The economic recession has brought so many changes, especially in the job market structure. It is becoming harder each day to find jobs and the pressure of meeting their needs is getting difficult for many people.
It is no secret that many freelancers are now making an employment transition to a full-time employment just to meet their basic needs. However, it can be a difficult step for many freelancers to make the change and work as a full-time employee.
In today’s article, we are going to discuss about making a transition from your freelancing career to a full-time employment. What can you expect from it? What challenges will you be facing and how can you overcome it? Also, I would be sharing some tips that will surely help you in getting hired. So let’s start!
Sticking to Company’s Schedule
After you have managed to find a good job, you will be facing one of the main challenges that everyone faces in full-time employment – sticking to the company’s schedule. However, this can be your biggest advantage too. How?
Freelancers are used to work on a very tight schedule. Also, they have to meet up with deadlines that are given by their clients. Sticking with schedule becomes their nature. With this advantage, freelancers can achieve best results by going with same approach when they go on full-time
However, if you are not used to waking up early in the morning, I would suggest that you start training your body. Because, in full-time employment, this is the first rule that everyone has to follow.
Make sure that you get a full night’s rest from now on and get your body ready for waking up early every day. By following this routine, you will be able to match your company’s working schedule easily.
Inform Your Previous Clients
This is a must for every freelancer looking to go full time. Make calls or emails to your previous clients and inform them about your transition. This can open up chances of working with your previous clients as a full-time employee.
Because they know you and your work, it will make your work easy. This will help you in one way or another, either you will get a chance to work with one of your past clients or they will recommend you to someone else.
AOL posted 10 ways to get a full-time corporate job here. Here are some tips that can improve your chances of getting hired.
1. List of your previous projects in your resume
Stating in your resume that you are a freelancer is not going to be enough. The best approach is to show them what you are capable of. List down the most important projects that you worked on and the name of those companies. It will make an impact on the employer about your working skills.
Some freelancers add few project names and clients without giving much details. This is not be helpful to you either. Employers assign you a position according the skills indicated in your biodata.
Put details about your experience and abilities in your resume accordingly. Focus on the job description and list down those project names and details that you think are relating with it. I would recommend changing the list every time you apply for a specific position.
2. Keep your eyes open for the job opportunities
When you are working as a freelancer for a long time, you could possibly forget about the difficulty job searching in your industry. Always make sure that you keep your eyes open and search for job opportunities. Ask your friends to inform you about any available positions.
3. Start Networking
This is probably the best thing that you can for yourself. Networking in today’s world is a very powerful way of ensuring that you will get a job as soon as the position is available. Many freelancers get the chance of working full-time jobs due to their good connections at higher positions.
Build good connections with your colleagues, other freelancers and your industry people. Making connections can also boost up your confidence as you get hired and start working with other team members.
Because you already know some of these guys, it will be easy for you to adjust with the organizations environment.
4. Continue Freelancing
Your job hunt can take long so never ever stop freelancing until you get your job.
5. Stay Open To Temporary Roles
Once you have made the decision of doing full-time employment, I would recommend that you stay open for temporary freelance jobs. Many companies don’t take risk with newcomers. Many of them only give a permanent position only when employees prove themselves they right for the job.
6. Give Your Portfolio a Professional Look
Now that you are applying for a professional job in a firm, your portfolio should also look professional as well. Remember to highlight the skills in your portfolio that you have learned during your freelancing career. Writing only that you are a freelancer is not going to get you a job. Create a portfolio on your site that links to your previous work, and add this link in your cover letter so that the employer sees it.
7. Use LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides a great platform to all the job seekers, especially freelancers. You can connect with clients and freelancers, or employees that are working in those organizations in which you are interested. You can share your thoughts and ask for their tips about how you can achieve to a particular position.
Making a transition from freelancing to full-time employment is not that much difficult, right? Practice these tips and you will surely be on the right path towards hiring.
Still, many freelancers have to face some challenges before they prove themselves right and trustworthy of a long-term commitment to the employers. Therefore, below are some useful points that can help you in overcoming those challenges.
Make Yourself Clear
Your approach should always be clear when you are making a change. Try to figure out these questions before going to an interview.
What kind of a freelancer were you?
What kind of a nature you were carrying?
These will help you in convincing your employer or the hiring manager about what kind of a person you are.
Don’t forget to…
Show them your desire to work as a full-time employment
Tell the truth about your purpose of making this transition
Inform the employer or hiring manager you are willing to work on long-term basis
These will make a good impression of your personality on the employers or the hiring managers and they will believe you as an honest man who can be trusted.
Try hard to get projects from your interested company or its opponent
This a very interesting fact, but it works all the time. If you want to do a job for any company, work for its competitor or suppliers. With this strategy, you can increase your chances of getting noticed. When you apply for your interested company with an experience from working with its competitors, your chances of getting hired increases. With this approach, the company will get more interested in hiring you.
Focus On Talent Rather Than Title
Employers hire people with some relevant past experience. So, talk about what you learned in the past. Don’t go with ego; go with passion to work. Having an ego is good, but it will create a bad impression when you show it in a job interview.
Show Your Commitment
This is the most important thing you have consider. When you get a chance to meet-up with the hiring manager, focus more towards your long-term commitment. Hiring managers focus more on your commitment with the company.
Will you be leaving the company as soon as you find another job?
Will you be able to handle the pressure?
Can you keep up with the fast environment?
These kinds of questions are always on the top of the list that hiring managers will ask from you. Remember to show them that you are willing to work for a long-time and you are fully committed towards the job.
Don’t Think Negative Thoughts
You should, first of all, erase all the doubts you have in your mind about your skills including whether you would be able to adjust or not. When you try to convince the hiring manager that you are willing to work as a full-time employee in their company, it can raise many questions in their mind.
Consider these:
Can you manage the working environment or not?
Can you handle the pressure of working with the team?
So, always make sure to cover these kinds of questions before going to the interview. Erase every negative thought from your mind now that you are going to work full-time. Adapt to it as quickly as you can is the best approach for dealing these kinds of pressure situations.
Conclusion
Transitioning from your freelance career to a full-time employment can be very pleasing for you. With full-time employment, you can be assured that you are getting more pay than your freelancing career. Also, you can enjoy working with the same pace as you were in your freelancing career.
However, don’t forget that you have to stick with the company schedule and deadlines now. You can make your transition move much easier if you try to improve your interview skills and update your resume with a professional look. I suggest you hold some interviews with your professional friends before going to a real one so, that you can get a feeling about how it will be done properly.
Last but not the least, try to adapt to your new schedule quickly so that you can manage your job timing and your personal meetings.
Before leaving, please share your thoughts regarding the article. If you like to add some points to it, feel free to share your feelings in the below comment section. I would love to hear about it!