Technology and ideas of what is current information change quickly. A web site designer who knows only basic HTML, for example, is no longer current or viable in the freelance market. How can a freelancer keep up with current trends in information and technology to increase their skill set without going broke?
Here are five ways to build on your freelance skills:
- Take a class. Even if you worked in a traditional office environment, you would be required to participate in professional development via seminars or continuing education classes. This is especially important to your work as a freelancer in order to remain competitive in your field.
- Read relevant books/magazines. There is a caveat here: Make certain any books are current because industries can change so quickly. What was current last May probably is outdated this May. Magazines and professional journals provide more current news and information for freelancers than books do.
- Find a mentor. You don’t have to be new to your field to benefit from a mentor. While traditionally mentors have been older, more seasoned professionals, don’t discount what younger ones can teach. They are more in touch with current technology and can help you learn it as well.
- Subscribe to relevant e-newsletters. Many professional organizations have an electronic newsletter sent out via e-mail. These include industry news, changes, and technological advances, all of which you need to know. Be careful of newsletters from individual sites. They might have current information, but it’s best to stay with a source you know is accurate.
- Become involved in an interactive group, web-based or real-time, of professionals in your field. Everyone needs person-to-person interaction, even if you started freelancing so you could work by yourself and have minimal contact with people. Being involved with a group in your field gives you a sounding board for when you’re stumped by a problem or searching for new ideas for a client.
Every professional has to grow or they stagnate. That is especially true for freelancers. Building your skill set and taking on new technology will help ensure you won’t be one of the stagnant ones.
Brilliant! Such deep insight into the topic, did you do all of your research or did a army of grad students help. Really if you got nothing to say don’t post a “tutorial” on the obivus. Read a relevant book? really? Thanks.
What may be “obvious” to you and I isn’t to some people. And even if it is, reminders help.
Thanks for the daily dose of snark.
Excellent write-up. Carry on….
This is helpful. A couple of these I already knew but had forgotten, so this is a great reminder. Thank you. I really didn’t think about subscribing to e-newsletters as a way to keep current but that’s a really good idea.
Thanks for these great reminders! I’m sure these will be very useful to up-and-coming freelancers, and even seasoned professionals need to keep their skills fresh. Great job!
~Kimberlee
Hiya Jen. Great post. And sorry about that stupid comment above. Guess he was looking for help and couldn’t make use of your suggestions. His loss.
I loved it and really need to follow the steps more especially finding a mentor. Haven’t found one yet that I would really like to work with. thanks again for posting.
I know when I most need to recharge my freelancing batteries going back to basics is the best way to do it. Thank you for reintroducing the basics, Jen. These are eternal wisdoms we all need to remember from time to time.
Great ideas. How does a freelancer find a mentor and how does that relationship work? I freelance full-time by myself, and can see the benefit of having a mentor. Perhaps you can explain further.