The need for a second income source is becoming so common that some primary employers are shifting workers' schedules around their outside obligations. Freelancing can be a good option for bringing in some extra money aside from your principal paycheck and for anyone who wants to keep their skills fresh while taking time off work or pursuing a job in a field unrelated to their training.
When I asked a Sugar employee that used to do freelance work where to find the best gigs, she said, "You gotta pitch. Just get out there and pitch stories." While writers should keep that advice in mind, there are some websites that dedicate their listings to freelancing and contract jobs catering to a number of jobs not limited to writing. Find out some recommended sites for a variety of freelance and contract work when you read more.
Searching the Internet for other sites like these will generate a number of results, but don't assume they are all honest sites. In other words, watch out for scams.
- The Work and Family columnist for The Wall Street Journal recommends Elance.com and oDesk.com. She notes that "Information-technology workers, such as programmers and Web developers, are the sites' biggest market, but they're fast expanding into graphic design, writing, engineering, translation, marketing, accounting, administrative and legal services."
- CareerBuilder points out that Sologig.com is a good place to start for freelancing and contract jobs.
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Thanks Savvy. I have been looking for a second job and I wanted to pick up some extra work.
1This is great and so timely, Savvy! I was just mentioning that I wanted to see if I could find some freelance gigs to my huband over the weekend!
2My husband has found some great gigs on Craigslist, too...
Oooh, thanks! I needed this list
3I wish I had time to do some freelance work.
4Funny you should mention this Savvy, as I just billed my first invoice for some freelance work I recently did. Some useful ideas going on the freelance theme: how to create a template for an invoice, how to ask for payment/negotiate fees for your work, tax implications (e.g. what if this is a one-off piece of freelance work?)
Haha, and on that note...does Sugar ever use freelancers?
5Hey Savvy! I've been a freelance writer for years and get lots of freelance work off of http://www.ifreelance.com and http://www.TheFreelanceNation.com. hope these help your readers.
6Thanks for the tips! I am a writer who could use some extra income.
7Thanx a LOT Savvy. I've passed this article along to my friends who are also looking to put our journalism degrees to some use:)
8ooh thank you for posting this - i'm not sure if what i do will be on there - but i'm definitely going to look!
9Oh I needed this. Cross my fingers that I find some good stuff:)
10Thanks for these suggestions, Savvy and thanks Wordguy for yours!
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