Do you work in an office and you find yourself counting down to Friday? Have you ever dreamed of travelling the world or working on your own schedule and not typical 9 to 5? Actually, there’s another option than the typical career. In 2011, I started freelancing on the side. Now, I am a full-time freelancer, working on various exciting projects for clients all over the world. Do you want to know how I got my very first freelance project, why I chose freelancing and how to land your first client? In this talk, you'll hear about my personal experiences and lessons learned from 6 years of freelancing. This talk was given at HackConf, Sofia, Bulgaria on September 30, 2017. Speaker: Jenny is a Senior UX/Product Designer at Toptal, an exclusive global network of the top freelance designers, developers, and finance experts. With a passion for helping newcomers in UX to grow and succeed, she mentors designers under her mentorship program. She also founded and co-organizes the Ladies that UX Amsterdam community. In her spare time, she likes globetrotting and has explored over 45 countries.

1. Freedom is the New Wealth
@jennyshen - HackConf - Sep 30, 2017
Join the future workforce of freelancing!

2. ! "

3. @jennyshen@jennyshen
Taiwan
Operation World

5. @jennyshen

6. @jennyshen

7. @jennyshen

8. @jennyshenDooder, Freepik

9. @jennyshenDooder, Freepik

10. Dai KE, Unsplash @jennyshen

11. @jennyshen
No more commuting
#1

12. @jennyshen

13. @jennyshen

14. @jennyshen
Flexible schedule
#2

15. @jennyshenCrystal Ro, Buzzfeed

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#3
No interview process

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“Tell me about your biggest weakness”
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

19. @jennyshen
Wear whatever I want
#4

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Work wherever I want
#5

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22. @jennyshen
#digitalnomad
@jennyshen

23. @jennyshen
Flexible
schedule
No interview
process Different
industries
Work
wherever
No
commuting
Entrepreneurship
Wear whatever

24. @jennyshenand.co/slash-workers

25. We’re realizing we don’t
have to work 9 to 5 in an
office to be our most
productive. Especially as
creatives, there’s not a lot
of inspiration in routine. @jennyshen
Lauren Hom, Independent Illustrator Lauren Hom

26. I started coding and
experimenting more and I
started writing articles.
And less than a year after that,
I got my first front-end
development work inquiry
[through Codepen], which
kickstarted my freelance
career.
Sara Soueidan , Independent Front-end Developer
Quotes Magazine
@jennyshen

27. I started as a
freelancer because I
was traveling for
skateboarding. I
wanted to develop
my creativity
personally, not under
the reign of an art
director.
Mackey Saturday, Freelance Graphic Designer. Interviewed at Freelance.tv
@jennyshen

28. @jennyshen
Now?

29. @jennyshen

30. @jennyshen
How to find great
clients & have
consistent income?
@jennyshen

31. @jennyshen
How to find great
clients & have
consistent income?
THE
HOLY GRAIL
@jennyshen

32. @jennyshen

33. @jennyshen
Portfolio
#1

34. @jennyshen

35. @jennyshen
Online presence
#2

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37. @jennyshen
Network
#3

38. @jennyshen
Talk to one person you don’t know. Introduce
yourself, talk about what you’re working on, AND
that you’re available for freelance.
Challenge

39. @jennyshen

40. @jennyshen
Open source contribution
or side projects
#4

41. @jennyshen

42. @jennyshen

43. @jennyshen
Apply to freelance jobs
#5

44. @jennyshen
Join freelance communities
#6

46. YOU are in control
of your life and
career

48. Благодаря!
Senior UX Designer at Toptal jennyshen.com
@jennyshenJenny Shen