Starting out as a freelance engineer
Flexible working hours, being your own boss, a good income and changing tasks - many engineers find self-employment an attractive alternative to permanent employment. Working as a freelance engineer can be a great opportunity especially for those who have a passion for technology, love solving problems and are not afraid to work independently.
But what skills are needed to work as a freelance engineer? And how do you get access to jobs quickly and easily? We explain it to you in the following article.
What skills do you need to work as a freelance engineer?
As a freelancer, you will be hired as a specialist, thus a certain experience is required. Therefore, it is advisable to start freelancing only when you already have a few years of professional experience. In addition, you must not only be good at your job, but also have social skills. This means that you can negotiate, communicate and work well both independently and as part of a team. You should also be flexible so that you can easily adapt to the work and culture at different clients.
How do you get assignments as a freelance engineer?
The fear of not getting assignments and not securing an income discourages many people from freelancing. However, as an experienced engineer in your field, you shouldn't worry too much.
We have put together a few helpful tips for you on how to get jobs quickly and easily:
- Be informed about projects
Through Google Alert you can be automatically notified about starting projects in your area and offer your service. This will also keep you up to date.
- Digital Presence
Advertise yourself on the platforms through which you are most often found. Your digital presence is of utmost importance and should always be kept up to date.
- Freelance job portals
Within a few minutes, you can create a profile for yourself and thus score points with competencies and let yourself be found. You can also submit offers for interesting jobs and contact potential clients.
- Networking
It’s the most used way to gain clients and thus orders. By participating in events, referral marketing to acquaintances and friends, or attending courses and seminars, you can quickly and easily build a network.
There is no one right way to become a successful freelancer. There are many facets to customer acquisition and it's worth trying them all. Depending on the engineering industry, some measures are more effective and others less useful.
Always at your side: consulting companies like Progressive
We would like to get in touch with you and help you find a new challenging assignment. We specialize in bringing together clients and freelance engineers from all industries. In addition, we have a large network that we use to open doors to leading companies.
Start your customer acquisition with us - we look forward to working together!
