From Full-time To Freelance

Everybody wants a little more freedom to do/move/live/create as they please. That's a human truth that has been etched in stone since the day before the beginning of time. 

Finding the job that allows you even 75% of that freedom is golden. Having a boss/team/client/projects that push you to think outside of the usual confines of advertising/traditional ideals is golden-er. 

Also, having the environment where you can leave early sometimes or feel open/comfortable enough to play your guitar or wear flip flops around the office is golden and covered in diamonds. 

But not everyone can have that. So what is the best option to do/move/live what you want? Freelance. (I didn't add "create" in there as I did earlier because I feel like that's inconsistent. Sometimes you're called in just do resize stuff so the full-time creatives can create. And sometimes you're called in to work on a new digital campaign for the next project launch. It varies.) 

I thought this article was a good reference for aspiring and/or new freelancers.

Related Reading: 
Freelance VS Working for Free - How to decipher if this "favour" is really "freelance." (Also check out Life Hackers - When and If You Should Ever Work For Free.)
Freelance: A Starting Point - How to find freelance work.
Freelance Money Talk - How to determine your rate.
Freelance Etiquette - How not to be an asshole freelancer.
Freelance Tax Tips - Good to think about now so you have everything in order next April 15th. 
Freelancer Turned Full-Time - Interview with a junior freelancer who landed a full time gig. 

How Do I Become A Full-time Freelancer? 
via Bklynresumestudio.com

"This is definitely a loaded question, and depends what you do for a living. It’s a great time to act on the entrepreneurial spirit and explore alternate income streams, whether you’re freelancing on the side or working full time in your own business. The thing to remember, however, if you’re just starting out as a freelancer or independent… is that it takes time, and there is no shortcut.

A client said to me yesterday, “So this is something you do on the side for extra income, right?” to which I replied, “Not at all – this is my full time job. I work 40/50 hours a week doing this.” And while I think that scored extra credibility points in his mind, I also got the impression he was surprised that someone could be making a full time living writing resumes. You can – a very good one. But it also took me 3+ years and many revised drafts of my business plan to get here. It’s important to not only be open to that cycle of change and evolution when you have a business, but to also expect it.

Some people have great success starting from day one, and for others it takes months, even years, to reach a point of financial sustainability.  And whether you plan to freelance and work as a contractor for other companies, or independently on your own with your own clients, planning is key.  But you CAN set yourself up for success before you even leave your 9-to-5, to ensure you’ll be on your way to turning profits and bringing in customers sooner than later:

• Get clear on the 5Ws.  Know what you want to do, who you want to serve, why it’s of value to them, and when & where you will make it available. And then price it accordingly.

• Practice telling people what you do. The more comfortable you become referring to yourself as your new title and explaining what you can do, the lesser the chance you’ll fumble it up in front of clients when it really matters.

• Figure out what professional connections you already have that you can leverage for projects and work. Be careful of violating any non-compete policies if you’re remaining in the same line of work as your former employer. But do look at past clients, colleagues, supervisors, and other vendors you may have worked with who might be able to refer work to you or be a potential client themselves.

• Tell everyone you know about your new venture. Don’t assume friends, family and colleagues don’t know people who can potentially use your services. My biggest revenue source to date, in revenue and in client volume, has been referrals.

• Have a solid 12-month financial plan in place before you quit a full time job.While it’s great to be optimistic, it’s better to be realistic around the fact that new businesses take time to generate revenue. You don’t want to be building your business from a place of desperation.

• Update your LinkedIn profile and all of your social media profiles. Even if you’re not billing hours right away, that does’t mean you’re not a serious practitioner of your craft. Get the word out, because that’s the only way the money will come.

• Create a business plan. Even if you don’t think you need one, you need something to guide your financial planning, decisions around product development, understand the competitive landscape, and plot out your target audience. And as your business evolves, so too will your business plan, and putting long and short-term goals in place will help you track and get a better sense of what’s working, and what’s not. Referral business is free. $300 per month worth of ineffective Google advertising isn’t.

