Proving your skill as a freelance coder can be difficult when you’re starting out and don’t have much of a portfolio as yet. Even when you are more experienced, you may need to prove that you are up to a certain task. The problem is, how do you do this? How can potential employers check that coders can really do what they want? The answer is simple – Squad Edit.
This web application is incredibly clever. Allowing two or more people to work on a section of code simultaneously, it has many potential uses. Employers could use it to set a task to a candidate as part of their recruitment process (although this would require the interviewer/tester to be an accomplished coder themselves); freelance coders working on the same project from different locations can combine their skills instantly or the application could be used for educational purposes.
What’s really great about this application is that, being web-based, your work and settings can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Could bringing a laptop and providing an example on the spot be a bonus in an interview? Whatever uses you can come up with, one thing that is clear is that Squad Edit is an excellent tool for freelancers and employers alike.
One of the issues we find here at jQueryCove is the constant and terrifying speed with which new techniques are brought in. Developers world wide constantly find new and better ways of working, whether program specific or general area. For example all the web designers that came from the age of ‘Frontpage’ have had to constantly update and hone new skills to keep up with their working specialism.
It is true in nearly all areas including jQuery, it is safe to say anything that runs from a computer is constantly developing and changing. As a freelancer you need to make sure you keep your skills in tip top condition, and there are several ways to do this. The easiest and cheapest way is to become a bit of a virtual bookworm. Join forums, and jQueryCove is a perfect place to start, subscribe to blogs and journals and keep one eye on the latest news. You can learn an awful lot from these mediums, and whilst it seems time consuming and labourious when you have a full day of work to deal with, you need to see it as a vital part of your professional schedule.
Playing catch up is not fun, and your portfolio can easily seem old and outdated, so reading up on new ways of working is a must. This then needs to be incorporated into your work as quickly as possible so you can have the most recent work on offer when attracting new clients. Have three or four key test pieces that showcase your talents, and links to as many other sites that can demonstrate your skills in action as possible so clients can browse at their leisure.
This is a pretty basic issue that crops up regularly on forum boards and here at jQueryCove it is no exception. When it comes to hiring a freelancer you need to make clear from the beginning who owns the work. The normal course of action is that work completed by a freelancer belongs to them until such time as you pay them for it. In a good working relationship trust develops and freelancers will work and hand over work on a monthly or weekly basis, and receive recompense some days later. However ownership is the only recourse a freelancer has to protect themselves when things go wrong.
To ensure that you end up with an excellent working relationship with your freelancer there are simple steps you can take. Firstly make sure you have confirmed that your freelancer works in this way, and that they expect all work to transfer to your ownership once paid for. This means that they can use it in their portfolio only, with your business named as the client they worked for. It means that they can do nothing else with the work. They cannot reuse it with another client, even by amending it slightly. If they agree to this, most freelancers like those here at jQueryCove fully understand and are more than happy with this arrangement.
Once you have confirmed things, it is your responsibility to keep payments timely, freelancers can be living hand to mouth in many cases, but even those that aren’t deserve proper and prompt payment just like you would pay in house office staff. Should you experience cash-flow issues communication is paramount so the freelancer understands what the hold up is. If they then choose not to complete any more work until you have sorted your money problems out you need to respect that, and not put pressure on them.
Working as a freelancer is a great liberty for many people, but boy can it lead to a bad back! Hands up how many of you are tempted to slouch on the sofa with the laptop? You are not alone. It is a frequent moan of the home based worker, a) you start to pile on the pounds as you can basically snack all day, and b) the joints take offense as they are no longer sitting properly in office chairs at desks.
If possible you need to try and set aside an area of your house to call your office. It doesn’t have to be a large area and for many of us here at jQueryCove it is dual purpose and normally masquerades as the kitchen table or the breakfast bar. However, once everyone else has left for they day, it needs to become your office. Ergonomics do need to be taken into account to ensure you are looking after your body, inflatable gym balls make excellent seats if you have a desk the correct height. These force your spine to align and your core muscles to engage, working against the effects of all the chocolate biscuits you really shouldn’t have eaten.
Finally you need to have a tidy mind. Most of the work tends to be virtual, so you need to have an organized file system on your PC or laptop, which also needs to be backed up as you do not want to risk losing important work for your clients. Any paper work should be dealt with as it comes in, remember you are self employed and need to track your own finances. All common sense, but it does come across in your work, poor organization leads to mistakes which can lead to lost work.
Once you have decided that the best route for your business is to hire a freelancer, you then need to make sure the experience is good for both you and them. Many companies end up reluctantly paying part time or agency fees after a foray into the world of the freelancer left a sour taste in the mouth.
Let’s be honest, no matter what precautions and preparations are made, things can go wrong, but here at jQueryCove we believe highlighting the issues so you can tackle them head on will help make your experience a positive results yielding one. Finding the right freelancer can lead to a working relationship that can last years. One of the main issues that cause insurmountable problems between the client and the freelancer is communication, however this can easily be avoided by following these simple steps.
- Where – Freelancers can be found all over the globe. The perfect freelancer for your project may well reside in another country, which is fine as long as you are aware of each others time differences. An email that is not immediately replied to may simply be a timezone issue, not a lazy worker!
- When – Allowing for any time difference ensure it is clear when you want works to be completed. Agree deadlines in advance, and establish good channels of communication that can be adopted should things go wrong.
