If you’re a freelance engineer, you’ll know that the industry is competitive. Here are the 3 biggest obstacles freelance engineers face and how to overcome them.
The role of an engineer is in stellar demand right now. Many engineers are forgoing employment for self-employment as there’s a lot more freedom, and can also be a far better-paid opportunity. However, it’s important to be aware of the obstacles in self-employed engineering. Let’s show you some of the major obstacles that can hinder your abilities as an engineer freelancer.
Unrealistic Attitudes Towards Finances
Many engineers who work as freelancers find themselves chasing their tails. If they earn enough money to get out of a fallow period, another one occurs so they end up spending everything they have. In business sectors, there’s a wide variety of resources for engineers such as a business line of credit, but freelancers don’t have similar financial support. There are things that you need to have in place to cover yourself, such as self-employed insurance, however, starting an engineering freelance role means you’ve got to get into the habit of putting money away. Employed people don’t have to worry about it as it’s done for them, but you always need to start saving for your tax bill and the best approach is to have two separate bank accounts.
Chasing Late Payments
Doing a contractor job for a client means that you will have a fantastic payday and as a result, you end up putting a lot of work into a particular project. But asking for payment can be a very awkward process, especially if they’re not quick to pay up. Late payments are incredibly frustrating, but there are a few things you can have in place to ensure you don’t meet this problem head-on.
Having a written agreement of the project is vital so you can have a legal backup, but you also need to remember that when you are chasing payments you are courteous, professional, and ever so slightly honest, especially when you explain how late payments are negatively affecting your finances.
Sometimes if they really are dodging your correspondence, the threat of legal action can help to spur them on. You can also ensure that you have a late fee written into the contracts to encourage them to never miss the payment date.
Marketing Yourself Effectively
You’re not just performing a job; you are selling your services wherever you go. Every job you do should have a positive repercussion and encourage word of mouth so you end up (hopefully) being in another job very soon.
Marketing yourself is a very useful skill, not just in terms of how you promote yourself online but also in how you conduct yourself. You want to encourage the ripples of support so you can continue to get employment, which is why ensuring you have a comprehensive approach to marketing and networking that highlights your uniqueness can ensure future work.
Whether you are a unique type of engineering leader that focuses on getting the job done, or you pride yourself on your customer service skills, be honest in how you promote your abilities to get the promise of future work.
