So, you want to become a freelancer?!
No surprise, considering that more and more people are choosing this career path. Working for yourself from home has many advantages and is attractive for various reasons. However, it's not for everyone.
Are you sure it's for you?
Most freelancers, regardless of their specialization, need to possess a few essential qualities that will help them build a successful career, stay motivated, and keep their clients happy.
Let’s take a look at some traits you absolutely need before considering a freelance career.
1. 100% Reliability
This is perhaps the number one quality every freelancer must have — sticking to your word and always meeting deadlines. ALWAYS!
Clients don’t always have the time or patience to wait for a delivery that should’ve been finished yesterday. If you promised to do something by a certain date — do it. Better yet, submit your work a little earlier than promised. Always build in a small time buffer — it never hurts.
Meeting deadlines is critical, but there are other agreements to honor too — payment terms and amount, copyright rights, and how project files will be delivered.
2. Strong Communication Skills
From discussing the brief to sending the final invoice, communication is vital for any freelancer. And that means both verbal and written communication.
This also includes the ability to truly listen and understand your client. You need to be a professional who grasps what clients want — and remember, each client may express the same thing in very different ways.
Miscommunication is one of the top reasons client-freelancer relationships fall apart. So, learn how to talk to your client and clearly understand their expectations.
3. Curiosity — Always and Everywhere
When you work in an office and communicate with a client daily, you get a sense of who they are and what their company does. But as a freelancer, you don’t have that luxury — no time for lengthy research or ready-made internal documentation.
A good freelancer should understand the client’s business and field. That’s why it's smart to do a bit of homework: look at competitor websites, explore design elements, find out what your client likes or dislikes. What works in their industry? Ask questions — don’t be afraid to be curious! Worst case — the client doesn’t have an answer.
4. Time and Workflow Management Skills
There are countless tools to help organize your workflow, but no system will work unless you already have some basic organizational habits. You must learn how to manage your time and files — templates, drafts, design assets, client briefs, invoices — everything should be easy to find when needed.
Another crucial point is managing your time across multiple simultaneous projects. You absolutely must be able to estimate how long tasks will take, or risk losing clients and income.
You also need to understand how many hours a day you can realistically work without burning out or ruining your personal life. Find a healthy balance. Only take on as many projects as you can actually handle.
5. Initiative and Self-Discipline
If you’re serious about freelancing, you need to take a hard look at yourself and your habits. Are you disciplined? Can you make yourself work and get things done even when you’re not in the mood?
Some people handle this well. Others struggle, constantly distracted and leaving work unfinished. Be honest with yourself — if you can’t push yourself to stay productive, then freelancing may not be right for you.
In Conclusion
Freelancing has its pros and cons — and they vary for each person. But these five traits are your keys to success. If you’re missing even one, problems may eventually arise. In the worst case, take time to build up those skills and come back to freelancing later.