My Journey from Data Newbie to Data Freelancer
If you had told me seven years ago that I’d be a data freelancer helping household name clients solve their data challenges, working from where I want when I want, I would have laughed at you.
Hey, I’m Ashley, and this is my story of how I transitioned from zero data experience to a data freelancer using Tableau. Read through to the end to learn how you can start your journey.
My path into data was unconventional. I studied business management and marketing at university. After I left, I was jobless and looking for my next move, and I applied for the graduate scheme with Accenture for no reason other than that it had a February intake.
My Learning Data Skills Phase
Having passed the interview process, I sat near an analytics manager on my first day, and he gave me a Tableau license and directed me to training courses on the Tableau website. One very questionable dashboard later, I landed my first project.
I was lucky enough to have a great mentor on that first project, who invested his time and energy in upskilling me in Tableau and broader data skills. I didn’t know it then, but his investment in me set me on a career path I could have only dreamed of when I was sitting in my room unemployed post-university.
My time at Accenture was my growth phase, where I set the groundwork for becoming a data freelancer. My first lesson for you is this: leverage your current perm job to build the skills, qualifications, certifications, confidence and network that will help make the transition to data freelancing smoother.
After four years working at Accenture, I decided to quit. I wanted a new challenge. This decision was a year in the making, and by this time, I had saved up six months of cash reserves to fall back on, but I didn’t have any work lined up and, if I’m honest, no real plan.
My New to Freelancing Phase
I spent the first seven weeks sending my CV to any recruiter who would look at it. With the rest of my time, I built a website and scrolled through job boards for hours daily, searching for my first project, but my haphazard send-and-hope approach wasn’t working.
It wasn’t until nearly two months later I got my first break. A friend’s consultancy urgently required support on a six-week project, and they needed somebody with Tableau and consulting experience.
I then had my first stumbling block: admin. How much to charge? What insurance to buy? How do I invoice the client? Would I charge VAT and so on?
I scrambled to find an accountant, buy insurance, and speak to other data freelancers to determine how much to charge. Thankfully, I had set up my company before, or this could have delayed my start date, and realistically, they would have found somebody else.
This is my next takeaway: don’t underestimate the admin of running a business. Once you’re in the swing of things, it’s OK, but initially, it’s complicated; there’s a lot to set up, and there are lead times for getting things done, so start in advance of when you think you’ll need it.
On my first day on the project, I had my second stumbling block. I soon learned that the data skills required differed from what I was initially told. The data skills needed were outside my expertise, and I didn’t have the time or support network to learn the required skills. More importantly, as a freelancer, they hired an expert, not somebody learning on the job.
I spoke honestly with the client about the mismatch in expectations and skills, and we redefined my role to make it work. These conversations taught me the power of clear communication. When communicating with potential clients, I am much clearer on my skillset, the value I add, and, equally as importantly, what my skill set isn’t to avoid another mismatch in expectations.
Having finished that project, I started my next role, redesigning HR dashboards for the makers of Candy Crush. This role taught me the power of networking and relationship-building. I was put forward for the role by a recruiter I’d spent a year talking to before this opportunity. Your network is a powerful asset you should leverage when searching for work.
A week after finishing Candy Crush, a recruiter messaged me on LinkedIn. He found my profile because it was keyword-optimised for Tableau freelancing, and I was one of the first search results he found. Optimising your profile on LinkedIn and being active on the platform can be a great source of leads and should form a core part of your online branding strategy.
A week after starting, COVID-19 happened, and I saw many freelancers lose their roles with little notice. Mine was extended five times, and I spent over a year here. During this time, my scope shifted from pure Tableau development to supporting strategy, and I renegotiated the remuneration of the contract to reflect this.
This experience taught me two things: one, that when things go south, freelancers are one of the first to get cut, and you need to be prepared for this (I got lucky); and two, if the scope of the role changes don’t be afraid to renegotiate the terms, to get paid what you are worth.
My Rediscovery Phase
After over a year of working with this client, I decided to take a year out to travel and think about my motivations for work. Taking this year out to travel was only made possible by the financial reserves I had built up from my freelance work; it’s no secret that it pays well. It became clear that my ‘Why’ for working was freedom and flexibility, and I should seek projects that offer me this.
With this perspective, I turned down a few projects that came my way when I put myself back on the market and patiently waited for the right opportunity. As fate would have it, somebody I had spent a brief time with at Candy Crush recommended me for a role at Riot Games, working remotely for their team in LA. This role ticked all the boxes for me, and to top it off, their team was a delight to work with.
The lesson here is to be clear with yourself about what you want. Identify why you want to freelance and what you want from it. Think about what you will comprise and what you won’t. Then, put things in place that increase your chances of winning this type of work.
My journey as a data freelancer hasn’t been a straight line. A combination of luck, hard work, strategic thinking, and sometimes just following my gut has got me to where I am. I’ve learned lessons along the way: a lot about freelancing and myself. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been rewarding and a path I’m happy to have taken.
Starting Your Data Freelance Journey
For those interested in learning more, I’ve created the Data Freelance Hub, an online community and platform for data freelancers and those aspiring to become one. To learn more about the Data Freelance Hub, follow me on LinkedIn or check out the DFH website.
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