This post-covid era is a strange, transitional time for freelancers. Work may have dried up, and you may have modified your services considerably.    A constructive way to address these circumstances is to step back, reflect and reevaluate your unique selling point as a freelancer. Learning how to write a compelling About Me page is a great exercise in this - and it will help you connect with like-minded clients. Win-win. 

If you’ve read any of my past articles, you might know that I’m a fan of freelancer welcome packs. I think they're an invaluable resource for freelancers when they join a new startup. Not only do they provide freelancers with a better understanding of the client, their brand, values and the assets they'll need to do the job but they also save startups so much time onboarding new freelancers. 

As the pop psychology stereotype goes… Extroverts are outgoing, outspoken and socially energetic. Introverts, on the other hand, find peace in solitude. They’re introspective and thoughtful, and often find social events overwhelming and draining.    As much as we like to imagine things in clean and tidy opposites, it’s of course more of a complex spectrum than this. We’ve all got a unique blend of introverted and extroverted characteristics woven into our personality.    That said, for people who are more inclined toward introversion, working in an office environment is a horrendous prospect. “See you at the office Christmas party!!!”    Oh, God. Please no…

How do you create company culture within your startup? The response to this question tends to vary from business to business. Pre-Covid, some might have implemented a company culture policy or brought staff out for drinks. Others may have encouraged their team to bring their dogs to the office.

I’ve always been interested in the startup journey and how entrepreneurs navigate each stage differently.  Furthermore, I’m forever curious as to how much work founders take on themselves versus how much they outsource to others throughout their respective journeys. 

Way back in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, we were outraged and hugely disheartened to see so many self employed people left behind without adequate financial support from the government.    A shocking proportion of full time freelancers who are PAYE and taxed at source, as well as all those who started freelancing in the 2019/2020 tax year, were deemed ineligible to receive SEISS. 

When lockdown began, working from home seemed like a novelty to many full time employees who were used to working in offices. Long commutes were suddenly replaced with dreamy sleep-ins and stiff office attire with comfy PJ’s. However, the novelty of this new reality was short lived by many of these employees.

We’d like to thank all the freelancers and startups who came along to The Freelancer Club online Showcase Event!    An impressive 150 freelancers and startups came along, and we’re still buzzing from connecting with all you like-minded, talented folk. It was kind of like speed dating for freelancers and startups... And we loved it!