| You are a freelance developer at the beginning of | | | | you know it? Learn to say "no". Take a step back, |
| your career and don't know exactly which way to go | | | | because you need to realize that overexerting |
| in order to achieve success. Your confusion is natural, | | | | yourself and missing your employer's deadlines isn't |
| because everyone knows that the success and failure | | | | doing anyone any favors. |
| are separated by a very thin line and very often, out | | | | 4. Keep in touch with your past happy customers |
| of disinformation or misinformation, we can find | | | | because you never know when new work or |
| ourselves taking a step on the other side of the line | | | | recommendations could come in. Don't be afraid to |
| and putting everything we've worked hard for in | | | | drop a friendly email or a card on special occasions. It's |
| jeopardy. A good way to avoid making mistakes is to | | | | called PR. |
| know when to recognize them. Here are some of the | | | | 5. Don't commit to one employer. Of course, the idea |
| most frequent mistakes a freelance developer tends | | | | of stability might sound tempting, but once you are |
| to make: | | | | working exclusively for one person, the benefits of |
| | | | freelancing fly out the window, not to mention you |
| 1. Under-pricing. You are just beginning, building a | | | | might start missing out on great opportunities. |
| reputation, and aren't exactly sure of what your | | | | 6. Getting sloppy. Yes, it's been known to happen. You |
| professional worth is, so you are tempted to lower | | | | can get tempted to rush through your work, or not to |
| your prices. You must keep in mind that you should | | | | double check its quality once you have established a |
| always be paid the deserved amount for your level of | | | | good working relationship with a client. It would be in |
| skills and experience, and you shouldn't be afraid to | | | | your best interest (and that of your client) to lose this |
| ask for it, even if it might mean losing a bid or two. You | | | | habit because nobody wants sloppy work, regardless |
| are better served in the long run. | | | | of how long standing your working relationship is. |
| 2. Modesty. Yes, everyone's been telling you how | | | | 7. Try to understand your employer's wishes. Of |
| much of a virtue it is ever since you've been born, but | | | | course, you are being hired for your level of skills and |
| in a world where you have to market yourself, your | | | | experience but you always have to keep your |
| skills and your image, modesty shouldn't take up so | | | | employer's desires in mind, otherwise you risk handing |
| much space. Be confident in your abilities and your | | | | in a final product your customer is not happy about. |
| client will as well. | | | | 8. Always communicate with your employer, leave no |
| 3. Feeling compelled to take on a great deal of work | | | | gray areas. It's in both your interests. |
| even though you don't have the time to do it all and | | | | |