Are you looking for a new challenge? Want to try something different? Want to change your career path? With the economy in transition, the door to opportunity is open. Jobs are scarce and the competition is high. If you want to be able to provide for your family, you need to stand out from the crowd, which means identifying your strengths and leveraging them. One of the best ways to do this is through freelancing. However, not all freelance opportunities are created equal. Some are much more suited to your strengths and interests than others. You have to be careful about which ones you pursue, as they can influence your income potential significantly.

The Dangers of Poorly Selected Freelance Jobs

There are many perils that come with pursuing a freelance career, not the least of which is the danger of falling victim to some of the more common scam techniques employed by fraudsters to lure unwary job seekers into their clutches. One of the most insidious (and effective) ploys is the so-called “work from home” scam, where online job hunters are tricked into thinking that they’ve found a valuable job opportunity, when in fact it’s a get-rich-quick scheme that exploits their trust. In order to avoid becoming a victim of this kind of fraud, you must exercise extreme caution whenever you’re considering a freelance job opportunity. Do your research, ask the right questions, and remain skeptical. You’ll be much happier and more productive in the long run if you play it safe.

How to Find Well-Designed Freelance Jobs That Suit Your Strengths

Now, not all work-from-home scams are created equal and there are plenty of legitimate work-from-home opportunities available to those who qualify. Still, it’s important to be wary of those who are trying to take advantage of your need for additional income. In order to identify these opportunities, you need to focus on three things:

• The industry.
• The client.
• The pay rate.

The first thing you need to consider is the industry. Are you aiming to build a portfolio to get a promotion within your current company or looking to make extra income on the side? The answer to this question will guide you in determining what type of work you should pursue. Consider the size of your family and whether or not you want to be able to provide for them financially. The size of your family will guide you in considering the amount of money you need to earn. As mentioned by the American Institute of Stress, work-from-home jobs typically pay far more than your average 9-to-5 job.

The Industry You’re In

If you’re looking for a way to supplement your family’s income and you’ve got a skill that can be monetized, security monitoring is a lucrative field. As devices such as smartphones and tablets make the move online, the demand for knowledgeable professionals in this field will continue to rise.

On a similar note, health care is also a lucrative field and the demand for quality medical transcription services will only continue to grow.

Familiarize Yourself With Terminology

Another important thing to do before you begin looking for freelance jobs is to familiarize yourself with the terminology. Just because a job opening exists doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to successfully land the gig. In fact, you might find that the exact opposite is true. Still, before you begin your job search, it is important to be aware of the lingo used by recruiters and employers.

For example, digital marketing agencies mostly work with smaller businesses and brands. If you’re looking for a job with a larger agency, you might find that you’re competing with a diverse pool of candidates. Keep in mind that recruiters and employers are often looking for someone with specific experience, so if you aren’t sure what they are looking for, it might be a good idea to brush up on your skills before you start applying.

The Client

When you land a freelance job, you’ll need to consider the client side as well. From the outset, you’ll need to determine if you’re really happy with the project you’ve been assigned or if there are any red flags that might indicate you’ve been tricked into doing something you wouldn’t normally agree to.

It’s important to point out here that a lot of scam work-from-home opportunities will try to trick you into thinking that they’re affiliated with well-known companies or businesses. This is often done through phony certificates and websites that look very similar to those of legitimate companies. If you somehow find yourself tempted to agree to a project you’re not sure about, it might be a good idea to walk away. Still, if you do end up taking the job, be sure to ask lots of questions, investigate the company thoroughly and try to get as many guarantees as possible.

Pay Rate

Another important factor to consider when pursuing freelance jobs is the pay rate. Just because a job opening exists doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to land the gig however, the more you know about the pay rate, the better. In the vast majority of cases, security monitoring and medical transcription services will pay significantly more than your average 9-to-5 job. It’s therefore important to do some research and identify the prevailing wage rate for similar professionals. If money is no object to you and you want to be able to provide for your family financially, these are good options to consider.

The Biggest Scam

Last but not least, we need to take a quick detour to discuss one of the biggest scams out there. As technology allows for easier and easier ways to make money, scammers have taken note and are running with it. One of the most recent and effective scams involves emailing job seekers who’ve recently applied for jobs and convincing them to pay for various services. So, while you’re trying to make your extra income work for you, be careful not to fall victim to any kind of scam.