How to Build a Freelance Career That Works for You | The Way We Work, a TED series

What does job security really mean?

翻译人员: Sarah Liu 校对人员: Gia Hwang

职业稳定到底意味着什么呢？

It means financial stability.

它意味着财务稳定，

Waking up and knowing "I can provide for myself and my family."

醒来就知道“我能养活自己和家人”。

A freelance career can 100 percent provide that if you build it wisely.

如果你明智地打造，自由职业 完全可以做到这一点。

As counterintuitive as it may seem,

尽管可能看似违反直觉，

freelancing may be the best way to build long-term stability.

但自由职业可能是建立 长期稳定的最佳途径。

[The Way We Work]

[工作方法]

Five out of 10 American workers watching this

观看本方法的 10 名美国打工者中，

will have a freelance career by 2025.

到 2025 年一半会是自由职业者，

That's just two or three years out.

这只有两三年的时间。

Some of us will perform tasks like making deliveries or doing remote data entry,

我们中的一些人将执行 像递送或远程数据录入等任务，

and some of us will be writers, graphic designers, product specialists,

而另一些人将成为作家、 平面设计师、产品专家、

marketeers, software engineers, data analysts or business consultants

市场营销人员、软件工程师、 数据分析师或业务顾问，

who are paid per project and not tied to any one company.

他们按项目获得报酬， 不受任何公司的约束。

Having a freelance career gives you the power

从事自由职业

to get your true market value

能令你获得真正的市场价值，

and the flexibility to build life the way you want it.

并灵活打造你想要的生活，

But most importantly, it gives you control over your future,

但最重要的是你能掌控自己的未来，

making you less reliant on a single employer.

不那么依赖单一雇主。

Hiring freelancers is good for organizations, too.

雇佣自由职业者对组织也是有利的。

When freelancers come on board,

当自由职业者加入时，

they come with knowledge from multiple employers.

他们带着来自多个雇主的知识。

Freelancers also tend to be more up-to-date on their skills.

自由职业者也更倾向于掌握最新的技能。

They constantly read, listen and learn new approaches to remain employable,

他们不断阅读、倾听和学习新方法， 以保持自己的就业能力，

and freelancers offer a jolt of energy.

并且自由职业者注入了新活力，

They arrive ready to hit the ground running.

他们做好了立即投入工作的准备。

So how can you be part of this freelance future?

那如何成为未来自由职业者中的一员呢？

Here are some steps.

步骤如下。

Step one: Identify your core value.

第一步：确定你的核心价值。

Talk to people in your network of current and former employers

与你目前和之前雇主圈子里的人交谈，

and ask them what qualities make you someone who's worth hiring?

问问他们你有哪些值得聘用的特质？

Are you thorough or fast?

你是工作仔细还是工作快？

Are you strategic?

你具备战略眼光吗？

What types of projects do you really excel at?

你真正擅长哪些类型的项目？

Figure out exactly what value you bring as a freelancer.

明确你作为自由职业者带来的价值。

Step two: Communicate it to employers.

第二步：向雇主传达你的价值。

Once you know your value,

一旦你知道自己的价值，

you're in great place to approach potential employers,

就可以自信地接触潜在雇主，

whether it's places you've worked with in the past

无论是你过去合作过的地方，

or other businesses in the same industry and say,

还是同行业的其他企业，

"This is what I will do for you

你可以说：“这是我要为您做的，

and this is the impact it could have on your business."

而这是对您的业务可能产生的影响”。

Make your value clear on your LinkedIn profile

在你的领英个人资料和个人网站上

and on your personal website

清晰地展示你的价值，

and ask to be paid what you're worth,

并要求得到与你的价值相符的报酬，

which means you should do some research on pricing

这意味着你应该对定价进行一些研究，

and your value should translate into your fees.

你的价值应对应体现在酬劳中。

Step three: Nurture early relationships.

第三步：培养早期关系。

In the beginning,

起初，

it's often in your best interest to take whatever jobs you're offered.

通常接受任何提供给你的工作 都符合你的最大利益，

It's not all going to be great or easy, but you will learn so much.

这并非全是好工作，也不容易， 但你会学到很多。

You'll start to see that you're better working with mission-driven companies

你会开始意识到 与有使命感的公司合作更好，

or with managers who don't beat around the bush.

还是与直言不讳的经理一起工作；

Or whether you're happier working remotely

或者你更喜欢远程办公，

or going into an office working with peers.

或去办公室与同事一起工作。

Every time you finish working with a new client,

每当你与新客户完成工作时，

ask them for feedback.

都请他们提供反馈。

Find out what worked well.

了解哪些地方做得好，

What can I do better?

哪些可以做得更好？

As a freelancer, you need to be proactive and find ways to improve.

作为自由职业者，你需要 主动寻找改进的方法。

It will not only make you better,

这不仅会让你变得更好，

but help raise your value in the marketplace.

还会帮助提高你在市场中的价值。

Step four: Grow your client base over time.

第四步：随着时间推移扩大客户群。

As a freelancer,

作为自由职业者，

your existing customers are your best references.

现有客户是你最好的推荐人。

When a project is about to end,

当一个项目即将结束时，

ask whether they know others who might benefit from your services

问问他们是否知道其他 可能从你的服务中受益的人，

or ask if they can promote you and your work in their internal channels,

或者是否可以在他们的内部渠道、

social media platforms or email groups.

社交媒体平台或电子邮件 群组中推广你和你的工作。

Don't be discouraged.

不要灰心，

It takes time and consistency to build a stable of clients.

建立稳定的客户群需要时间和恒心。

Put your focus on building a reputation for good work

把重点放在建立良好工作声誉上，

and you'll eventually have to turn down more jobs than you can accept.

最终你忙不过来，不得不拒掉一些工作。

Step five: Join a freelance community.

第五步：加入自由职业者社区。

Whatever type of freelancer you are,

无论你是什么类型的自由职业者，

find ways to connect with others in your field.

都要找到其它同业者的联系方法。

What are the LinkedIn or Facebook groups to join?

哪些领英或脸书群组适合加入？

Which events to go to and which podcasts to listen to?

要参加哪些活动、听哪些播客？

This community will not only help you learn and give you leads on work,

这个社区不仅会帮助你学习 并提供工作线索，

but it will also contain peers that you can vent to when you need it.

还有你在需要时可以倾诉的同行。

If you're interested in freelancing,

如果你对自由职业感兴趣，

don't wait until you get fired or laid off to make that leap.

不要等到被解雇或裁员才采取行动。

Remember, when you rely on one employer, they own your future.

记住，当你依赖一个雇主时， 他们拥有你的未来。

But by building your freelance capabilities,

但通过发展你的自由职业能力，

you'll have the power to decide not only who you want to work with,

你将不仅有权利决定与谁合作，

but when and in what capacity.

还能决定何时、以何种身份工作。

And when downturns come,

当经济不景气时，

you'll be better able to withstand them

有一群乐于与你共事的人在一起，

with a network of people who are excited to work with you.

你就能更好地度过难关。