If you have kids to send to school, a mortgage or loan to pay, a sickly family member, then those are just the tip of the iceberg that you have to deal with and make sure that are carefully addressed. It’s good to be filled with enthusiasm when you are starting on freelancing but the fire of enthusiasm can be doused if you take things for granted.

1. Savings

There is actually no exact figure or amount that you should have in your savings to start a freelance homebased work. But as a rule of thumb, it is advised that you have funds that can sustain your needs for a 6month period. That is considering unexpected end of work, low income flow, or a sudden sickness which means no earnings for you. This is also to buffer the transition period of your 9-5 work to the freelance home based work.

2. Health Insurance

Health is wealth. I think that is something that we can all agree on. And if you do agree, you ought to agree as well that getting a reliable health insurance is a must if you will be hopping on the freelancer’s wagon. If you are enjoying free medical and dental benefits, hospitalization for you and your dependents, then you “must” (emphasis added) also ensure that you and your family enjoy the same benefits after you resign from your 9-5 work. It will make you feel more secure and confident that your funds will not be depleted in cases of sickness in the family.

3. Skills and Education

At this point, your resume and experiences, as well as the skills acquired will be your key in securing a job. Your marketability to employers will depend on how well you have established your skills and your proven track record will mean a lot. But the more well rounded you are, the more opportunities will be available for you. If you know just the basic, try to at least advance your knowledge. Take as much relevant training and certifications that you can and make sure that you brush up on your English communication skills. Make sure that you can effectively communicate not only on your line of expertise but also on a personal level. Remember that you are not only selling your service, you are selling yourself.

4. Materials and Equipment

Many online opportunities are available today and one of them is online tutorials. And if you would consider applying for such a position you must take into consideration the material requirements of the job. Do you have a reliable internet connection? Is your office conjucive for classroom type of environment, no noise, no distractions? Do you have a noise cancelling microphone? etc. etc. This may not be true in your case but it would also be a good thing to consider. Whether it is just plain writing that you do, or coding and other programming jobs, your clients may call you from time to time and may bring a bad impression if your room is noisy, your internet connection disconnects. It would be a wise investment if you can purchase the following:

UPS or uninterrupted power supply
printer, scanner, and copier
mic & headset
back up wireless internet subscription
portable HD drive

5. Network and Resources

Working online as a home based freelancer doesn’t mean that you have to alienate yourself from the outside world. It is even more advisable that you create a bigger network now, whether online or offline, than ever before. Why? Because your network can be a good source of referral projects. Word of mouth can travel at lightning speed and creating a good network that can help you spread the word about your work. It can bring countless potentials at your doorstep. Join likeminded people. There are freelancer forums and discussion boards, as well as websites that cater to online freelance works. And remember, always maintain a good reputation with the people you deal with, both client and colleague because a bad reputation is a devourer of your income.

Create a list of where you will get your clients. Evaluate the Terms of Service and check for user feedbacks.

NOTE: This post was originally posted on my blog: DrEy’s CaLl CeNtEr WeBlOg under the title: Cheklist for Online Homebased Freelancer

Why is there a need to be an effective freelancer?

Ecclesiastes 9:10 says it better: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might for there is no work nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest. The thing with freelancing is, a single instance of a bad output or a messed up project can spell the last thing you’ll ever hear from that client again. The lifeblood of successful and thriving freelance career is word of mouth. If people only hear how bad you work, you will never go far enough. You will either find yourself diving with your rate just to be able to get some work. Else, you’ll be deserting this profession with a not so graceful exit.
If you want to be able to demand good pay rate, keep your clients happy. If you want to benefit from free advertising through word of mouth, be an effective freelancer. Bottom line is, if you want to keep a job for a long time, be an effective freelancer!

Challenges to becoming effective

There are various reasons why we are ineffective in what we do. Based on my observations and personal experience they include:
1. Distractions
2. Doubts in what you can do or achieve, skills, education etc.
3. Communication breakdown – when we stop communicating with
4. Greed – when it’s all about money that you think of and not your client’s needs
5. Procrastination – need i say more about this?
So How do we become effective?

