New Year’s Resolution Advice For Freelancers: Stop Working For Free

• According to a report from freelancerclub.net, performing free tasks has become much more common among freelancers, with 52% of these professionals performing free tasks for their clients.  
• Freelancers are as legitimate as any full-time employee, but because of their free-range style and the popularity of this flexible way of working, many feel the need to go above and beyond to stand out to clients. 
• To avoid being put into an awkward corner where a freelancer must reject a request from their client, these workers must do more to emphasize exactly what they are good at.

There are roughly 60 million freelancers working in the U.S. today, making up 39% of the total workforce. 

Since the onset of the pandemic, joining the freelancing community has become increasingly popular. Professionals with the right experience can find work on their own terms, while being their own boss.  

However, as the freelance world becomes more crowded, more of these workers are taking their namesake too literally.

According to a report from freelancerclub.net, this phenomenon has become much more common, with 52% of freelance workers performing free tasks for their clients. But why is this happening?

Standing Apart From The Crowd 

Freelancers are as legitimate as any full-time employee, but because of their free-range style and the popularity of this flexible way of working, many feel the need to go above and beyond to stand out to clients. 

It also makes them a target for employers looking to squeeze every last penny out of these untethered workers. 

When those feelings and expectations collide, freelancers often end up doing extra work — for free.

By 2028, experts forecast that there will be 90.1 million freelancers in the U.S., making up the majority of the workforce. 

This indicates that competition will only grow fiercer, increasing the likelihood that freelancers will continue to offer their services for free.

So, what can this burgeoning population of professionals do to prevent their work from being taken advantage of?

1.Set Boundaries 

Freelancers are their own boss. While accepting this reality can be difficult, these workers have the last say in what they will and will not provide for clients. 

For instance, if a client asks a freelancer to take over a meeting at the last minute without compensation, the worker has every right to deny this request. Because freelancers offer a specific set of skills, they may not feel qualified or comfortable performing other tasks for the company — and shouldn’t have to if it’s not in their agreed upon scope of work. 

However, many still do not for fear of harming their reputation with a client. 

2.Highlight Top Skills  

To avoid being put into an awkward corner where a freelancer must reject a request from their client, these workers must do more to emphasize exactly what they are good at.  

Oftentimes, freelancers work just as hard as full-time counterparts, meaning they are limited in how many other tasks they can add onto their plate.  

So if a freelancer finds themselves being asked to do various free tasks, remind the client what they are proficient at. 

For instance, a freelancing writer may not have the skillset to lead an entire marketing team meeting. However, they are likely good at taking organized notes during the meeting and can share those with other team members. 

This suggestion shows initiative, without pushing the boundaries of what they are capable of. But it’s also important to remember, none of these tasks should be done for free. 

3.Ask For Compensation  

The ultimate reason to push back against the incursion of extra work is that freelancers have a responsibility to their careers — and themselves — to be paid for their work. 

If a freelancer wants to do everything that can set themselves apart from others, they can do it by delivering stellar work, but they must be compensated for that work. 

Oftentimes, tasks that freelancers are asked to take over are part of higher-paid positions. If the expectation is for these professionals to go above and beyond, company leaders must recognize and pay them accordingly.

Freelancers that experience a fairly-ran company are not only more likely to stay on with their client, but they may spread the good word to other professionals for future employment prospects.