• And finally, put a timeline in place and choose a date to kickoff your transition. Whether it’s the day you plan to give your notice, officially launch your business, or be working completely on your own, it’s much easier to set a specific date and work backwards toward your goal, then to sit around and wait for the right opportunity and timing.  Having a deadline-based goal for making a transition will help you plan much more effectively from a financial and personal perspective, and you’re more likely to stick to it if you have it in front of you visually."

Don't Accept That Offer. Yet.

I know you've been looking for a while now. I know you're tired of writing and revising emails,
working and reworking your book and waiting waiting waiting for a Yes.

And it'll come.

Just don't jump into it blindly.

That first job offer is magical. It's like chocolate-covered rainbows dipped in angel dust.

And it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and jump on it.

Don't.

Here are a few things to consider before you accept that offer

1. Do you want to work there? With these people? On this client? For 40+ hours a week, 50ish weeks a year? Being miserable at a job is slow death. Make sure it feels right in your heart first.

2. Make sure it feels right for your pocket. Really look and see if you can afford to eat, sleep somewhere and pay your bills with the salary they offer. You probably had that conversation earlier in the interview process, and probably pulled a figure out of your ass when the recruiter asked what you think about salary. So take some time right now and check salary.com and talentzoo.com and look at your budget and come up with a range that is appropriate for your position and life.

3. Research the agency (you should've done this before you even sent them your book). What's the culture? What's their reputation? What do other people say about them? What is their standing with clients - you don't want to get hired and they lose an account and you lose a job.

4. What do you want to gain from being here? Whether you end up being there for two years or twenty, go into it with a plan of what you want to do, learn and put in your book. Think about what your next step in your career and make sure this job will help you get there.

Honestly this is a big decision that requires a lot of time and thought.

If all of this aligns and is right, then please, go right ahead and sign that paper and then take a nice long soak in a tub full of Doritos.

How Much Are You Worth?

A few Fridays ago I posted some tips on being a Starving Creative. I mentioned asking someone else for more advice on the topic since I still have a hard time telling the difference between a nickel and a quarter. (I'm an immigrant and where I'm from our money makes sense. And has colours.)  Well, I've kept my promise. 

I interviewed Anne Hubben, former creative recruiter and current career & life coach and blogger. She's always given me amazing advice and her blog, The Satisfaction Quotient is teeming with information, insights and goodness.

She did me (and you) a huge favour by answering some questions on salary, job offers, packages, raises and those little bits that make up the big decision of where you're going to work and for how much.

(Please note that everything depends on the city you're in, the type and the size of the agency. These are all averages and ranges.)

Q: What is the average start range for a junior? 

An average starting salary for an art director or copywriter could be anywhere from 35k to 55k.  That range covers right out of school to juniors with 1 to 2 years experience.

Q: What factors make up how much an agency is willing to pay you?

It depends on the size of the agency, where you live and sometimes the type of work. The larger agencies tend to pay more, and the smaller agencies usually pay less. 

In cities like NYC, SF, Boston or Chicago, 40-45k would be a good starting point when you're a recent graduate. For 45k it would be expected that you've had an internship or two.  But I hear that some places do still offer 35k so don't be insulted if that's your offer.

If you've had two years of experience at an agency, then you're probably looking at 50-55k.  Agencies have salary grades that they work with so it's not just an arbitrary number.  I recently found an excellent explanation on how salaries are figured out here.  

In addition to your experience, as a creative your portfolio is as important as you are.  Hiring managers pay attention to what's in your book and how you present it. They want to know what was produced and what wasn't.   Are you talking about your team and giving credit where it's due?  Are you excited about the work?  Also, people don't want to see a "safe" book from someone who has just graduated.   If you're playing it safe in school, then what's going to happen with a real client? 

Q:  What should a junior be looking at in their offer package?