Tips to Effective Freelancing

1. Keep the focus – multi tasking is a practice not many will be good at. Being focus is still the best way to go. But does this mean that I’ll only take one client at a time? Not necessarily, focus simply means devoting a specific time for a specific client.
2. Nurture the existing – I’ve been taught in my call center training that retention is better than acquiring new customers and it’s still the same principle with freelancing. If you have a way of keeping the existing clients. After all, when their business grows and they’ve seen your dedication, you will eventually reap the rewards of your loyalty.
3. Pray – this may be new to your ears, but prayer has been a secret weapon in my work as a freelancer. I do not have a college degree. But I must say that by prayer, I’ve learned things I never imagined I could do if I only relied on my own.
4. Stay Connected (communication) – Business is all about connections. The better connected you are the better chances of opportunities coming your way. There are so many social media platforms that you can use to stay connected. Twitter and Facebook, as well as blog commenting have been my primary choices in networking and the effort and time investment has paid off well.
5. Keep on learning – every search you make on Google or Bing or Yahoo is a step to learning new things. All major how-to’s that can pull you through the tech stuff is just a click away. All we have to do is to be diligent in finding them. Learn from you connections. The people around you, no matter how different their line of business or work can give you a big step towards learning new ideas that you can implement sooner or later in your freelancing.
6. Learn from mistakes – We don’t necessarily have to learn just from our mistakes but from other’s experiences as well. But I have proven that going through the situation is the most effective form of learning (at least for my experience) We you have a personal, first hand experience of a problem, you are better off at solving it than those who just read it in books or seen it on tv. So don’t frustrate when you commit mistakes, cherish them and keep them always in mind.
7. Maximize time – You can’t borrow from the past to make up for tomorrow’s lack. Use the time you have “now” for the things that needs to be done “NOW”. Think like a sprint runner or an F1 racer. A split second can mean a whole lot. When you work, every micro second counts. Make sure you don’t waste their time because you certainly wouldn’t want to waste yours too! Punctuality is not only about being on time, it’s all about character.
8. Honesty at all times – honesty is about setting the right expectation and delivering what you promised.
9. Get some feedback – there is no better way of knowing if you are being effective or not than asking the clients who you work for. That is why it is imperative to get a feedback from them. It would be ideal if you can create a list of questions to provide to them that focuses on certain criteria that you would like to evaluate, such as: deadlines, communication, language (are thoughts and ideas properly communicated?), etc. This will also help you better understand their needs and personalize your approach in providing your service.
10. Enjoy the privilege – there are millions who are out of work who would love to take on your work. So don’t just get frustrated with little challenges. Be happy you have a job. When you are happy with what you do and appreciate the privilege you have been granted, it’s easy to be effective. No matter how small or big your project is, learn to take it as a privilege and not a right.

The fact is, the internet is becoming the biggest job site you could ever imagine. Come to think of it, it’s not only limited to local opportunities but its global. So for those who wants to catch up on the booming online jobs industry, I have listed the eight most sought after skills on the web.

As a bonus, I have also added a few resources which would be a good place to start gathering information on how or where to get your dream jobs. Read on…

1. Virtual Assistant

– Newsblaze.com considered Virtual assistance (VA’s) as one of the latest and hottest home based businesses in today’s market. You may ask why, well, there’s a lot of reasons why this skill is such a hit. For entrepreneurs who want to keep the business rolling, getting a well rounded VA who could almost do everything, like managing a blog, social media accounts, office and admin works, customer service, this is such a big hit. Best of all, they are literally getting some quality service at rock bottom prices if they outsource the job from India or the Philippines. Chris Ducker of Virtual Business Lifestyle has actually taken advantage of this niche. Chris started an outsourcing company called Live2Sell that provides VA services here in Cebu and he’s been reaping the rewards for finding Filipino VA’s who simply provide awesome service at very low rates.

