How I Landed My First Client (Instructional Design Freelancing)

TL;DR

A former teacher shares her journey of how she landed her first freelance instructional design contract and provides tips for others interested in pursuing similar opportunities.

Transcript

Are you looking to become a freelance instructional designer but don't know where to start? On today's video I'm going to give you all the details on how I landed my first contract. Be sure to stick around because later in this video I actually interview the client who hired me and they'll tell you exactly how they made their decision. I'm Sabrina ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎨 Upskilling and gaining confidence in your abilities are crucial steps in pursuing a freelance instructional design career.
• 📽️ Creating a portfolio that highlights your skills, process, and visually appealing projects is essential for attracting clients.
• 🤗 Optimizing your LinkedIn profile and networking with professionals can increase your visibility and open doors to freelance opportunities.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the instructional design bootcamp contribute to the speaker's freelance journey?

The bootcamp helped the speaker build the skills and confidence needed to pursue a freelance instructional design career. It provided her with a network of professionals for guidance and support.

Q: What skills did the client look for when hiring a contract instructional designer?

The client sought individuals who could work independently, had a solid understanding of eLearning tools like Storyline and Vyond, demonstrated strong critical thinking and storytelling skills, and possessed visual design capabilities.

Q: How did the speaker create her portfolio and showcase her work?

The speaker used her portfolio website to showcase her projects, including her flagship project and other samples. She focused on building a cohesive and visually appealing portfolio that highlighted her skills and process.

Q: How did optimizing the speaker's LinkedIn profile help her land freelance contracts?

Optimizing her LinkedIn profile increased her visibility in search results and attracted more recruiters. It allowed her to connect with professionals in the field, share her work, and receive job opportunities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker joined an instructional design bootcamp to upskill and build the necessary skills for the role.

• She initially focused on upskilling and gaining confidence in her abilities, eventually considering freelancing due to the flexibility and autonomy it offered.

• The speaker learned more about freelancing from industry professionals and leveraged her portfolio and networking to land her first client.

• The speaker interviewed the client, who emphasized the importance of critical thinking, continuous learning, strong storytelling, and visual design skills when hiring a freelance instructional designer.