Is it Necessary to Assure Freelancer Success with Educational Attainment?

Before we answer this question, let’s define a Freelancer first.

What is a Freelancer?

A Freelancer is a person who works for a variety of companies on specific projects, usually for a short period.

What is a Freelancer? What does a Freelancer do?

What does a Freelancer do?

The client hires a freelancer for a specific service or task. They work on several projects for different clients at the same time and they must manage their priorities, time, and workload when working as a freelancer, as well as file their taxes.

Is it Essential to have a University Degree to become successful in Freelancing?

Is it Essential to have a University Degree to become successful in Freelancing?

Most of us believed that "the higher education we had, the higher certain we are to succeed in our career." No doubt education is important as it helps everyone to see where we can improve our academic and non-academic skills, but you would also agree that not everyone who acquired a higher education would be successful in their career.

Many of us got a high education, graduated from prestigious schools, and went on to be among the finest students in the country, winning numerous prizes. However, even though they have a bachelor's degree, most of them cannot be successful in the careers that they have chosen, whereas to those who did not graduate from a prestigious school and can't attend college are the ones who have succeeded. It's sad to hear but this is the fact.

"You can be successful freelancer even though you haven't a tertiary qualification — Would Be that Possible?".

Most people look down on those who didn't finish school, or if they did, they were still treated poorly because they didn't even attend to a well-known higher education.

Isn't it unfair?

But, "did you know, that even if you didn't finish school, you might even be a successful freelancer"? The majority of clients in the freelancing industry are not interested in your college diploma, whatever you completed, or whatever colleges you attended. As a result, clients in this industry place a higher value on skills.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

I interview the freelancers that I’ve known who are now successful even they didn’t graduate or finished school.

One of them is Ram (not his real name). He’s from Isabela City, Philippines. He has been working as a freelancer for the past two years. His area of expertise is ESL English tutoring, which he began when the pandemic came. He completed high school (Senior Year) and then went on to TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) to improve his teaching and communication abilities. He went on to say that as a Jehovah's Witness, he spent much of his time helping others understand the bible, therefore he chose to be a freelance ESL English online tutor as his main career. He stated that he is satisfied with his choices and finds it a privilege that he is still able to do what he loves. He chose to be a freelancer instead of pursuing higher education.

And another one who’s been successful in the Freelancing Industry is Mrs. Keren Cajes - Ame. She’s from Batangas City, Philippines. Her expertise is Process Management and Automation, and she's been a freelancer for 11 years. She just completed high school, yet she can handle her work for years. She chose to be a freelancer because even she passed the entrance exam for college, her family couldn’t afford the expenses since the university is 2 hours away from their home. According to her, it's a blessing because she was protected from being influenced by her environment.

She also shared her experience as a long-time freelancer. She started in 2007 and her persistence helped her to gain the skills she had now. She had to self-study because she doesn’t have any equipment for her online resources at that time. Even she felt self-pity, she was determined to learn new skills.

Of course, countless prayers and her determination helped her where she is now. She also added that there is one thing that she is sure of. She said, “Freelancing taught her that nothing can be achieved when you listen to the negativities from others and if you give in to your internal battles.” She also shared her formula to be a Successful Freelancer, Prayers + Perseverance= Success, and a tagline, “If I can do it, YOU CAN DEFINITELY DO IT TOO!

This is inspiring, isn't it?

They succeed as freelancers because they are hardworking, patient, and eager to learn new skills. In order to be successful in the freelancing industry, they had to make sacrifices and also they need persistence and determination.

Is this to imply that we will no longer value education since someone has been successful as a Freelancer despite NOT having a Higher Education?

The answer is NO. Why?

Having a higher education gives us an advantage in getting hired for the job we want. No doubt that many of us have attained success as a result of our education.

The point is that you can be a successful freelancer in the Freelancing Industry whether you are educated or not, even if you did not pursue further education, as long as you have the necessary skills, dedication, patience, and diligence in your work.