On the other hand, if you are solo professional who wants to start a VA business of your own but finds the web as an uncharted territory, here are some sites that I would recommend for you to visit.
a. IVAA - International Virtual Assistants Association
b. VA Classroom – a site co founded by Craig Cannings
c. VA Training Online -
d. VA Networking -

2. WordPress Developer

– Over 25 million people have chosen WordPress as their blogging platform, according to WordPress.org. And that is reason enough why wordpress developers can look to a bright future ahead in terms of job availability. Whether it’s WP theme you are developing or WP plugins, you’ll sure have millions of hungry users who can keep you busy if you do a good job.

3. Social Media Marketer

– This is probably one of the areas where most are already engaged unconsciously. The places where you frequently visit like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Flickr could actually help you earn if you take time to study social media marketing. You don’t really need to be a guru, you just have to understand how social media works and how you can implement it to your own system. Alright, to make things a lot clearer. Let me throw you some of the personal resources that I recommend if you are planning on exploring this area:
Socialmediatoday, Socialmediaexaminer, Mashable. Also, you can check out some well known figures like Brian Solis of www.briansolis.com Neal Schaffer, author of Maximizing Linkedin, Seth Godin, and Chris Brogan.

4. Web Designer

- As long as the web is there, web designers will always have plenty of work to do. But it’s not just being able to design. If you can throw in a couple more skills to add to your design skill, it would give you a better edge. Most people would actually prefer a one stop shop so try to learn a bit about the other areas. To get a good glimpse, check www.99designs.com

5. Content Writer

This is probably one of the most in-demand jobs online that helps you hone your craft but at the same time get paid.
Anne Waymaalso n has some great insights that you can use as well some great advice on how to monetize your writing. The fact is, whether you are novice or an expert writer, you can still write and earn by utilizing some sites paid to write sites like: Hubpages, Bukisa or create a blog of your own then monetize it. There is Adsense, Bidvertiser, and a couple other monetization techniques that you can use while enjoying your writing. You can also find opportunities as article rewriter, ebook writer, etc..

7. Apps Developer

– Apps or applications and software integrators are becoming a boom in the current market trend. And this will continue on as the landscape becomes more engraved in being mobile but consistently connected to the web. Google apps which has become one of the most popular and the never ending iPhone and Android apps are becoming increasingly mainstream. The possibility almost endless. And if you are keen on creating useful applications then you’re up to something promising in terms of generating a passive income source. Check out AndroidApps.com as well as iTunes store to get a feel of what the apps industry has in store for you.

8. SEO

- All the above mentioned skills has in one way or another a common goal, to be visible to their target markets. And SEO work will do that for them. I suggest, if you have already engaged yourself in blogging, and social media, SEO would be a next good stop to really maximize the efforts that you are pouring into your online work.
There are a few SEO sites where you could get some great insights and updates and I would suggest that you subscribe to their newsletters. Check out SEOConsultants for its 12 select blogs.

A multi-country survey conducted by Callcentres.net, revealed that full-time call center agents stay in a contact center at an average 22 months, while part-time agents last for a shorter 10 months. In a January 2010 issue of Manila Bulletin, a Call Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) study shows call centers have an attrition rate of 19 percent.

So where do call center agents go after their short stint in these four cornered cubicles?

A bit of me thinks that call center agents either move to another center or go back being unemployed. Getting a regular 9-5 job doesn’t seem to be an option. For one good reason, they get a much lower pay which is an unlikely option considering that most of these young professionals have started getting a decent salary. It’s like getting demoted which is least of what you could possibly take especially if you are helping your kins in the province or supporting an extended family.

The scenarios just seemed like a catch-22. It’s either you get burned out from a job you can’t leave because you have no choice, leave and get a low paying job, else, leave and be unemployed. Okay, it’s not all too bad. There’s also a bright side to this story. Did you know that call centers are actually one of the best training grounds for freelancers?

As a product of call center exhaustion myself, I know the plight of many call center agents who are hanging onto dear job. But when I learned about blogging, online jobs, oDesk, Elance and other freelance sites, I realized that working in the call center is not the end of the story. Its stepping stone, and a training ground.

