What, did you really think the Graduate students would get left out of Freelancer’s Month? You guys especially need to find a way to make money on your own schedule.
Today we bring you a special guest post from Lindsay, current graduate student and aspiring writer and traveler. Lindsey particularly enjoys writing and reading about trending topics and loves to learn about new technology while working on her Master’s. Enjoy! 
Why Freelancing is an Option for Graduate Students
Making the decision to attend graduate school is an especially tough one these days. With ever-increasing tuition fees, many grad students are forced to find a way to make ends meet while they’re taking classes. And not every graduate student has the fortune to land a fellowship or scholarships that allow them to concentrate full-time on their studies.
If you don’t have a steady full-time or part-time job, freelancing is a viable option for you. Whether your strength is tutoring, writing and editing, or design, you can use the skills you learned in undergrad to make some money and to build a professional reputation while you attend graduate school.
Getting started
Before you start a freelancing career, you’ll need to discover what you’re good at and what you enjoy. It’s up to you what you pursue—but if want to start building a professional network, you’ll want to do something that’s connected to your current field of study. For liberal arts students, jobs like tutoring undergraduate students or writing and editing marketing materials for small companies and nonprofits is a good way to gain experience in your chosen field while earning extra money. Computer science and design students could help companies with research or ad campaigns. There’s work to do and money to be earned, if you know where to look and you’re willing to be persistent.
Hanging your shingle
Once you’ve decided on a service or group of services to provide you’ll need to let people know you’re available for freelance work. An online portfolio can serve as a resume, as well as showcase the work you’ve done in classes and for other freelance clients. Be sure to include descriptions of the projects you worked on, along with the names of the clients you worked with (if they give you permission). Your college or university may offer free web space, but you can find free online portfolio templates on sites like Carbonmade or FigDig.
You can also find potential clients on your college campus; students or faculty can be a rich resource for freelance work. Post on campus message boards and talk to classmates about your freelance efforts. If you’re enrolled in online training or attend classes online, you can still use message boards and your online portfolio to build your school network and find possible customers.
Making your education work for you.
Freelancing can provide you with more than just a check; it can give you hands-on experience in the field you’re studying. You can also use your freelancing experiences to help you with your studies—finding parallels between your coursework and your freelance work can help you get more out of your education. Having a professional history to advertise after you graduate is also a great way to create an advantage for yourself once you enter the full-time job market.
Working while attending graduate school is a challenge, but it can give you a chance to build relationships, sharpen your skills, and create a name for yourself in your chosen profession. And if you’re determined and committed to freelancing, you can enhance your education with real-life experience that will serve you well after graduation.
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