I started my career in creative writing, but I quickly discovered that the freelance life wasn’t for me. I did a lot of things to earn money on the side, but nothing really stuck. After begging some of my friends for advice, one recommended I try getting into manufacturing work as a freelancer.
Thanks to this advice, and with a lot of hard work and research, I ended up finding an amazing job as a freelancer working in manufacturing! There’s something out there for you too!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Persistence Pays Off: The journey to securing a freelance job in manufacturing may have its challenges, but perseverance is key to success. |
| 2. Industry Networking: Building connections within the manufacturing sector can open doors to lucrative freelance opportunities. |
| 3. Showcasing Relevant Skills: Highlighting specialized skills that align with the manufacturing industry’s needs can make a significant impact on landing freelance gigs. |
| 4. Leveraging Online Platforms: Utilizing freelancing platforms and job boards specific to manufacturing can be a strategic way to find relevant projects. |
| 5. Demonstrating Expertise: Presenting past projects and success stories can help potential clients understand the value you bring to their manufacturing-related projects. |
1. Learn More About The Company And Their Products
To find out more about the company, I started by looking at its website and social media accounts.
From there, I found out who their competitors were and what products they sold. This helped me get a better idea of what kind of company this was and what kind of work it did.
I also researched the industry as a whole. I found trade magazines online that discussed trends, challenges facing the industry, and other issues relevant to my target companies.
This gave me insight into how different companies in my field were approaching these challenges with their solutions or responses to the information which would help me choose where I wanted to apply for employment more strategically later on in my job search process.
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2. Find Out Who Makes The Decision For Hiring
The next step is finding out who decides for hiring. This can be a little tricky, as it might not always be clear from the job posting or your client.
One way to find out is by asking your client to introduce you to the hiring manager. If they are willing to do that, great!
But if they aren’t convinced it’s worth their time (or don’t know how), another option is asking them to send you the job description so that you can assess whether it’s something you could do well and would enjoy doing.
This will let them see that this isn’t just about getting a paycheck you’re interested in being part of their company and making an impact here on Earth as well as on other planets that humans haven’t yet explored!
Another way forward when there’s still uncertainty around who makes decisions about hiring decisions is simply asking questions: “Who decides whether applicants get called into interviews?
Who will decide if I’m good enough?” Whatever happens next depends on what kind of relationship develops between us;
Either way, though we should both feel good about ourselves at this point because we’ve learned something valuable about each other along with having gained some perspective too!
3. Start By Identifying Your Potential Clients
Now that you have a better idea of what kind of manufacturing businesses are in your area, it’s time to find out who your potential clients are. The first step is to do some research and identify any companies that could use your services.
You can start by looking through the phone book for local manufacturing businesses, but you might also want to expand your search online or ask around with other people in the industry.
Once you’ve identified who might hire you as a freelancer, get specific: figure out which individuals at those companies would be most likely to contact you if they needed help filling an open position.
Then take these names and try researching them online but don’t just look at their LinkedIn profiles! Look into their social media pages too (this will give you insight into their interests outside of work) and see where else they’ve been featured in publications or news articles.
If possible, reach out directly via email or phone call it never hurts to ask someone if they’ve heard about any openings before contacting them professionally!
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4. Know What To Expect From A Typical Job Post
In addition to reading through the job post, you should be able to answer the following questions:
What is the job description? What does this company do, and what tasks will I be performing on a day-to-day basis?
What are the requirements for this role (like education or skill level)? If these aren’t listed in the job post itself, ask them directly of your recruiter.
Where does my work take place? If it’s at a physical location in another city or state, make sure that you’re willing and able to relocate before accepting it. The same goes if it requires extensive travel or working overnight shifts.
What type of compensation am I being offered? Hourly wages vs. salary vs. bonuses vs… You get the idea!
This isn’t always clear from just looking at a company’s website asking about details like health benefits, stock options, paid time off (PTO), overtime pay policies, etc., especially if they aren’t immediately apparent after reading through their policies page first.”