Communication
Call centers provide a very good place to train your communication skills. It’s a very important skill that every freelancer must possess. And this gives call center agents a big step ahead of the competition. Practically speaking, you could start freelancing by taking on cold calling jobs, customer service or tech support positions. You can also work as a Virtual assistant, appointment setter, or even chat support. Compared with a call center position, the big difference is the fact that you get control of your time, be able to choose which is most convenient for you, you work at home, and the stress level is highly lowered down. Pay rates are also higher as compared to working in call centers.

Multi Tasking
When you talk on the phone, gather information, identify your customer’s concern, understand their needs, and provide solution, it takes more than just communication, it takes an active mind and hand that works together all at the same time. That’s multi-tasking! And it’s another good thing that you can learn from a call center experience and bring on the table when you go freelance.

Customer Service
Customer service orientation provides a big advantage for those who are planning to start freelancing. And for those who are already into freelancing, it’s a certainty that customer service background helps a lot in handling your clients whether they are the bring-me-something-out-of-nothing kind or the more reasonable type of person. Whatever type of freelance job you may take, your background on customer service will be beneficial as you will know how to treat your clients. After all, working with a client is all about customer service. It’s just a change of environment and from a different perspective.

Sales
When you go freelancing, sales skill will be your bread and butter. If you don’t know how to sell, you shouldn’t be a freelancer! Whether you like it or not, freelancing is all about selling. If you’ve had the chance to do sales in previous accounts, consider it as another big plus if you decide to freelance. Call centers are actually a good breeding ground for this skill. You will learn how to close the sale, your customers buying signs, your products or services features and benefits and how it will matter to your customers. You will no longer dread the fact that you need to be persistent and consistent, because if you do, you’re planning to quit early in this line of job.

Bottom Line
These are probably some of the basic trainings that you can get from working in a call center and there can be more. I will not guarantee that you can get a job, but if you have these skills, I am sure that you will have an easier life getting hired. You don’t need to hang onto something and whine for the rest of your life. You don’t need to look back one day and regret why you did not leave the call center sooner. You have a choice! You just need to make that choice and use what you have learned from those experiences. After all, call center experience is not bad at all, its actually a stepping stone that can help you reach greater heights.

Image credit: www.farmout.ph

Yourself
Before somebody laughs at you when you tell them what you want to do, better have an introspection on where you’re at, where you wanna be and what you want to achieve. I guess what I’m saying is simply, convince yourself that you are really up to the challenge. Are you ready to live an uncertain career that many would-be freelancers dread? Is your family ready for the ride? OK, before I scare you off from turning to what you’d like to be, think on these things. Don’t just look at the good side. Open your eyes to the consequences as well, because there are also rough edges in this line of profession.

An Authority in Your Field
We all have people we look up to in terms of our standards of success. Most often, these are the people who actually inspired us, challenged us or made us feel that we can do even the impossible things! If you do have one in mind, it won’t hurt if you will get his opinion or simply understand how he’s done things which eventually made him successful. It well help you boost your confidence and at the same time, help you create a similar pattern of success if you will not waver. You may not be able to duplicate exactly the success that they’ve made, but the lessons you will learn from them will give you a positive perspective on how to move one day at a time.

Your Current Employer
Many people try to scape their frustrations at their 9-5 jobs and turn to freelancing. Will you leave because you did not get the promotion you expected, the raise was not high enough, or are you simply uncomfortable with your boss. All these frustrations add up. But if you think that shifting to a freelance job will solve your 9-5 woes, think again.

Sometimes it’s really just a matter of asking, waiting and delivering. It’s all about loving what you do. If you love your job right now but you can’t seem to jibe with your employer’s whims then it’s a good thing to confront the issue. Give a shot on possible resolutions. And once all options have been exhausted, then make the final decision. Your employers may seem terrible but come to think of it, working with other people online doesn’t spare you from virtual bullies, conflicts or misunderstandings.

Another issue that’s a common reason why people jump ship to freelancing is the pay rates. Although you can literally dictate the price for your service, if you are still starting up, you may not be able to demand, compared to those who have already established their portfolio and have proven their worth and experience.

