Things to Note When Searching for Freelance Jobs in Nigeria

Freelancing might just be the way to go if you want a side hustle or prefer to work for yourself. The number of freelancers in Africa is on the rise so if you want to go into freelancing, you must find a way to get jobs. There is a great demand for the services of freelancers all over the world. However, you need to understand certain things when searching for freelance jobs in Nigeria to put yourself on the African freelancers’ map. This post will highlight some of these issues so let’s dive straight in.

What You Should Know When Searching for Freelance Jobs in Nigeria

Getting jobs as a freelancer is all about finding the right clients and choosing the right jobs. This section will discuss some tips that will help you achieve this and start finding freelance jobs in Africa with more ease.

Freelancing is no longer about one-time projects

Before now, small businesses hired freelancers to handle short projects that they couldn’t handle themselves. As such, most freelance jobs were on a one-time basis. The gig sector has changed drastically especially because of the pandemic and most businesses are choosing freelancers over in-house staff. You should pay attention to this trend as it will help you when seeking freelance jobs in Nigeria.

Assess your skills honestly

As we mentioned above, there are so many freelance jobs these days that you will definitely find something if you search. However, you shouldn’t search for jobs if you haven’t assessed your skills first. What kind of specialized skills do you possess? How much experience do you have? In what sector do you think you will be most successful? Honest answers to these questions will help you narrow down your search and become more effective in job hunting. Only apply for jobs that you are sure you qualify for instead of applying for every opening you see.

Think international

One of the perks of freelancing is that you can work remotely. If this is the case, why look for freelance jobs in Nigeria alone. The whole world is your playground so you should look for jobs anywhere they are available. Look beyond your local economy to find high-paying jobs in your niche. Of course, the competition will be stiffer so you will need to up your game. Get more qualifications and certificates, improve your resume, and build an impressive portfolio.

Make job pitches short but captivating

While looking for jobs, you will need to submit pitches, it doesn’t matter the platform that you use. You should have it in mind that there are hundreds of freelancers applying for the same opening. The recruiter or client doesn’t have all day to read through a long and boring job pitch. Make their job easier and give yourself a better chance by shortening your job pitch and making it captivating. Go straight to the point so that they can see quickly why they should hire you. You can add a link to your portfolio to show them samples of your previous work.

Uniqueness

Your job pitch tells a whole lot about your personality and work ethic. When you see a job post asking for applications, you should read through it meticulously. Check the requirements before you send in a pitch. Next, make sure that you tailor the pitch to suit the job rather than a cover letter that you previously saved. Check for the company’s culture then use your pitch to show that you have done your research. Show off your uniqueness as well to make them pick you over other freelancers.

Know your worth

It is always tempting to pick low-paying jobs as a beginner freelancer or when jobs are scarce. The problem with doing this is that it may become frustrating and you’d soon start delivering poor results. Sometimes, you need to pass on certain jobs and keep looking for what matches your worth. Not every job you qualify for is yours. Check the pay and be sure that it is worth your time and effort before you send in a pitch.

Rejection is part of freelancing

Rejection shouldn’t be strange to you as a freelancer. Companies will need to make adjustments based on new schedules, goals, and budgets. Because of this, they are likely to say no to your pitch or stop working with you after a while. Get cozy with this and move on to the next job. Don’t forget that there are so many opportunities out there and diligence will soon get you on the payroll of another client.

Conclusion

Looking for freelance jobs in Nigeria isn’t as difficult as you think. We have shared some things that you should have in mind before you search for gigs. Do you have any questions? Kindly drop them in the comments section below. Also, don’t forget to check out other articles on how to grow your freelance business in Africa.