What You Should Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Full Time eLearning Freelancer
Undecided about whether becoming a full time eLearning freelancer is right for you? Despite the fact that there are a variety of advantages to becoming an eLearning freelancer, it may not be the right career path for everyone. There are a number of personal and professional considerations to take into account, which can make the decision making process even more daunting. There are, however, a few questions you can ask yourself in order to determine if becoming a full time eLearning freelancer is ideal for you.
- Are you prepared to handle the business-side of eLearning?
While an in depth knowledge of eLearning technologies, instructional design theories, and learner behavior are essential for becoming a successful full time eLearning freelancer, you also need to know how to handle the business aspect of your eLearning business. For example, negotiations and marketing yourself are integral parts of eLearning freelancing. Are you ready and willing to negotiate with clients to get top dollar for your eLearning projects, and are you prepared to develop an effective marketing plan? One of the most difficult aspects of becoming a full time eLearning freelancer is that you will have to learn how to manage your eLearning team, if you choose to collaborate, and also to deal with the financial and budgeting side of your business. - Do you have a clear idea of what your eLearning niche or specialty will be?
It's always wise to expand your eLearning knowledge and skill sets by learning about new eLearning concepts and techniques. However, if you are going to become a full time eLearning freelancer, you'll need to have a clear idea of which eLearning niche or specialty best suits your talents and experience. This will allow you to develop a marketing plan that reaches the appropriate target audience, and to capitalize on the know-how that you already have. Do some research into the eLearning industry to see which eLearning niche or specialty appeals to your interests and knowledge. Keep in mind that choosing an eLearning niche doesn't have to stand in the way of taking on certain projects, as you can simply outsource tasks to other eLearning professionals should you encounter an eLearning project that requires skill sets you don't possess. - Are you ready and willing to learn as much as possible about the eLearning industry?
One of the key attributes of any successful full time eLearning freelancer is a constant thirst for knowledge. Learning about Instructional Design Models and Theories, how learners acquire and retain knowledge, and emerging eLearning technologies is part of the job description, regardless of your eLearning niche. Are you willing to take the time to do the research and learn as much as you possibly can about the world of eLearning industry? - Do you have a realistic, yet ambitious, plan in place?
Organization is essential in becoming a full time eLearning freelancer. Therefore, you'll need to have a plan set in motion if you want to build a thriving eLearning career. Set goals and timelines for yourself, and develop a strategy for how you will get your first few eLearning projects. Be realistic when creating this plan, but don't settle for anything less than success. Be ambitious! Figure out how many clients you want in the first month, in the first year, and then determine the steps you'll need to take to land these jobs and even more clients. - Are you financially ready to make the transition?
This is where many eLearning freelancers and eLearning start-ups encounter challenges, due to the fact that there is no monetary back-up plan in place. If you are going to make the transition to a full time eLearning freelancer, you should have a financial buffer in place, just in case you run into unexpected problems or delays. It may be tempting to just dive head first into full time eLearning freelancing, but without a bit of savings this can lead to stress and worry. So, if you don't have some funds set aside to act as a cushion, you may want to hold off any switching to full time eLearning freelancing and do it part time while you build your financial back up. - Do you have the necessary eLearning skills and experience to start out on your own?
In order to be a full time eLearning freelancer, it's often necessary to have a wide breadth of eLearning skill sets. In other words, you need to be professionally well-rounded. You will need to be able to do self-promotion, manage a team, deal with clients, and know how to use various eLearning tools and techniques to create meaningful eLearning courses and online training events. If you don't have all of these skills or the experience, then you may want to consider expanding your knowledge base through free eLearning resources, courses, webinars, and free eLearning ebooks. - Do you have the discipline and commitment that it takes to be a successful full time eLearning freelancer?
Commitment, dedication, and self discipline are all part of the job description for a full time eLearning freelancer. While making money as an eLearning freelancer is important, the tell-tale sign of a great full time eLearning freelancer is that he/she is devoted to creating the best possible eLearning experience for the learners. If that means working long hours and hard to find the right images and to create the most effective eLearning scenario for your eLearning project, then they will go above and beyond to ensure that the eLearning deliverable is spot-on. For many eLearning freelancers, this profession isn't just a job, but a passion and in many respects a way of life.
These questions can give you the opportunity to really assess if becoming a full time eLearning freelancer is right for you and your lifestyle. While choosing to become a full time eLearning freelancer can lead to a highly rewarding eLearning career, especially if you have the know-how and the experience to make your business a success, taking your time to make your ultimate decision now can help to avoid regret further down the line.
If you've been looking for a simple and straightforward guide to help you develop a winning eLearning portfolio, the article 6 Top Tips to Build A Solid eLearning Portfolio will walk you through the process of creating an eLearning portfolio that effectively demonstrates your talents and skill sets to your potential employers and clients.
In addition, in the article 5 Tips And Resources an eLearning Freelancer With No Experience Should Know you will get a valuable insight on how to start eLearning freelancing with no prior experience.
