Going freelance with 2 years experience and still some student projects in the portfolio. Yay or nay?

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Going freelance = cashing in on your book + your network. I’d wait until those two things are really maxed out.

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90% of gigs are going to come from your existing network. Because when it’s time to call in a freelancer, the project is already behind schedule and under staffed, so people want a known entity they know will solve their problem. That’s why we get to charge such a premium for what we do.

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May… be. Going freelance as in quitting current job or just adding some on the side?

Student work shouldn’t bother people too much depending on the role that you’re coming in at, but I would caution going full freelance until you have the clients to sustain your lifestyle and enough in savings just in case. I’d be afraid a company may low ball me with less client-sold projects. If* you have a full time role now, I’d take on some side projects first and start getting my name out there. Tough to find work with few connections in my experience, gotta make sure this is sustainable to stop pursuing FT, too.

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I have a full-time job at a pretty good agency, but I’m somewhat bored. I’m considering freelance as in quitting and getting booked by agencies rather than directly working with clients. Doing that on the side would be against my current contract so sadly I don’t think it’s an option :(

Working with clients is an option though and I quite enjoy it, but right now it’s rarely well-paid so would require much more time investment to make that work full-time for me. I’m worried it stagnating my career too cause I’d not be able to get big names in my book.

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I’m a freelancer in the same boat as you with somewhat similar credentials. I’m working on getting a full time spot now because I’ve had my pay lowballed, upped, messed around with, etc. I believe if I had more experience, I wouldn’t have gone through some of the things I’ve experienced. I want some ground to stand on when having conversations about my pay. It is possible to freelance, but not as easy to navigate

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I see! Hope you find your dream ft job now!

Your book is your ideal work imo so I have a few still.

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Yeah that’s exactly why I keep them cause they’re much higher in quality compared to some professional work I’ve done imo. Not sure if it creates less trust from employers though in my ability to deliver, especially in freelance landscape when you’re often the person putting the fires out!

Most freelance gigs are for senior creatives who can handle projects with little to no oversight. You may find some work since the market is hot, but don’t expect anything for your book while you do it.

I went FL after 6.5 years in the biz

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Sure. You can absolutely go freelance. Just be aware it's going to be a much tougher road that first year and it's going to take you longer to get really established.

Do great work, be great to work with and after that first year, the money will start rolling in.

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Leave! Only if you’ve build enough contact who will help you out when work isn’t coming in anymore. Freelance can be feast or famine depending on how much you’re hustling.

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Thanks everyone! Looks like general opinion is to wait until having something to fall back on, which have me lots of food for thought.

Yea.

Quit and went FL after 3 years. If your book is good and you can network, you will get gigs.

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