Your Prospect
Before you totally leave your current employer and step into freelancing, make sure that you have a client or company to work with right away. It’s like moving to a new house; make sure you have a house to move in before you actually take out all your things or you will end up on the streets. I know it’s difficult to assess whether a project will be long term or short term, but it would be safe if you can also discuss the duration.

Your Financial Adviser
I don’t think many of you have a financial adviser. But basically its worth discussing about your financial status with the people or person who have a stake if you turn into a millionaire (that’s being positive okay!).

Before I started with my freelancing, I had to apply for a loan to purchase some equipments. I bought a new computer, applied for my high speed internet, got me a hosting account, bought my first domain. And I believe that’s one of the best venture I’ve made in terms of using my credit. I said this because people use their credit for so many unnecessary things, but all tends to waste and things that easily depreciates in value. When I decided to apply for the loan, I kept in mind that this will not just be another cash out of my pocket but an investment that will pay me some returns.

In all these financial issues, I made sure that my wife is aware. We laid out our plans and options. We had a plan B in place. I also made sure that the institution where I loaned are aware of the risk I’m taking. But after those crunch times, I’m proud to say that we are debt free, all paid by my online freelance jobs.

Your Family
Whatever happens to your plan, whether it prospers or fails, the only true people that you can turn to with confidence is your family. Well at least that’s true for my situation.

My wife have been very supportive of this venture and has often given me not only the boost to keep on but has shared brilliant ideas that I could not have thought if I was only doing it on my own and just kept her in the backseat. All along she was beside me. I opened up the idea, we prayed for it, visualized it, wrote our goal on paper. And it’s been an amazing experience that has truly strengthened us in many ways.

Bottom Line
Whatever those other people said to you, the final decision still rest on what you will choose to do. It’s your choice to make. The people you have talked to can only share their two cents of advice. They can offer you a different perspective on the matter, but you will have to look at it yourself and find out which one works and which doesn’t. They will not coerce you into something. Whatever happens, the responsibility still hangs on your shoulder.

Job Satisfaction

Many people walk to their offices and perform their duties with a heavy shoulder because they are no longer satisfied with what they are doing, their salary and other areas of their employment. A Conference Board’s survey which polled 5,000 households in the US, found that only 45% were satisfied in their jobs. So why burden yourself and struggle to believe that that’s the right place or the right job for you?

Work on something you are happy doing. If you are feeling obliged to do something because there’s a supervisor who’s prying on you, a boss that you simply can’t get along with or a policy that you can’t agree on, then that’s reason enough to look for windows of opportunity. If you can’t help yourself but keep an eye on the ticking of the clock to hit 5 PM then it’s high time to reconsider your options about getting yourself into freelancing.

Family Preservation

I have been a strong advocate of online freelancing for one important reason, and that’s family preservation. I understand that many people are aiming at overseas works in the US, Canada, UK and other parts of Europe and the Middle East. But if many Americans are already unsatisfied with their jobs, I don’t think it would be any different to me.

I know the salary is way higher than what you can get (probably) But I believe that freelancing gives more benefit in terms of the bond that you’ll get in your family’s presence. Would you like your kids to grow without your guidance? And I’m sure, a million dollar can buy a lot of heaters but it won’t be warm enough to comfort your wife on a cold night. If you want to cultivate your career without sacrificing your family then working online at the comfort of you home is a perfect alternative.

Computers as Investments

There are a lot of people who are addicted to computers. Some would spend long hours in games and chatting and many other unproductive activities. And that’s just it. A pure waste of time and money. I love my computer too, because I saw a different potential to what it can do. I look at it as an investment that yields me a thousand returns and not just an appliance or a game console. If you think that way, then you are closer to concluding that probably, online freelancing is the right work for you.

No Where to Run

When you hit a wall and you have nowhere to run, that situation will bring out the best in you if you will face it and determine to get over that hindrance. I know it’s sad that many people think of freelancing as last resort, but it’s this last resort that has transformed many lives into satisfied and gave a new face to the word “work”. If you don’t have job right now, don’t keep on running and looking for that elusive career. Grab a chair and get in front of your computer. Try freelancing!

