During the last couple of years, the world of labor has seen many changes that have completely shifted the way we think about employment. Small business owners are being able to offer competitive prices and services against larger corporations in a successful and effective way, and the gig economy has also shown a new and more dynamic structure. Working on our own is now part of the professional world, and many prefer to become freelancers than to spend years at entry-level jobs. The same happens in the fields of architecture and engineering, and if you are looking to start working as a freelance architect, you should keep these useful tips in mind.
One of the very first steps we need to take when we want to work as freelance architects is planning and creating our portfolio. Just as if you were looking for employment at a firm or company, your portfolio will showcase your skills and experience. That’s why you need to make sure you include a wide range of projects you have worked on but putting the emphasis on the fields you want to work at. This way, your clients will be able to see that you are experienced and that you have the level of expertise they are looking for.
Having a thorough and attractive portfolio is, unfortunately, not enough, as you need to make sure you display it in the best possible way. For many freelancers of any field, building a website and social media profile is the easiest and most cost-effective way to share their portfolios and professional profiles. Besides building an online presence, having our own website helps us become more attractive and reliable in the eyes of our clients, as it can help us build our brand and display our portfolio, too.
Networking is another essential part of becoming a freelance architect, as we need to build relationships with our potential clients and colleagues that are mutually beneficial. First of all, we need to think of other architects as players of the same team, leaving behind any sense of fierce competition. So, connecting with fellow freelance architects is a great way to get our own projects shared and valued. Also, connecting with potential clients can be hard, but networking will allow us to meet the right people, which means jobs and projects for you to work on.
Finally, one of the biggest challenges freelance architects face relates to securing their contracts and protecting their work. Because freelance might sound a bit too new for some people in the construction and design industries, they might not take you very seriously at first. However, you should remember that you are a professional, and they are paying for your time and your skills. So, make sure you are getting paid throughout the project, as some might last for several months, and always keep an eye open for any kind of suspicious-looking clients.
