This post was most recently updated on March 4th, 2023

[A collaboration post – all thoughts are my own.]

In May, I got some messages from friends and fellow bloggers about how I started freelancing and whether they should also start freelancing. They want to have more income options than working for someone else. I definitely can relate to them.

Back in 2014, I never imagined that I’d be in my place right now. As mentioned before, I graduated from university in 2017, but I started freelancing as a translator in 2014 while studying English Literature. As a college student, there was a time when I needed to think about the future. What I want to be. What I really like to do. What I can do in my spare time is add more pocket money.

When graduating in 2017, I got an opportunity to work in a foreign company for one and a half years. Then continue to work as a personal assistant for a foreign company as well. For two years I took fewer translation projects because at that time I was overwhelmed with an office job, meeting with clients, handling office matters, etc.

At the beginning of 2019, I took a test to translate English into an Indonesian book project and was accepted. From then on I start accepting more translation projects while working in the office. At the end of 2019, I decided to quit my 9 to 5 job and start my own website, which you know today.

Years ago, I never imagined that I would sit here in my room and work two jobs – as a translator and content writer. I have my own freedom to do what I want. There’s no time like the present to start earning money freelancing.

More and more people are turning to freelance and entrepreneurship, creating their own businesses both online and offline. You can be one of these people. Freelancers earn money by working for themselves, offering their services to large and small companies. Like a translator offering their translation services to others.

Working for yourself as a freelancer gives you job security and financial security that you can’t enjoy with a regular job as an employee. And as you know, personal financial stability is extremely important.

Here are the benefits of freelancing and why now is the perfect time to start freelancing.

• If you already have a skill, you can actually freelance without training or much preparation. For example, if you know how to create a logo, start looking for logo design jobs online. If you know how to translate, start looking for translation jobs online. Whatever skill you have, start looking for online jobs in those fields.
• If you don’t have skills yet, there are many in-depth, paid online courses you can take to learn exactly how to do all kinds of freelance jobs. For example, if you’re interested in writing, you can purchase online courses about how to be a good writer.
• Freelancing is an excellent way to create multiple income streams. Other than your full-time job, with multiple income streams, you have more than one source of income and if one of those sources dries up, you have one or more other sources to fall back on. Earning money from multiple income streams is the most secure way to live now.
• There are many possibilities all over the internet to earn money working for yourself. So many people earn money with side hustles now. Rather than waiting until something happens to your full-time or current job, go ahead and start by earning money with freelance jobs.
• Start freelancing as a side hustle while you’re still employed and if something happens to your job, you’ll have the freelance income to get you through. Your freelance work is like job insurance. It will take a while to build your income to the point where you won’t need your day job, but many people have made that happen and you can too.
• Personally, when you freelance you don’t have to dive in head first, unlike jobs where you work for someone else. Freelancing is a much different lifestyle than working for someone else, especially if you have to work in an office every day. If you’re struggling in the corporate world and you’re afraid of losing your job, start freelancing and earning money for yourself so you can quit.
• If you’re not sure about what type of freelance work you want to do, you can transition into freelancing. You won’t be stuck in one job. For example, if you’re a translator, you don’t need to translate documents only, you also can be a subtitler or interpreter.
• You don’t need to spend money driving to and from your job every day. The money you save can use towards a vacation or buy something on your wishlist. The more money you earn, the more likely you can avoid financial problems. You can avoid being one of the many people losing all of their income when they lose their job.
• Many people are freelancing and starting their own businesses now, even before the pandemic, and they are all over the internet, sharing their journeys on their blogs or social media.
• You’ve no doubt learned what it’s like to work at home, so you already know how to handle it. Although you may be alone when you’re working from home, you’ll be able to connect online with many people who also freelance.

Freelancing brings possibilities and opportunities to your life like nothing else.

Are you planning to start freelancing this year? Or have you started one? Let me know your story below.