They need to consider the whole package and not just the base salary. What are the benefits?  Is there a 401k and when can you start contributing to it? Does the company offer any sort of a contribution to it?  Are there any additional perks, like do they offer education of any sort? Some agencies will reimburse you for classes that are relevant to your field of expertise.   Also, will you have a mentor of some sort?  That could be your new boss or some agencies will connect you with someone else.

At this point in your career, you might be willing to take a lower salary if you're going to learn a lot.

Q: How do you know if it's a good offer or not?

If you're happy with it. Or you might want to ask someone that you trust like a recruiter or a coach :-) or someone who has been in the industry longer than you.  You could also check out Glass Door.  

Q: What if you have more than one offer and one is a bit better but you'd rather work at the other place?

Only you know what matters to you most. For the majority of creative people that I've met, it's more about the work that they'll be doing than the salary.   

Every creative I've met wants to be working on interesting, engaging and creative projects.  You also have to keep your portfolio in mind. If you get paid a lot, but have nothing good to put in your book when you leave, then it can affect where you go next.  Some hot agencies take advantage of this too.  They know that they're hot and you're dying to work there, so they don't have to pay juniors as much.  But in the end, it's probably worth it because you'll have great work for your portfolio and a name on your resume that gets people's attention.

Q:  As a junior, is it ok to counter offer?

If you're right out of school, I don't think a counter offer would be a good idea.  It just comes across as presumptuous.  

When I was a recruiter, I would work very closely with a candidate throughout the process to make sure I knew what they were looking for monetarily.  I would then get the offer approved, sometimes fighting for that particular number and if I then made the offer and was counter offered, I'd be annoyed.

Q:  If you accept a lower pay now, how can you make sure you are eligible for a raise later? 

You should make sure you know what the review process is at the agency.   i.e. how many times a year is it? Who gives you your review?  How are you evaluated? Will it be clear what your goals are?

But don't assume that if there's a review in 3 months, you'll be eligible for a raise. Ask how soon you would be eligible for a raise.   Also some companies use spot bonuses to keep you happy until you're eligible for a raise. It would be okay to ask if that's an option.  But don't assume anything.  Always make sure everyone's clear on expectations.

Q: On average, how much is a raise?

It's usually 3 to 5%.  But it could be less in a recession, so keep that in mind also, pay attention to how the company is doing.  Typically, you can potentially get more of a "raise" by switching companies. But that's not a reason to switch every year. That would be bad form.

Q: How can you increase your worth to an agency?

Do great work that gets produced by the client, become invaluable to your team, in fact, be the one that other teams ask for when they need help, communicate well, speak up, but know when to keep quiet too, be willing to do grunt work, and take chances when you have the opportunity to.  Watch the superstars and learn from them, be humble, but figure out how to advocate for yourself. (That's where a mentor can be invaluable).

Before you get a job, if you know you don't interview well (it can be tough for shy people) then work with someone to get better.  

Also, always, always be working on improving your portfolio. Ask people what they think and learn to take criticism well. You don't have to take the advice, but be able to hear it graciously.

Q: Off-topic - what does a career coach do and how could you help a junior?

We're probably all a little different, so I'll tell you what I do. I help people at all levels, from recent grad to ECD, navigate their careers. That might be helping you with stuff like we're talking about today, or adjusting to your new boss, or if you're more senior, managing a new team. I also help people strategize on a job search, which often includes improving or fine-tuning your portfolio, resume, cover letters.

As you know, for juniors, it can be really overwhelming figuring out all this stuff, so I work with them on basics like how to network effectively, what do headhunters actually do, when is it time to leave a job, how do you ask for a raise, etc. That's why your site is so fantastic.  People just need a place to go where they can figure this stuff out. 

                                                                  --- 

 Check out Ann's blog and call her up if you need any coaching.