Bottom Line:

What worked for me may not work for you. Hence, whether freelancing is for you or not, remains to be decided. But if you have already made the first step, then don’t look back. Just look forward to your goal and remember why you are into freelancing. Again, freelancing is not for the faint of heart. If you can’t make a firm decision to pursue it full time, part time will always be an option. And hopefully, you’ll come to a point and say that “Freelancing is REALLY the right one for you!”.

So I’m changing that style. As they say, if you can’t beat them, join them. Go ahead, BUY BUY BUY! But before you indulge read through the shopping list I’ve prepared for you. Then go ahead and enjoy your shopping spree!

Computer and Equipments
I know you are itching to get the latest version of Mac as much as I do. If you can afford it, go for it! As an online worker who spends 40 hours or more in front of the computer, it is imperative that you invest in a machine that will give you the security and reliability in delivering your work. Whether it’s a Mac or a PC, what’s important is that it’s up to the task.

I’d also recommend that you get an uninterrupted power supply (UPS), external hard disk, extra battery pack for your laptop and a comfy office furniture that will make you work comfortably.

A Book or Special Training Course
Get a good book to read or a training course to enroll that will enhance your current skill set. I highly recommend The Wealthy Freelancer by Ed Gandia et al. It’s power pack with great ideas that’s relevant to our time and realistic. The 12 secrets that they have outlined will make give you a different perspective at freelancing and will open up your eyes that this is serious business!

There are many other books available out there and it’s always to your advantage if you keep yourself abreast with the latest technologies, ideas and innovations. You simply can’t afford to be left behind in this rapidly changing world. If you are having a second thought on investing on a short course, try ignorance. You’ll lose more clients from not knowing something that you could have provided if you keep on learning!

Domain and Hosting
If you don’t have a website or blog yet, it’s about time for you to take your freelance business on the web. Get a website. “A carpenter doesn’t have a house” won’t be applicable in this era. You need to get your name out, and tell the world what you can offer. Build a brand of your own and start leveraging the power of social media in getting more clients.

This is probably the cheapest item on your shopping list but the promise of return is enormous! So don’t just take it for granted. Get the domain name for your business, sign up for a reliable hosting provider. My current hosting is with www.GoDaddy.com and they are doing a great job, plus great discounts for domain and hosting. For the web design part, try www.99designs.com to get some help if you can’t do it yourself.

I know a whole day won’t be enough to get all of these and set up completely. It will keep you busy for a little while and ward off another attack of impulsive buying.

Bottomline: It’s not a sin to spend on something you really want to have as long as you can afford it. And there is a better word that we ought to learn about money that’s more powerful than spending, and that is INVESTING.

Now it’s your turn. The comment is open so get me another item on the shopping list for our shopaholic freelancer that is a worthwhile investment!

Image credit: www.thewealthyfreelancer.com

At first, I was hesitant to leave my job at Aegis People Support, one of the biggest call center here in Cebu City. With two growing kids in tow, a house rental to think, no savings in the bank, no health insurance. It was probably one of the most stupid thing a father can do. But I didn’t leave the call center to let my family starve to death. I left the call center for many good reasons.

Future:

I am no seer or fortune teller, but one of the reasons I left the call center is because I saw a promising future in online jobs. The fact that outsourcing has been in bloom for several years already made me firmly believe that this will be the same with online jobs. There will be more companies, specially medium to small sized businesses who will be joining the bandwagon of outsourcing. There will be individuals who simply wants to do business and are practical enough to outsource some of their tasks to individuals, not companies. And sure enough, even at this moment, oDesk, which is one of the major places where my clients come from have consistently shown an increase in all aspects:
48,786 new online jobs were posted to oDesk in June, an increase of 1,505 over May
635,198 total workers were registered with oDesk in June, an increase of 45,480 or 7.7 percent over May
$9,255,640 was earned by workers on oDesk in June, an increase of $382,252 or 4.3 percent over May
(Source: oDesk Online Employment Situation Summary)

Earning Potential:

Although the call center has offered above average compensation and benefits, freelance jobs give a bigger earning potential and a more financially rewarding work. With enough skill, and experience it has literally raised my earnings from four to five times what I previously received in my call center work, all in the comfort of my home. Not only that, it has also opened new areas for me to passively earn through my blog advertising revenues and affiliate earnings.

