Freelancers & Contractors: How to Find New Assignments?

As an independent IT consultant  some of the major perks  are following your passions, choosing the type of work you do and working the hours that suit your lifestyle. Whilst these benefits are immensely appealing, an interruption in workflow or the availability of suitable freelance projects can make it tricky to maintain a steady stream of work and income.

Fortunately, in today’s climate, there are many ways to reach out and find new clients and projects.. From online job marketplaces such as Upwork,  to  utilising your existing networks. 

In this article, we will look at some of the  tried and trusted ways  IT freelancers  find new assignments and ensure  there is enough work  to support your freelance lifestyle.

The Demand for Freelance Experts

As global businesses continue to adopt new digital technologies, talented IT professionals are more in demand than ever.

A freelance technology report from The Economic Times states: “75% of the 250 companies surveyed are considering gig workforce for their open positions in 2024, as against 61% last year. Data from freelance platform Flexing It shows a similar trend, with more than 30% year-on-year increase in the number of projects in tech.”

With companies using AI, cloud computing, and cyber security to stay competitive, the need for freelance IT experts continues to rise.

Let’s look at some of the IT jobs currently in high demand:

Software Engineer

Software Developer

Cloud Architect

Project Manager

Full-Stack Developer

DevOps Engineer

Where to Find Freelance IT Assignments?

There are several resources  available to IT freelancers looking for new clients and projects. 

Here we will explore some of the most popular options:

Indeed

Indeed.com advertises thousands of jobs every day. It’s essentially the google of job hunting. It pulls job opportunities from across the web, which can be searched by job hunters  looking for both contractor work and permanent roles.

LinkedIn

Every professional IT contractor should have a LinkedIn profile. Keeping your profile updated helps build your network and increase your visibility on the platform, as will interacting with profiles that align with your professional interests. 

You can also create a LinkedIn services page to showcase the freelance IT services you can offer to potential clients . You can also browse LinkedIn job postings to find new IT jobs as they become available. Many companies choose to advertise job roles through the platform rather than a recruitment agency.

Job boards

For IT freelancers and contractors, there are many platforms available to search for work and projects that best meet  your skills and expertise. You can use these multi-skill sites to send proposals and hopefully land some new freelance projects.  With 100’s of jobs being posted daily on platforms such as Upwork, Peopleperhour or Fiverr, to name just a few, there are lots of opportunities for  self-employed IT professionals to find  the next project.

A word of warning though: starting on these platforms can be tricky. Many beginners find they have to bid lower than usual to win projects because of tough competition. You’ll also need to learn how to write a strong proposal. However, once you get going, there are many opportunities available. With effort, you can make a good income using these platforms.

Within your network

If you can find out where your fellow freelance IT consultants hang out, and by that, we don’t  mean their favourite bar or coffee shop. Instead, look into which forums they use and if they go to networking events or trade shows. Joining online groups or networking through a company like Hightekers can lead to more chances to expand your network and meet high-quality clients.

Top Tips to Landing New Freelance Assignments

So, you have a list of places to look, but where is the best place to start when you need a new client or assignment to boost your freelance IT career? 

Before contacting prospects and applying for projects, you can do a few things to improve your chances. These include:

Finding the best job listings

By investigating the above options, you will quickly become familiar with where the best freelance opportunities lie, and those where the pickings are not as good and the competition is high. 

Once you have decided where to focus your efforts, you can create a profile and tailor your messaging to matchthe platform and the type of contracts you want to work on. Additionally,  there are job apps and tools available to help any professional find out what work is currently out there .

Build your professional brand

Standing out as an independent IT consultant can be challenging in a crowded job market. Creating a brand for yourself makes you more recognisable and relatable. Not sure what makes you unique? Think about your qualities as a colleague. Are you the straight-talking, honest type? Highlight that in your messaging to attract clients who appreciate those traits. For more tips on selling yourself to new clients, check out this article on how to become a freelancer

Connect with your contacts

If you are already active on platforms like LinkedIn, you probably have a network in the IT and tech field. Reaching out to these contacts can be a great place to start when looking for a new freelance assignment. Since they already know you, they can keep you in mind for future projects that match your skills. Also, by connecting with like-minded people on social media and posting regularly, you will keep your IT services on their radar.

Create a list of companies you want to work with

Who is your ideal client or employer? Make a list of the top ten or even 20 businesses you would love to work with . Then write targeted pitches  to appeal to those businesses. Although it takes time to tailor each pitch to your chosen company, it’s an activity that can really make you stand out from the crowd of generic applications. If you have a passion for a particular brand, tell them why and how enthusiastic you are about working on their upcoming assignment.

Prepare to ace the interview

If you have managed to go through the above process and land an interview, then congratulations. The next and possible final hurdle to getting the assignment awarded is to ace the interview. Of course, doing some background research on the company you are interviewing with and having some answers ready to the most common interview questions is always a good starting point. Aside from that, showing that you are a good communicator that can integrate well with their teams will always be an advantage. More and more nowadays, hiring companies are looking for candidates that will fit in with their culture and core values. Being aware of these and incorporating them into your responses could be what sets you apart in your IT contractor or freelance career. 

Conclusion

Making yourself visible to clients, whether through online platforms, LinkedIn or by joining a network of like-minded professionals, are some of the best ways to learn about new projects and assignments for IT freelancers. 

Joining a management company like Hightekers will also give you access to an internal professional network where IT specialists can liaise with like-minded professionals. In addition, within networks like ours, IT experts share job opportunities with their peers presenting further opportunities for the professionals we manage. 

Find out more about joining the Hightekers community.