How I Became a Freelancer While Having No Experience and Planning to Live Abroad
Hello!
I'm Harehare.
When I reported in my last article that I had made my freelance debut, I received many 'likes' and comments from various people, including those accompanying their spouses on overseas assignments, those living abroad, and fellow freelancers.
Thank you so much. I was truly happy!!
In this article, I have summarized in a realistic way how I, who was in the situation of no experience in the field x 2.5 years of work experience x planning to accompany a spouse on an overseas assignment managed to find freelance work, along with the methods and ingenuity I used.
It started with the thought, 'I want to work like this!'
As I am preparing to accompany my spouse on an overseas assignment, I thought:
・I want to work in a way that isn't tied to time or place!
・I don't want to do work I'm not interested in!
Driven by these thoughts, I arrived at the option of being a 'fully remote freelancer' rather than a full-time employee.
Here are my desired conditions!
Fully remote (no interviews or office visits allowed)
Environment that allows for a time difference of 12 hours or more
Fields I am interested in (Writer, Public Relations, PR, Marketer)
Long-term outsourcing contracts (no one-off jobs)
No experience required
They were quite luxurious, and all popular fields, haha.
I started with half-doubt, wondering, 'Are there even job openings like this?'
The '5 Steps to Job Hunting' I actually performed
1. Make full use of job sites
Since I was in a state of 'Where can I even find fully remote, outsourced work?', I searched by combining various keywords like 'fully remote, outsourcing' and 'work from home, writer' using job sites such as:
Indeed
Kyujin BOX
Mama Works
Wantedly
If I found a company I was interested in, I applied without hesitation.
In my resume, I included my experience as broadly as possible, adjusting it so that it would at least slightly touch upon any job category. I also picked out universal skills and episodes that were not limited to a specific job type as my strengths.
2. Apply directly from the company's website
Even if a company I found on a job site 'does fully remote outsourcing, but not in the field I want...', I didn't give up immediately!
I thoroughly checked the company's website to see if there were any other positions or recruitment information.
Since there are cases where they are flexible even if the conditions are slightly off, I approached them by 'applying directly and consulting in the free-text field'.
Example: 'The job description mentioned XX, but would it be possible to work in a way like YY?'
I tried to be ingenious by being sincere and conveying my enthusiasm within a reasonable range.
3. Counter-proposing to scouts on Wantedly
On Wantedly, I carefully polished my profile and clearly stated what I wanted to do and my ideal career image. As a result, I started receiving scouts from people in industries close to my preferences.
However, many scouts on Wantedly are based on full-time employment.
So, after receiving a scout, I made a counter-proposal saying, 'If I can work on an outsourced, fully remote basis, I would like to take on the challenge!'
As a result, I got an OK with this method and reached a contract!
(Details later!)
4. Try doing it yourself in fields you are interested in
Even if you say, "I want to be a writer!" or "I want to be a marketer!" with no experience, it is only natural that companies will prioritize those who have experience.
So, to add at least a little bit of persuasiveness, I started posting on note. Even if the frequency wasn't high, note became a good practice for getting closer to writing work, as it gave me experience in "writing for someone else" and helped me grasp things like "how long it takes to write one article (and how many characters)."
If there is a field you are interested in, I recommend "trying it yourself" by taking actions close to it!
・Interested in SNS management → Try running an Instagram account.
・Interested in marketing → Open a blog on WordPress and try using SEO and analysis tools.
Even without practical experience, your "enthusiasm" and "ability to take action" will come across!
5. Apply in numbers. But don't apply blindly!
What I was conscious of when applying was the "timing of the application."
For example, if you receive a contract offer from another company while you are in the middle of the selection process for a company you really want to join, it can be difficult to make a decision. That is why I made sure to apply to several companies at the same time.
Also, job postings for outsourcing that accept beginners often have a "selection test".
I recommend applying to companies you are highly interested in only after you have gained some practice by applying to others first.
I was rejected by many companies, but the act of applying itself became experience, and the quality of my tests kept improving. Some companies even allow you to "re-apply after six months," so the mindset of "try it first!" is important.
The process that led to my contract
Ultimately, I presented my conditions to a company that scouted me on Wantedly, and they accepted, leading to an interview.
・The work was something I could apply a little bit of my previous job experience to.
・They judged that I could perform the work based on my posts on note.
Because of these reasons, they said, "This is our first time outsourcing to someone living abroad, but let's sign a contract," and I was able to build a connection.
Things I was conscious of to be "chosen" even without experience
My conditions were quite strict.
・Inexperienced field
・2.5 years of work experience
・No interviews or office visits possible
・Living with a time difference of over 12 hours
If you think about it normally, it's a situation where you'd think, "They'd choose someone with experience who is in the country, right?"
Even so, here are the things I was conscious of to get chosen.
Self-analysis by "field x job type"
I specifically verbalized not just job types like writer or PR, but also "what field I want to work in."
Based on fields where I could apply knowledge from my previous job and the content I was posting on note, I made efforts to make them think, "I think she can do it in this field even without experience."
Efforts to convey "potential"
I supplemented parts that couldn't be conveyed through a resume alone with free-form descriptions and application emails.
・That I am currently studying
・That I am practicing in my own way
・Polite attitude and sense of speed
I think that by conveying these things, more people felt that "I could trust her to handle the work even remotely."
Finally, what I want to tell those of you who thought "maybe it's impossible"
"I have no experience..." "I have restrictions on time and place..." I was worried about these things for a long time too. That is exactly why I want to tell those who are worried in the same way.
Even if your conditions are limited, you can open up a path depending on how you approach it. Even a small step, if you take it, will surely lead to opportunities.
I am rooting for your first step from the bottom of my heart!
I am still on my own journey too! I'll do my best again starting tomorrow!