Become a Freelance Project Manager

Opportunity which outweighs office perks

On a weekly basis, workers are generating over a billion hours of freelancing and of those who freelance, over 50% say they wouldn’t go back to a traditional work environment, even if their pay increased. There are also freelancing opportunities available for all sorts of industries, including marketing and engineering. But why are freelance jobs so alluring? And how can you start freelancing project management, specifically?

Freelancing Advantages

There’s a reason freelancing is growing so popular: it comes with a lot of great perks! In fact, many of these advantages can outweigh things like company-provided health insurance or PTO, which is why many people are abandoning the traditional work model all together.

Flexibility:

Many freelancing opportunities are flexible and remote, meaning you can set your own schedule. This freedom is one of the biggest draws of freelancing, it gives workers the ability to travel, work odd hours and sometimes even work fewer hours!

Variety:

If you’re tired of doing similar projects every day, freelancing might be a good solution. You can work for a range of clients and choose what projects you take on, helping ensure there’s never a dull day in the “office.”

Pay:

Get paid what you’re worth. Experienced freelance managers can leverage their past successes into payments that match their work level. If you’re not ready to freelance full-time, part-time freelancing can also offer a reasonable supplementary income.

Getting Started

So, you’re ready to leave your team and go digital. Before you try to become a full-time freelance project manager, however, there are some things you should prepare.

Portfolio: You want proof that your work as a freelance project manager is going to be awesome, so it’s worth giving your portfolio a polish. Ideally you want to highlight a range of skill-sets — a good portfolio will help you stand apart from the rest of the competition.

Project Management Certification: Earning a PM (project management) certification can set you apart and might even net you higher pay. A certification offers specific proof of your abilities. There are different types of certification tests: some are only available to seasoned project managers, while others are open to beginners. Be aware, these tests typically cost several hundred dollars to take, so make sure you are prepared: do your research and study. Popular certifications include the CAPM, PMP and CSM.

Methodology: There are two primary methodologies that potential project managers utilize: LEAN and AGILE. LEAN is used for long-term solutions, looking at an organization as a whole. Meanwhile, AGILE is used to make individual projects more efficient. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages; understanding these methodologies will help you understand where you excel and whether or not you’d be a good fit for a specific project.

Savings: It’s very possible you won’t be raking in clients right off the bat, even if you’re a talented project manager. Freelance work can take a little while for you to get your foot in the door, so you’ll want some savings prepared, ideally enough to cover 3–6 months. This includes bills, food and transportation fees . Having stable savings will reduce the stress of freelancing.

Set Hours: This step might seem counter-intuitive. After all, as a freelance project manager, you’re your own boss! But freelancers are at risk of burnout, especially when work is so connected to home. One way to reduce this is to set boundaries: set aside times you won’t work, plot out a certain number of hours you intend to work in a week, put your phone on airplane mode. Setting clear hours early will also set expectations between you and your client, hopefully cutting down on the late nights (unless late nights are your jam!).

Landing Clients

Of course, even if you have a lot of experience as a project manager, it can still be difficult to land your first few clients. Here are some tips to start your work as a freelance project manager:

Reach out to your network: Don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth. You never know who might be interested in taking on a project manager, or who might have a connection who does. Tactfully advertising your skill-set and your shift to freelancing can help you get the word out.

Take small jobs: While most people want to get to the point where they can’t accept every random job that comes along, when you’re starting out, it can be helpful to take jobs you otherwise wouldn’t be interested in. These will prove your freelancing prowess and extend your network!

Becoming a freelance project manager is well within your reach! With a little hard work and some hustling, you can join the millions of freelancers and enjoy all the benefits of leaving your traditional office behind.