5. Start Looking For Possible Job Openings On Freelance Platforms
Once you’ve done all of the above, it’s time to start looking for possible job openings on freelance platforms.
The first thing that you need to do is find a suitable freelancing platform for you. There are many different freelancing sites out there, each with its pros and cons.
Some are better suited to certain industries than others, while others have better success rates when it comes to finding work or getting hired.
To find the right platform for your needs, I recommend doing some research online before making any decisions about which sites might be best for you and your career goals.
Once you have chosen one or two platforms (or more!), it’s time to start looking for jobs! This is where things get exciting there are so many opportunities available in this field that it can sometimes seem overwhelming at first glance!
However, if we break down both how these opportunities work and what makes them stand out from each other, then they won’t seem quite as intimidating anymore!
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6. Target Companies That You Can Work With Long Term
Target companies that you can work with long-term. If you are looking for a long-term career, then it is important to target companies that you can work with long term. It’s always great to have a good relationship with your clients and build a strong foundation for future work.
Find out what the company’s needs are before applying for the job or starting the project. You need to find out what the company needs from you to give them an advantage over their competitors.
So make sure that when applying for jobs like this one, do not just send generic emails because these types of messages tend not only to fail but also waste time on both ends (you as well as them).
7. Build A Solid Portfolio And Showcase Your Best Projects
Your portfolio is your most important tool in the job search process. It’s what you’ll use to sell yourself to potential employers, so you must make sure it looks great.
Just like with a resume and cover letter, take some time (and money) to get a professional portfolio designed.
If your skills and experience don’t match up with the position you’re applying for but you’ve got great work samples, hire an illustrator or designer to put together a mock-up of how your portfolio would look if it were already finished.
This will help showcase all of your high-quality work in one place and give recruiters something tangible to look at when they contact you about an interview or potential contract opportunity!
Don’t be afraid to show off both successful and unsuccessful projects the latter can teach us valuable lessons about our strengths and weaknesses as designers/developers/creators/etc., so long as they’re presented well!
8. Turn Down Low Paying Offers
Once you have a client, it’s important to take your time negotiating the price. If a client offers you less than what you were hoping for, don’t jump at that deal wait until the last minute and see if they will budge on their offer.
If they do not increase their offer, then politely explain why this job is worth more money based on the complexity of the task or the difficulty of working with certain materials or tools.
If they still don’t agree with your reasoning, then ask them what other freelancers are charging for similar work (this gives you an idea of how much competition there is).
You can also negotiate with them by saying something like “I’m happy to do this task but I need my rates increased.”
If all else fails and no amount of negotiation will secure a higher rate from your potential client then consider saying no and finding another customer who has agreed with your pricing proposal
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9. Make An Excellent First Impression On The Client And Build A Relationship Based On Mutual Respect, Honesty, And Trustworthiness
It’s important to be polite and respectful. Clients should trust you, so you must show them that they can rely on your honesty and integrity.
Be honest about your skills and experience. Do not lie or exaggerate on your resume or application form. Clients will find out if they’re paying for a job that doesn’t exist!
Be honest about your availability. If the client wants someone who can work from 9 AM – 6 PM Monday through Friday, then let them know that this isn’t realistic for you because of other commitments or personal responsibilities like childcare or medical appointments.
It’s better for both parties if everyone knows exactly what is expected before anything starts rather than trying to make things work later when everyone has already invested time into working together!
10. Make Sure That You’re Working With A Serious Client By Checking Their Background
Once you have found a potential client, you should do your due diligence on their website and social media profiles.
Check out their reviews, and ratings, and see if any complaints or lawsuits are pending against them. It is also important to review their privacy policy to see how they handle personal information (i.e., do they require background checks on freelancers?).
Additionally, check out their policies around non-compete agreements so that you know what will happen if another employer approaches you about working for them at another time without informing your current employer first (it could cause legal issues).
11. Prepare Your Professional Online Profiles Before Applying To Any Job Offer
It’s also always a good idea to make sure your professional online profiles are up-to-date and have the right information.
