed without having to move away from my family and friends.

Your life can change in an instant, but with enough tenacity and hard work things will eventually work out. I want everyone reading this article to know that they are capable of achieving their dreams no matter what obstacles stand in their way.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further reading on freelance automotive opportunities and related topics:

What Is Freelance Automotive Writer? How to Become One: Explore the role of a freelance automotive writer and learn the steps to pursue a career in this field.

7 Reasons to Freelance in Automotive Aftermarket: Discover the benefits and advantages of freelancing in the automotive aftermarket industry.

Starting a Freelance Business as a Mechanic: Learn valuable insights and tips on starting a freelance business as a mechanic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Automotive Freelancing?

Automotive freelancing is a great way to earn money while you’re working on your schedule. It’s a flexible option that doesn’t require you to work a set number of hours per day or week, and it can be done from anywhere in the world.

How Do I Get Started As An Automotive Freelancer?

All you need is a computer, internet access and a good understanding of cars. You don’t need any prior experience with automotive repair or maintenance you just need a passion for cars and a desire to help people keep their vehicles running smoothly!

How Much Money Can I Make As An Automotive Freelancer?

The amount of money you earn depends on how much work you do and how well you do it! We’ve seen our clients make as much as $250 per hour (or more!). 

That’s why we offer training materials, such as eBooks and videos so that you can learn everything about automotive repair before starting your new career.

What Exactly Does It Mean To Be An Automotive Freelancer?

As an automotive freelancer, you’ll work remotely for companies in the automotive industry. You’ll be expected to perform certain functions and meet certain targets to be paid. 

Some of these tasks may include updating software, running diagnostics on vehicles, or just making sure that the cars are running properly and being sold at their full potential.

How Do I Become An Automotive Freelancer?

The first step is applying for a position at one of our clients. We post openings every day and you can apply through our website by clicking “Apply Now.” 

You will need to have all of your paperwork in order including your resume and references before submitting your application. Don’t worry though; we’ll guide you through this process!

What Is An Automotive Freelancer?

An automotive freelancer is someone who has a personal or professional interest in cars and gets paid to write about them. Most of the time, it’s a passion project but it can also be a way to make some extra cash.

How Did I Become One?

I’ve always been interested in cars and technology, so writing about them was an obvious next step for me. 

I started by writing for my high school newspaper, then continued on my college blog, and eventually got paid gigs from there. From there, I started getting requests from companies that wanted me to write for them!

What Do You Mean By “Paid Gigs”? Do You Work For These Companies?

No! These are just projects I take on as a freelance writer they aren’t full-time jobs with benefits or anything like that. Sometimes they’re one-off pieces; sometimes they’re ongoing series of articles or blog posts that run over several weeks or months. 

Either way, they’re all projects that come through directly from companies themselves (and sometimes even other writers who want help with their projects).

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