Starving Creatives: $ Issues

Love should be the reason you become a creative. But the creative pay check will break your heart for the first year or three. (That jerk) 

Here's another Friday Reality Check -  be prepared to work banker or lawyer hours for receptionist pay.

The ad industry pretty much hazes you. You have to invest a lot upfront to prove you want to be here and show you have what it takes to stay here.

Get ready for the paddle, kids!

Portfolio school costs upwards of $30,000 a year. That's on top of whatever you may have paid for undergrad. (Most offer financial aid and there are some scholarships available so don't sweat yet.)

Your first job starts you off from about $35,000 - 55,000. Taxes, benefits and 401k eat a chunk of that and then you're left with the costs of housing, food, car and general living. Oh and repaying those ridiculous student loans. (Sweat now.)

I wish they had a class about how to budget and manage money post-graduation. So many of us ran wildly into the open air with our portfolios, lofty ideas and our love for Advertising. And crashed when we saw the salary situation for most juniors.

You shouldn't have to sink in debt following you dream. This post is my attempt to tell you what I wish I knew then. And I really wish I knew enough about the money/finances to really set you right. (Me and words are like this *twists fingers together* But numbers... we had a big spat back in 97 and things haven't been the same since. Rassingfrassing logarithms.) 

I asked a financially savvy friend of mine for money tips for entry level folks so I'll post those soon. (Unless it's a yawnfest, in which case I'll post a picture of a kitten fighting a dog instead.)

In the meantime, here are some Creative Wannabe Financial-ish Tips from my experience:

* Call your student loan providers and try to work something out. If you're not working or you don't make enough you may be able to apply for economic hardship or work out some plan. Don't ever miss payments. It'll bite you in the ass later.

* Look at the cost of living in the state/ city you want to work. For instance, it's cheaper to live in ATL than NYC. Consider starting somewhere close to home, saving and getting more experience and then moving. Try this COL calculator. Or this one.

* If the job offer is too little to meet your needs, try to negotiate to get more $ (I should probably post on this too. Sigh. Y'all are so needy.) or figure out how to make it work if it's a totally awesome opportunity. Some agencies low ball you because they know 20 other people are thirsty for the same position. Look at the experience and growth you'll gain and see if it will balance out all the oatmeal you'll have to eat. Once you're in, you're in, and your next job will treat your budget with more respect.

* If you're freelancing, save all your work related receipts (food, transport, etc) for your tax returns.

* If you're freelancing, take on more work, no matter how small or uncreative, to build a padding. You never know when your next big job may come.

* Rent realistically. The best advice I can ever give you is to live within your means. You can move on to the East Side (to a deluxe apartment in the sky) later. (If you didn't automatically start singing the theme song to The Jeffersons you should quit life.)

* Couch surf. When I first moved to NY I had 2 suitcases, a short-term freelance project and big dreams. Fortunately I also had amazing friends. I slept on 3 different couches over the next few months until I got steady freelance and  saved up enough to get my own place. So use your friends, family and classmates to help you get off your feet. (Yet another reason not to be an asshole.)

* Be creatively frugal (aka cheap). Take advantage of everything that's free or on sale from movies to Groupons to food leftover from meetings. 

* Allow yourself an allowance. Look at where you can sacrifice so you can splurge. Do you spend most of your $ on food? Drinking? Clothes? Travel? Set aside a part of your budget specifically for that and only use that money for that thing. When it's out it's out. I stop shopping and partying so I can save for a big trip - I'd rather have an experience than an item (or a hangover) so I spend most of my play money on Kayak and Travelzoo.

* Save. Always put aside something from every paycheck. Open a high-yielding savings account and have it automatically take $ out of your account on the 2nd and he 16th. Even if it's only $25. You'll thank me later.

* Be patient. The money will come. Right now focus on getting work for your book, learning the ropes and making contacts.


That's all I got.

Go make some amazing things for your book and win an award or two and be completely, undeniably awesome, Then you won't have to worry when it comes time to getting offers.They will be plentiful and generous.

Get to work!