Who knew that a pandemic would come in like a hurricane, shattering our ideas of what normal is, and leaving us to pick up the pieces in its aftermath? Due to COVID-19, many people were left jobless, or with reduced hours, and in desperate need of a steady source of income to support themselves and their families. 

Though remote work existed long before this phenomenon, many turned to working online to bridge that unemployment gap. Unfortunately, to a beginner, landing a good online job can seem to be an insurmountable task. With almost 10 years of working online, I have seen, witnessed and lived through the changes that online work has gone through. To provide you with the ultimate guidance that you need to land your first online job, I have developed this guide!

Keep reading to discover the step-by-step approach you need to take to land your first job online!

Step 1: Know your What  – What Skills do You Bring to the Online Marketplace?

One of the mistakes that I see new freelancers make is, trying to do EVERYTHING. When it comes to working online, you can’t just cast a wide net and hope it catches. In my experience and after having coached 100 clients on landing their first online job, I have realized this: the more specific you are, the more marketable you are. For sure, as you go through your online work journey, you will develop and expand your skills. However, to get started, it is critical that you identify at least one or two skills that you can use to market yourself online.

Luckily for you, I have developed a free one-hour workshop that you can take (right now) to figure out which one of your skills are best to market yourself online. It’s called: Turn Your Existing Skills into an Online Money Making Machine, and I have used it with 100+ clients, bringing them clarity on the best skills they can use to monetize themselves. When you go through the workshop, you will figure out things like:

Bonus: Improving your skills

Now that you’ve pinpointed your skills, you may feel that they are not at the level where you would feel confident marketing them, or, you just would just like them to be better. No need to worry–phase two of this process is all about improving the skills you have identified. 

Here are three strategies which are guaranteed to help you to upgrade your skills:

• Practice makes perfect!  

The old adage rings true since it is scientific威而鋼 ally proven that repeating an activity improves your memory and ability to do it in the future. Cut some time out of every day to practice your skill, no matter how small. Repetition, and learning from your mistakes is the name of the game. 

• Investing in yourself!

There are countless online resources such as courses and online websites that are free or at a low cost that can help you to educate yourself and practice the service that you intend to provide.  I have shared those resources with all my clients, and they have successfully been able to polish their skills and became more competitive in the marketplace. If you feel like you need extra help on this journey, then don’t worry! I have developed a self-paced course, called Working Online 101 Crash Course, where I teach you all the essentials of getting started working online!

• Adopting a growth mindset!

Above all, believe in yourself and your ability to grow and be better every day!  With effort, you can certainly develop any or all of your skills to the highest level. 

Step 2: Know your “Where”. Where can I find clients who need my skills?

With all the websites that help freelancers connect with potential clients out there, how do you know which one to choose? How do you know which website to go to and find the right client for you? How do you avoid scams? Here are some considerations to keep in mind when you are selecting which platform or platforms you would like to market your services on:

• The site’s pricing model : Some freelancing websites such as fiverr.com encourage freelancers to create a series of fixed prices for a particular amount of work. While this may work for some people, others may want more of the flexibility of negotiation that platforms like upwork.com provide.  It’s all up to you and your needs and expectations! 

• The site’s service fees: Though many freelancing websites offer a free account to freelancers and clients alike, some charge freelancers a monthly fee and a percentage tax on their earnings.  It is advisable to do your research and find the site whose fees, if any, are the best fit for you.  

• The level of saturation: Statistically, you have a better chance of landing a job in an environment where less people are competing for it.  Though this is not to discourage you from pursuing jobs for which a lot of people are competing, it is important to weigh the risk and the reward–to find that healthy balance between too much and just enough competition so that you stand a chance of achieving your goals within a reasonable timeframe. 

Step 3: Know your “How”: How do I approach my ideal clients?

Now that you know what skills you have to offer and where to find your ideal clients, the next step is: pitching to that client!

• Creating an impressive online profile

Once you’ve narrowed down the platforms that you would like to use, the next step is to create a profile that wows. Be sure to furnish your profile with professional and flattering pictures of yourself, a concise, grammatically correct description and examples of your past work. Also, don’t forget to ask for recommendations from former or current employers to boost your credibility!

• Pitching to clients

After you’ve attracted a client and they’ve reached out, or if you are reaching out to a prospective client, there are proven techniques that you can use to make sure that your profile stands out above all the other freelancers. From the way you submit your proposals to the way you research your clients and handle your interviews, every little step matters! 

• Acing the interview and landing the job

You’ve made it to the interview stage and the client is interested in what you have to offer!  Now is the time to highlight your skills and experience and solidify the client’s decision to hire you.  Need guidance on this? No worries! My crash course specifically teaches you everything you need to do and say to be and sound confident during your online work interviews! Not only will you learn all the tips I have used to land every single online work interview, but you will also learn valuable tips and tricks on how to navigate the freelance scene!

Landing an online job starts from something as seemingly insignificant as acknowledging what you are good at and what you would like to improve on; and this discovery can eventually launch you into the freelancing career that you’ve always dreamt of. 

So,what are you waiting for? You’ve already made it this far alone, kudos to you! Now, let me help you on the next leg of your journey. Whether you need a primary source of income or you would like to develop additional channels to make money, the Work Online 101 Crash Course was designed with you in mind!

Let me know how I can better support you through this journey!