Interview with a Freelance Designer

Time Management

SP: How many more or less hours are you working on a daily/weekly basis compared to your old job?

Well, some weeks I'm really slack and may only put in 3-4 days of work. Other weeks I may only get 3-5 hours sleep for a few consecutive days. But then you have to understand that the time I spend is rarely on paid work. Mostly I'm getting my act together, sending out applications, putting together a folio, contacting people... things like that.

I think it comes down to discipline. I'm working to the deadlines I set for myself. When you work alone, you have to provide your own motivation. I also find that by keeping productive, I am able to stay optimistic.

It's very easy to loose self-confidence because the work isn't coming in. The temptation to sleep in 'til noon and wake up only to stare blankly at the tv with its mesmerising day-time entertainment is greater than you'll ever imagine. If you don't have the strength to snap out of it, working from home is probably not for you.

SP: Do you have a social life? How do you go about managing the demands of life, work and play?

Yes, I'm proud to say I do have a social life. Although I'm far more budget-conscious now and have to resort to cheaper forms of entertainment, such as a video night in instead of a night out at the movies, or sponge off my friends for a free meal at their place instead of eating out. Set your priorities: if something is important to you, you'll find a way to fit it in.

Earning an Income

SP: Do you make as much money now as you did in your old job? If not, what percentage of your income are you able to generate from freelancing?

No, I most definitely do not earn the kind of money I did in my previous job! At the moment, I'm spending more than I'm earning and that's the harsh truth.

SP: Do you make a living from what you're doing now, or do you supplement your freelancing income with other work?

Taking on casual work was always part of my plan. I think it's smart to because it means you'll eat even when you're struggling to get a project. It also doesn't put you in that desperate place I mentioned where you will take that job that pays little more than the price of a KFC family meal deal.

SP: Are you planning to make freelancing your sole source of income? In what sort of timeframe are you hoping to achieve that?

My ideal working scenario is to secure a part-time design position (2-3 days a week) with a company and freelance during the spare days. I'll re-evaluate my situation in another 3 months, but I'd like to give myself a year before I decide whether it's a fruitless endeavour or something worth pursuing long term.

SP: Do you think you can continue working as a freelancer and generate enough income so that you never worry about finding another regular job?

I believe it's achievable. However, I'm doing this to find out whether I have what it takes and whether it is everything I imagined it would be. At this point in time, it's still the goal I'm aiming for.

Business Management

SP: How do you manage the business end of things -- keep your books, figure out taxes/deductions, etc?

As mentioned earlier, I did a short course in small business. I also consulted an accountant and picked her brains to bits. I told her that she'll be responsible for my taxes, and asked her how she wants me to keep my records. She's absolutely fantastic, very obliging, never condescending.

SP: Have you found that freelancing has required you to become interested in areas you wouldn't have cared about, or didn't have to worry about, before? For instance, are you now interested in marketing, accounting, and client management, seeing as your livelihood is at stake, and the responsibility for your success rests wholly and solely with you?

Yes. Freelancing is very much running your own business. I'm fortunate I guess. Fortunately, marketing, client and project management aren't far removed from what I did on a day to day basis in a full time position. Accounting really throws me, though. I just don't have the head for it. In my mind, professional assistance is worth every cent when it comes to this area.

SP: How much do you rely on the advice of other professionals? When looking for advice do you mainly use the Internet, or do you prefer to pay for professional advice from business advisers, accountants, lawyers etc.?

I paid to get accounting advice, but when it came to general issues, I found recruitment agencies useful. They can tell you whether your folio is up to scratch, whether there're much opportunity out there, your market rate, and what kinds of skills and qualifications are most sought after.

I can't say enough about the resources on the Internet, and the wealth of knowledge you can gain from the people around you. Absorb whatever you can, but decide your own path.

SP: Do you use other freelancers to provide skills that you don't possess? What kind of advice can you give about working with them?

I haven't yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to do so, if and when the need arose.

My tendency would be to select people I've worked with before, so we're both comfortable with the way the other works. I think it's imperative to make the arrangement very clear: to have in writing who is responsible for which sections of the job, what the project involves, what's due when, and who's getting how much. Communicate with each other often.