Growth:

Career growth in call centers go through the step by step promotion process that’s not free from insider politics, “padrino” system and other biases. Competition is stiff. And this made me think, whether my 5 years of stay in a call center would bring me to my goal of being financially stable and in terms of position, getting a promotion. With freelancing, you’re almost limited only by your imagination on what you can achieve. Freelancing offers a different path for growth. For just one year, I’ve seen open doors to raise the bar in what I do. From my role in the call center as customer service agent, taking 30-60calls every day, pacifying irate customers, I then started managing projects for clients, getting my own team, and as they say… the rest is history.

Flexibility

Time flexibility at work proved to be one of my biggest challenge while working at the call center. I’ve missed important family occasions, church gatherings, and other events which I would have enjoyed attending. And as a family man with two growing kids, family time became a growing concern as well.
With my job as Virtual Assistant, I was able to choose clients that would suit both their time preference as well as mine. I can work for two hours, or four, or six or a full stretch 8 hour shift depending on my availability. And this is what makes working as home based freelancer very flexible.

Bottom Line

I can list down many other reasons on why I left the call center in place of working at home as a freelancer. But the bottom line is, if you love your job, then stick to it. I love my freelance work, I love computers, I enjoy working alone, that’s why I’m sticking to it. If this post made you think of jumping ship plainly because of the earning potential, this may not be enough to sustain you to last through the challenging and uncertain world of freelancing. But if you think your interest and passion is here, don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need some direction to get started.
(Image source: http://fusionbposervices.freeblog.co.nz/)

I have worked at home for more than two years now, and I’ve never regretted giving up my work as a call center agent and turning full time to online freelancing. I can be with my family when they need me. I am hands on with my responsibility as a father and husband. And I’m earning an income that’s sufficient enough to answer our basic and many extra needs. All of this in the comfort of our home, in front of the computer.

I understand that my advocacy of emphasizing online jobs instead of overseas work may not be applicable to all. The technological gap to those ahead of us is one thing. While some are just as equally unbelieving that earning online is possible. There are also jobs that’s beyond the possibility of doing remotely like actual work on oil rigs (the dangers of BP), construction sites, and other manually operated tasks.

Promoting online work instead of overseas jobs makes a lot of sense to me. Other than the fact that I can personally testify that working online is rewarding, i’m equally propelled to advocate this kind of work when I see broken families. I’m saddened to see families that’s ruined because jobs abroad are the only choice they know that will lead them to prosperity. But as the adoption of internet, spread of BPO, and the continuous expansion of the outsourcing industry, it won’t be long before we see many dads and moms just working at home and enjoying a good time with their family.

Image credit: www.tedbakerblog.com

UAE based company, gDEV FZ LLC who claims to be the biggest employer in oDesk started sending out invitations and hiring providers for a fixed rate fee to undergo several tests and a Skype interview that’s intended for various technical and customer service positions. Well, who wouldn’t be enticed to grab the opportunity? gDEV offers $40-60 fixed rate fee for spending just 3-4 hours of taking the exams and a few minutes of Skype interview, and the best part, if you get hired, you get a whopping $10 hourly rate or more depending on the nature of your job. That seemed to be a dream job to many freelancers who are still living on a feast and famine kind of life. But that seems to be perceived as too good to be true when all these grievance messages started to sprout.

Are the gDEV invitations just a hoax then? I don’t think it’s enough ground to say that they are not legitimate. Delays are part of the hiring process. And as applicants, I guess, it may as well be taken against us if we show impatience.

gDEV has already issued a stern warning for those who will continue with the flared messages. To those who were not able to control their patience and have not put their complaints in proper channeling, it may have just caused you a quicker kill on your chances of getting hired.

Again, patience is a virtue.