This week’s interview is with Martin, a front end developer. This is a particularly interesting interview for me as Martin describes how he went back to the 9-5 after freelancing for a period of time. Read on to find out more about his experiences.
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Martin and I’m a Front-end Developer. Coming from a design background, my skills are in digital and user experience design as well as building flexible component-based and accessible front-ends. I decided to focus in more recent roles, on a more Front-end development route; learning and practising modern JavaScript methods and frameworks such as React, Webpack, Node and working with ES6.
I’ve worked in small agencies where I was able to work on branding and designing web layouts as well as building the sites themselves, often in that familiar, pressurised agency environment! I’ve also done some work on larger front-end systems working with back-end dev, for the public sector where accessibility and maintainability become essential.
What led you to start freelancing?
Having gained confidence in all aspects of design and building small sites, I found myself a little stifled at the time, and had built relationships with a handful of small clients who could sustain me if I were to make the jump; just to try it out. I was discovering how I liked to work and what environment suited me best and that I wanted to pursue Development, and I felt freelancing would provide me with the best opportunity to optimise for this, accepting the possibility of failure, but also trusting my skills, and that staying put and never knowing was less favourable.
I was freelancing then for only a few months – and your time freelancing provides you with valuable skills and improved confidence as you take on more projects and make those valuable mistakes.
What three things do you wish you’d known before starting out?
1 – Get a contract, and take a deposit always, no excuses.
It sets a precedent and an expectation that you’re confident, your time is valuable, and you’re there to help your client’s business and brand and they should value that.
I read Design is a Job by Mike Monteiro which is entertaining and gives you the fire under your ass with regard to getting paid and valuing your own time and skills. (+1 for that book, review coming soon – Nick)
While it’s unfortunate to have to diminish our natural inclination to trust and think the best of people, be prepared to expect less than stellar conduct from your clients when money is involved. It’s not adversarial; it’s business. Yes, I got burned (maybe more than once too!) by being too naive when it comes to invoices and I’d recommend anyone starting out to not go through the same, long-winded ordeal by getting commitment before your start.
(see our blog Freelancers: Always Use A Contract & Terms for more info)
2 – Work to a spec and agree on the scope of work.
While at the outset you’ll be eager to get going, it’s important, just as working in an agency, to agree on the extent of the work and exactly what the deliverable is and what’s not included. This is the time to be up-front and not leave anything to chance, and if the scope includes a timeframe, deliverable or support you’re not comfortable with or able to accommodate, then gracefully say No.
3 – Say No.
I’d really recommend the book Essentialism on this point. Don’t take the short term comfort of accepting what comes your way at the expense of your longer-term priorities. Consider the suitability of the work for your personal and business goals and core skills and the match to the client’s requirements, and consider the commitment and support they expect over a period of time.
It’s hard to decline work and may require you to frequently evaluate your priorities. Know what your value offering is and don’t take on something you’re uncomfortable with however tempting, as it’s much harder to get out of it later once engaged in the project, and is never worth the stress.
What’s the best thing about freelancing?
Of course being your ‘own boss’ and feeling the satisfaction of helping out an individual and seeing the results of your work in their business success in some area. There’s a satisfaction in being more solely responsible for the outcome, hopefully, a co-creator of it by providing guidance for your client, rather than only a small isolated part as with a larger project.
Anything else you’d like to tell anyone thinking of or currently freelancing?
Spending time as a freelancer a gives you a skill that makes you a more rounded designer or developer. If it’s an itch you have on your career path, it’s certainly worth pursuing to fulfil your ambition. Life doesn’t wait!
I’m definitely glad I spent some time as a freelancer before joining companies full-time since. You’ll be endowed with an increased confidence and commercial awareness as well as demonstrating time and client management skills, commercial awareness, and autonomy that can help you to become a more well-rounded, adaptable team member should you re-join a team full-time.
Why did you return to the 9-5?
I started freelancing as a learning experience, and after a stint contracting and having really got on well with a new team, and experienced a lot of learning in a short time at that company, I decided the people I was working with were the kind I’d like to keep working alongside and continue that learning on projects that challenged me!
Going full-time wasn’t something I initially set out to do within a set time, but with Freelancing – as with life in general – opportunities present and you go with what suits your goals at that time. The experience I gained was indeed really valuable too, going into a new team on a full-time basis.