Make sure you include all of your relevant experience, education, and skills in the appropriate sections. They should also contain a professional photo (check out our guide on how to take great LinkedIn photos).
Finally, don’t forget about your email address it’s one of the first things recruiters will see when they look at your profile so it needs to be both professional and easy for them to remember.
We recommend using a personal domain email instead of an @gmail address; this way not only does it appear more professional but it will stand out among other generic emails like @yahoo or @hotmail
12. Submit A Proposal That Will Get You Hired In Just 2 Minutes!
Your proposal should be short, sweet, and to the point. Include a description of the project and its deadline. Spell out how much you will be paid for your work when you will be paid, and if there are any other fees associated with working on this project (like travel costs).
Also, highlight any requirements or deliverables specified by your client that are not in line with what you have done in the past. You must include these details so that both parties know what is expected of each other before signing off on anything official.
13. Ask Questions From The Contractor To Make Sure That You Understand Clearly What Is Expected From You
If you don’t know exactly what is expected from you and when the project will be done, ask the contractor these questions:
- Do I need to create a technical specification?
- What kind of skills do I need to have to complete this job?
- Do I need testing knowledge or any other skill that is not related to my field of expertise?
- If so, can we do some training sessions before starting the project or acquiring those skills? (in case there would be any)
Also, make sure that you understand all requirements for this particular project and make sure that it aligns with your experience level.
You should also ask if there are any other requirements for completing this project such as a budget or time frame based on which you can estimate how long it takes for completion.
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14. Sign A Contract With Your Client To Protect Your Rights, Get Paid For Your Work
Contracts are important in any industry because they protect both parties. It is best practice for freelancers to get a contract signed when agreeing on any project, especially one that involves money.
This can be done by either using an online document like Upwork’s Freelancer Contract or creating one of your designs (you can find a template here). What is important in this section are the following points:
- Estimate time. You should never start working until you have an understanding of how much time the job will take and who is responsible for what parts of the process.
- Get paid. Make sure that payment terms are clearly stated in the contract so there is no confusion later on down the road when it comes time for payment!
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped you decide whether or not the manufacturing industry is right for you.
There are plenty of opportunities out there if you’re willing to put in some hard work and do your research on what companies offer what services, as well as how much they charge per hour or project.
I would encourage anyone interested in joining this industry to start by getting an associate’s degree or certification so that they will be prepared when applying for jobs at factories near them!
Further Reading
Getting into Freelancing in the Creative Industries – Explore tips and strategies to kickstart your freelancing career in the creative sector.
Freelance Jobs in Engineering and Manufacturing – Discover a range of freelance opportunities in engineering and manufacturing fields.
How to Get Freelance Clients – Learn effective methods to attract and retain clients as a freelancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Find A Freelance Job In The Manufacturing Industry?
The best way to find a freelance job in the manufacturing industry is to use [company name]’s platform. We’ll connect you with companies that need your skills, and all you have to do is apply for their job posting!
What If I Don’t Have Experience?
That doesn’t matter! We can connect you with companies that are looking for people like you who want to learn new skills and grow their careers.
What If I Don’t Know What Kind Of Jobs Are Out There?
That’s okay! We can help you figure out what kind of jobs you want by looking at what skills are most valuable in a given field, then pairing those up with companies that need those skills right now. How do I find a freelance job in the manufacturing industry?
The short answer: it’s all about networking. The longer answer is that it’s not just about networking, though. You need to know how to network, and you need to be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in a way that will impress potential clients.
Do I Need Special Software Or Skills?
No! All you need is an internet connection and some basic computer skills, which most people have these days. If you don’t have any experience with computers or technology, that’s okay too you can learn what you need as you go along! (Seriously.)
How Do I Get Started?
You’ll want to start by creating a profile on [platform name], our website where freelancers like yourself can connect with businesses looking for help with their projects.
Then all you have to do is wait for someone who needs your services it could take as little as five minutes or as long as five months (we’ve seen both). Once someone has reached out, just send them a proposal for what you would charge for the work they need to be done!
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.