Disenfranchised technical professionals often have a hard time finding a new job. They are competing with offshore IT services for positions in helpdesk support, administration and even some high-end consulting roles. If you are getting frustrated with finding a new IT job, consider the options you have working at home as a computer freelancer.
The Internet has really changed the marketplace for the technology professional. It made it possible to remotely allowing you to work from just about anywhere you could connect to the Internet. You could set up new user accounts, validate backups, and even install new services for your clients. Clients could be located anywhere, even in other countries in Europe, Asia or the southern hemisphere.
A problem evolved while you were happily supporting your infrastructure from home, car or hotel. Another technical workforce was quietly developing overseas. Eventually, large corporations recognized that their home grown workforce could quickly be replaced by highly competent and inexpensive technical professionals located in other countries. Many US based IT professionals found their positions transferred to offshore resources.
The good news is that technical professionals are still in high demand in the world of computer freelancers. If you want to work for yourself or want more time to spend with family, working as a freelancer might be the perfect solution. Setting up websites , writing technical documentation, and, yes, even providing technical support via the Internet are just three of hundreds of options available to the IT or computer freelancer. There are many options when it comes to starting your own business freelancing without a huge investment.
Before you run out and spend money on business cards, consider how you are going to advertise your services. While you may do some local networking to get your name out into the marketplace, consider using online freelance portals to begin to build up a portfolio of satisfied clients. You will need a website to point potential clients to for referencing your services. Your website will be your online storefront.
While you can setup a website using free blogging websites like blogger.com or tumblr.com, as a technical professional you need to make the small investment in a paid hosting service. A domain name and hosting account costs about 35 cents a day. Hosted services are far more flexible than the free sites and allow you to upload files, forms, reports and use custom headers and graphics to support your brand. Plus, as a technical professional your clients expect you to be articulate in and able to use these online services.
Many companies outsource their in-bound customer service phone calls to computer freelancers, so that may be a great place for you to start. Phone calls can be redirected to your home office and you can answer calls from customers who have questions or need assistance. However, you will never be without work if you can program or write. Programming, website design or development, and writing constitute the largest segment of requests for services through freelance portals.
There are plenty of opportunities available for computer freelancers. Think through areas you excel and checkout freelancing website for opportunities. Set up your website to use as a reference point to direct clients to view your mini-resume and your portfolio.
January 13, 2012
Web Development