How to make the jump from freelance to full time

Job vacancies for full time jobs in Manila are aplenty, as the capital becomes one of the hottest destinations for talent in the region. This might be enough of a reason to make freelancers consider going back to full time.

Freelancing is great; it allows you to man your own hours and pick the clients that you actually want to work for. But lucrative full time jobs in engineering, electronics, and IT jobs are high in demand.

Although it can be challenging, you can easily conquer the full-time-work scene with these helpful tips.

Fix your resume
First things first - to land a full-time job, you have to have the right resume. It can be tricky to look like a stable, loyal employee when you’ve done so many freelance jobs, but the secret is to identify which projects are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Start with the most current one and don’t forget to add context on the work that you did. Show an employer you are a perfect fit by listing your key competencies and skills, and draw lines between how they helped you in previous roles - and how they will help you in this one. This ensures an employer or hiring manager can get a better idea on how you’d benefit their company.

Ace the interview
Now that you’ve been called for an interview, sell yourself. This is your chance to show off and tell your story. Share your work experiences and explain how being a freelancer helped you grow both as a person and as an employee. Mention the highlights of your freelance career and commendations, and be as transparent as you can be. Remember, being a freelancer isn’t a negative thing - there are so many ways working for yourself can benefit you when you re-join the workplace.

Clear the air
Many employers may be a bit doubtful when hiring someone who worked as a free agent for quite some time, mainly because of the difference in working culture. The best thing to do in situations like this is to think of a way to turn the negatives into positives. For example, you can say that you can work well under pressure because as a freelancer, most projects are contractual. This means deadlines are to be followed strictly because of time constraints. Or perhaps you can focus on your time management, and your ability to juggle multiple freelance contracts at once - giving 100% to each and every one of them.

You got the job! Now what?
First, congratulations! Second, now that you’re back in the office, it’s time to shine. Make sure you are a team player, but don’t be afraid of being yourself. The first key to success in a full-time office culture is ensuring you fit in and get along with your colleagues and the people on your team. After all, you’re going to be seeing them every day, and we know you’re more comfortable working alone. Listen to your colleagues and consider their ideas. Go out to lunch with people, be friendly and ensure you have a positive, open attitude. Things are going to feel a bit different for a while, but you’ve been hired for a reason - and that reason is because you’re the right person for the job. So go forth and be awesome. Keep on learning
You have probably become quite independent and self-sufficient as a freelancer - and that’s great! Bring these traits to your new workplace, but at the same time be open to learning new things. Things won’t be done the way you are used to doing them, and you’ve simply got to adapt. There’s always room to improve yourself, and what better way than adapting to a new environment and understanding new cultures. Also, don’t be afraid of sharing your own knowledge with others.

You’re not the boss anymore, but learn to love it
Don’t think just because you’re not your own boss now that you’re tied down. It’s true that you’ll probably be pushed to finish as much work as you can within the eight-hour working period, but it’s up to you whether you fuss about it or just love it. You will eventually get used to how things work and you will appreciate the perks of being in a full-time job. Plus, this type of environment holds more promise when it comes to professional growth and stability. Might as well enjoy it!

Inspired? Apply for full time jobs in Sales, IT and Engineering jobs now!