How I Went Freelance After Getting Fired — 5 Actionable Steps
In October of 2018, I was two months into a brand new job. It was my second full-time job after graduating from university, and the antithesis of the first “real job” I landed. While my first job was in a laissez-faire environment where the only consistency was the consistent undervaluing of staff, the new job was fast-paced and progression-oriented. I was promised a long and fulfilling career with the company, with my managers even writing up a 12-month plan which signposted my journey to becoming the eventual head of their growing content department. Regular performance reviews were undertaken, in which I was told that I was outperforming in most of their criteria. This was a stark contrast to my first job, where conversations around performance and progression were expertly maneuvered around. While I wasn’t incredibly passionate about my new role, I thought it would give me the necessary foundation to reach my ultimate goal: becoming a freelancer.
But then I got fired.
Called into the executive suite one afternoon and off-handedly told by the multitasking CEO: “I’m sorry but we’ll have to let you go.”
Turns out, I was one of a handful of people who had to make a quiet exit that week due to the company having to downsize. Not having stayed long enough to have any personal effects, all I left with was a lump in my throat.
That evening I tried to digest the news while being comforted by my best friend over a bowl of hot chips. I was in my early twenties, living out of home, and now suddenly jobless. But somehow, I didn’t feel so bad. Although I now had new financial anxieties, I was also free of work-related headaches. After all, hadn’t I been complaining about the office politics, the disorganisation and the rapid-fire deadlines? Wasn’t I actually feeling a little bit relieved that I didn’t have to return to the office the next day? Could this actually be the push I needed to finally go freelance?
I quickly learnt that there’s no “right” time to start freelancing. You don’t need to clock up a certain number of hours, or have a specific number of LinkedIn connections. While it will always help to have a network, some work experience and a decent amount of savings, it’s far too easy to feel like we will never be ready, and that it is never the right time. Creatives are notorious procrastinators, often paralysed by our fear of failure. What if we don’t have enough connections? What if our portfolios are too sparse? What if everyone else is better than us? Getting fired challenged all these thoughts, forcing me to start freelancing — it was simply a matter of sinking or swimming.
The day after I got fired, I took advantage of a free trial day at a local coworking space, where I met up with a freelancer friend and started planning the launch of my new career. Here’s exactly what I did in the weeks and months after getting fired:
I polished my online presence
Luckily, I had just set up a new website a few weeks before losing my job, intending to use it as a personal portfolio. I quickly added some recent writing examples to the site, as well as some basic information about myself. I started off offering the kind of services that my job entailed, namely landing pages and blogs. I also made similar edits to my LinkedIn profile, making it clear that I was now available for hire.
If you’re in a similar position, have a think about what pricing works for you and what services you’re able to offer. Remember that this isn’t a time to stress about jaw-dropping aesthetics or ground-breaking web development — all you need is something functional.
I brushed up on my skills
Freelancing requires you to have skills in areas other than your craft. A quick Google search revealed that my local General Assembly chapter was conducting a free workshop on personal branding for introverts. This was the stepping stone I needed to shape my new professional identity, helping me define my area of specialisation, develop my branding statement, and even learn some networking tips. I then used simple tools like Canva and and.co to create a basic logo that I could use across my invoices and website, tying together my brand in a simple but effective way.
I set processes
To keep myself on track, I developed some simple processes. I wrote down a little script for any surprise client calls I might receive, which meant that I could confidently provide my pricing for different services and would remember to ask important questions during the call. This little bit of preparation helped me appear more confident and experienced over the phone, which I’m sure helped me nab projects sooner.
I put myself out there
It takes a mental shift to start seeing yourself as a self-employed individual, rather than someone who is unemployed or funemployed. To remedy this, it’s important to start putting yourself out there and start taking yourself seriously. I got my first client 10 days after I was fired by pitching in a Facebook group. I also went to local creative meetups which allowed me to start building connections in an introvert-friendly manner.
I spread the word
As a new freelancer, your first few clients are likely to come from your immediate circle. I let people know my situation, with my first well-paying gig coming through a referral my housemate was able to provide. The role involved writing and project management, the latter being an area I had no experience in. But it didn’t matter — the client was willing to give me a shot because I had been personally recommended to him. I also made sure to email connections from my old job, which landed me one small project, and completed some work for a friend (hey, every little bit counts!)
Of course, freelance success can’t be guaranteed right after you lift off the launch pad. It can take months or even years before you’re able to match your full-time income (it took me seven months just to break even). What freelancing can do is give you back your agency, especially during uncertain times. Perhaps you’re one of the millions of people globally who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe the current state of affairs has made you question the traditional work structure itself. Or perhaps you’re simply ready to take control of your career. Maybe you’re ready, and maybe this is the right time.
Hania Syed is a Melbourne-based freelance writer, pairing her creative writing education with her content marketing experience to create beautiful and effective content.