- What – Perhaps the most important issue. What do you want the freelancer to do. Remember in an office, face to face, it is easier for wishes to be conveyed, spoken words, facial gestures etc give away more than words on a page. Freelancers communicate in the virtual world. Make written briefs clear and specific, ask for confirmation that information has arrived safely. Spending a little more time ensuring your freelancer understands your need will pay dividends in the long run.
Leaving these three issues watertight has shown us here at jQueryCove how good freelancer relationships can be, and hopefully can ensure that your experience of working with a freelancer is one you will be happy to repeat.
Being a freelancer means you can charge in effect anything you like for your services, so as a potential client it can seem like quite a minefield. Obviously money matters, but so does quality timely work, so how do you decide what to pay or what not to pay. Clearly every freelancer here on jQueryCove has specific jQuery skills, so you are in the right place to start looking for a freelancer to complete your project, but rates will vary tremendously so how do you know what you are getting?
Rather unhelpfully we have to say that cheapest isn’t always worst, and most expensive isn’t always best. It can be a hard call for a budding freelancer to know what to charge. If they seek advice they will be told to look at the professional market and other freelancers in the field and see what the most common fee structure is. Clearly the need for work sometimes means reducing fees whilst building a reputation, but then you run the risk of being overlooked as people assume your aren’t actually up to the task – A real minefield for all!
The same basic strategy needs to be adopted by you too, do your research and see what is being charged across the board. This at least gives you some idea. Remember you can potentially tap into a global resource so consider what currency the freelancer is using, and convert with up to date exchange rates. After this you will have to be guided by portfolio and standard of example work offered, ease of initial communications, and to be honest a small sprinkling of gut feeling to pick the perfect freelancer for you.
One of the luxuries of being a freelancer, aside from being your own boss is you can work anywhere in the world – virtually speaking! Many freelancer that are part of the community here at jQueryCove work for clients in countries other than their own, and these working relationships can be extremely beneficial for all, as long as communications are clear.
Attracting clients from other countries isn’t difficult, remember jQuery is a universal language, so as long as you have a universal approach you are likely to be considered. When offering services make it clear that you understand the needs of the client, for example freelance writers based in the US need to specify that they understand and can ensure articles are written to UK English standard, and equally vice-versa. This is a simple quick line to add to your portfolio that reassures a potential client from another country that you can work for them successfully
With common payment tools such as Paypal and Escrow, you can offer to bill clients in their standard currency. Show your rate in your own currency and offer the equivalent price in their currency. Make sure when doing this all prices are based on the most up to date exchange rates available on the internet as these can change quickly. Show the calculation when you prepare your invoice, and the client feels comfortable that you are being up front and honest and gives them one less things to do for their accounts.
Finally confirm the time difference with any clients, this can make the difference between good and bad feeling when waiting for replies to emails. Remember you could ask a question just as they have gone offline for the night, and an eight hour wait does not mean there is a problem, simply that they have gone home for the night!
Being a freelancer means you are on your own. A harsh reality but actually, for many skilled professionals, a liberating step that finally brings a lifestyle yearned for by so many for so long. Here at jQueryCove we understand the life of a freelancer, so please feel free to take advantage of our experience and expertise.
Having a skill is just the first step, you then need to market yourself in order to get work, build a portfolio and reputation so you can be assured the volume of clients you need to keep your head above water. If you are the main income winner, the initial plunge can be rather like diving into ice cold water and not knowing how deep it is. Scary! That is why setting appropriate rates is simply vital to determining whether you sink or swim.
- Consider the corporate. What does the business world consider your skill is worth? Chances are freelancers expect similar, after all the skills needed are identical.
- Break it down. So you have an annual figure in mind, what does that equate to hourly? Per project? You have to be the master of your field and offer confident information to prospective clients.
- The bottom line. Quite possibly the most important issue – what do you HAVE to earn to survive as a freelancer, and work back from there.
Being a member of a community of like minded freelancers isn’t just about jostling for work. Joining us here at jQueryCove opens a whole variety of doors and gives you a chance to learn and earn in a supportive environment where everyone speaks the same ‘virtual’ language .
Developing a solid reputation has always been one of the key skills needed to create a successful business and being a freelancer is no exception. jQueryCove understands the pressures experienced by those in a freelance role, so we explain some of the unavoidable issues you must tackle head on to bring about the business presence you need to remain at the top of your game. Deadlines are crucial – failure to complete a job on time leaves you looking amateurish and unprepared.
Prior preparation prevents poor performance – ok it is a cliche but one that should never be ignored. In order to meet deadlines organization cannot be overlooked. So with the five ‘P’s come the four ‘T’s to ensure success.
- Task – In a method that suits you, create a list of all tasks that need completion. A diary is the most sensible method, whether you prefer a paper diary or an electronic diary, allot tasks to their due date.
- Time – Now give each task a sensible amount of time for completion. Over rather than under estimate how long you need. With the best intentions comes ringing phones, unexpected guests (the joys of working at home!) and numerous other interruptions you cannot plan for.
- Track – As each task is completed mark this fact on your diary. Ensure it is fully complete – emailed to appropriate persons or printed and filed etc. Color coding is a quick and easy way to see what remains outstanding.
- Talk – If the worst happens, and from time to time unavoidably it does, never keep quiet and hope for the best. Get in touch with your clients and talk. Explaining your situation is less damaging to your reputation than just missing a deadline. Many clients will be happy to extend your deadlines if they understand your situation.
Following these steps should lead to an organized working day that gives you plenty of time to complete the tasks. One last jQueryCove tip – don’t take on more than you can cope with. The idea of extra cash is always appealing but the damage to your reputation if you fail to deliver can take years to repair.
