Applying for freelance jobs is similar to applying for a regular job.  Firstly you find a freelance job you would like to do, then you apply for it.

But there are differences if you are applying for freelance jobs.

When you apply for a regular job you send off your application, usually along with a CV, then sit and wait for an interview.  At the interview you get to dazzle them with your charm, wit and shiny shoes … and get offered the job.  Freelancing is a much quicker, easier and less time-intensive process (and no shiny shoes required!).

When you apply for a freelance job you need only concentrate on the precise reasons why you would be ideal for that job, not your full CV.  This is great if you did a job 5 years ago and since then have done something else, because it’s not an issue.

Firstly you’ll need to join some freelance websites.  Some make no charge, some will charge you to be a member.  Which you choose is up to you, each site will be different in how the service is paid for and some can afford to run on a shoestring, hence no charges.

Once you’ve joined and logged in, take a look at the freelance jobs going, see if you can read the applications that other people have made, see if you can read the successful applications.  You can copy their format, see how much/how little information they give to the advertiser about why they’d be good for the job.  Above all, don’t feel intimidated by what others put, learn from them.

When you apply for freelance jobs, you’ve got  just 1-2 paragraphs to pitch yourself as the perfect person.  Check your spelling!  Read it back to yourself, be upbeat… do you sound ideal?

Once you’ve applied for 2-3 you’ll have your own set of stock phrases you use.

It’s a Numbers Game

As it’s so easy to apply for freelance jobs, you need to be applying for as many as you can get.  You are most unlikely to get every one, so apply for as many as you can.  If you apply for three freelance jobs then stop, it might have been the next three that you’d get. 

Successful freelancers will check every day and spend 20 minutes per day applying for as many jobs as they can.

Win Some, Lose Some

It doesn’t matter how brilliant you are, you can’t win every job you apply for.  So don’t get discouraged.  If you’re losing more than you hoped for, then see if you can check who DID get it, see if you can up your game in your application phrases.  See if there’s a trick you’re missing. 

Set Yourself a Target

You should set yourself a daily/weekly target to apply for freelance jobs.  If you apply for 6/day every day, that’s 30/week.  Most good freelancers would expect to get over half of those.  Once you’ve got rolling and the work’s coming in, you can scale that back… it’s just your first 2-3 weeks you need to really crack on and strike while the iron’s hot.

Above all, don’t give up.  It takes just a small amount of time each day to apply for freelance jobs, so be tenacious … it’s that fighting spirit that will win through!

I know lots of people who are regularly earning good money every week, each month doing freelance work on these websites.  Now it’s your turn!

Good luck!