You may have heard horror stories about how difficult it can be to make a living as a freelancer. But, for the most part, they’re exaggerations. Freelance work is gratifying, especially if you’re good at what you do.
If you enjoy writing and/or solving problems by working from the remote side of the table, then becoming a freelance healthcare writer might be a good fit for you.
Healthcare is an ever-expanding industry with new medical breakthroughs every day. As such, your options are virtually endless regarding freelancing as a career path.
The opportunities are worth looking into, no matter how much trepidation you might feel about entering the world of “gigs” and “cures.”
Determine Your Passion and Purpose Within Healthcare
Before you consider pursuing a career in freelancing, you’ll first need to establish your passion and purpose. Here are a few questions to ask yourself that will help you understand what you have a passion for. What do you love to do?
What do you want to do? What do you hope to achieve? This analysis will help you discover your “why” and “why not” reasons for becoming a freelancer.
It’s essential to pinpoint your passion because the number of freelance nurse and caregiver positions is endless. Each position comes with its own level of difficulty and responsibility that you’ve got to adhere to while working.
Build Up Your Freelance Profile
Now that you’ve determined where you want to go with your career, it’s time to build your freelance profile. Start with the basics: What do you do for a living? How much do you make?
How do you define success? These questions will help you gauge the health of your business model and help you set realistic expectations for your earnings.
Think of your freelance profile as the first impression you will make with future potential employers. You want to give them the information they need upfront to help them determine if they want to move to the next phase of the process.
This is an interview to determine if you’re the right fit for their facility and if you can join the rest of the healthcare workers that work for their organization.
Invest in Your Skills and Education
Your education and training don’t stop when you graduate from college. Your education continues throughout your career as a freelancer because, more often than not, you’ll be working in healthcare, which is constantly evolving.
The best way to secure a steady income in this job market is to invest in your skills and education.
Carefully think of the training you’ve received in the past and ensure you list only relevant skills that you would need for the job. It’s also helpful to list your education on your profile and resume.
Before becoming a healthcare worker, you’ve got to obtain some form of certification before you can begin working in any healthcare facility.
If your current license is expired, there are some online refresher courses you can take with a certified university that will provide the courses you need to renew your license.
Network, Network, Network
Your first step towards success as a freelance healthcare worker is establishing contacts. Networking can be a lifesaver when it comes to finding work.
You can’t realistically count on colleagues or clients as your personal assistants. However, you can rely on peers and staffing agencies to help you find work.
Another reason to focus on networking is that when you need an opportunity, your contacts can steer you in the right direction.
Do Your Research & Partner With a Staffing Agency
Many people think that becoming a freelance healthcare writer is easy. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There’s a lot of competition and few opportunities for steady work.
Becoming a freelance healthcare worker entails a high degree of patience, perseverance, and insight. It also requires you to develop the right network and invest in your skills and education.
If you’re having a hard time finding the right jobs, working with a staffing agency can be the answer to your prayers. They’ll have a list of clients that are looking for workers and put you in contact with them.
Be Patient but Persistent
This may sound like the plot of a Lifetime movie, but freelance work is excellent for the soul. It’s creative, flexible, and highly rewarding. But, at the same time, it’s also exhausting and nerve-racking.
If you’re a first-time freelancer, you will experience all of these feelings. This is perfectly normal and understandable.
It requires you to develop the right network and invest in your skills and education. If you’ve created your freelance profile and don’t get many requests for your services, don’t be put off.
There are hundreds of other people looking for the same jobs as you, which means the field is competitive. Instead, continue to be persistent and continue applying for positions.
When you do get a chance to interview for a job, ensure you knock it out of the park and showcase your skills.
A Guide to Becoming a Freelance Healthcare Worker
When you want to become a freelance healthcare worker, there are some tips you need to know to set yourself up for success. Always be persistent and patient because freelance work can be uncertain. Also, make sure your license is current so that you can work.
If you’re looking for healthcare workers or your next healthcare job, sign up with JobGraze today for more help.