Freelance work thrives in a suffering economy, and is a great source of income for those of us seeking a little extra money, a full-time income, or new experience to transition to a new line of work. Companies still need their work done, but they can't afford the same amount of in-house staff to get it done, so they hire out on an as-needed basis. As a freelancer, your benefits are often the same – you save a lot on the rising costs of eating out, transportation, work clothes, and .

Self-Marketing for Fresh Freelancers

If you are fresh out of college, and don't have much to bring to the table in terms of full time professional experience, don't get discouraged in finding freelance gigs. Focus on highlighting your skills and your education, and adding your creative work samples to your portfolio. Avoid using a professional background, or summary – rather, instead list your skills, focus, and niche you would like to specialize in.

Make mention any awards or honors you received while in school. Following your education, list all the skills that qualify you for the type of freelance work you would like to do – especially any courses such as project management or business communication. Don't be afraid to use any work from any pro-bono projects such as community service, volunteer, or school club positions you have held in order to highlight your abilities and showcase that your skills as the best candidate for the job. If you have a portfolio of previous work, you can scan it for online display as well.

Freelance Projects and Your Experience

Online freelance projects are usually centers in the creative field and involve websites, web content and graphic design. Some employers also hire freelance salespeople who work on a commission basis. Time management is an important factor in freelance work, as juggling projects can sometimes be stressful when you've got numerous deadlines closed together.

If you are changing fields when you jump into freelance work, and nothing from your past professional experience specifically qualifies you for the new project you are seeking, highlight those qualifications that can be transitioned along the various industries. For example, if you've managed people, no matter the type of business, you should highlight this under your experience if you're interested in doing project management for a virtual team. If you're unable to highlight your professional experience in a way that seems relevant, you should consider writing a professional profile, or summary at the start of your resume or website. The summary will allow you to address the career change by highlighting your skills and how they relate to your freelance services.

Becoming a Disciplined Freelancer

If you choose to stretch out into the freelance field, make sure that you are able to manage your time well. Set a time table for your freelance work and prioritize each job according to scale and deadline.

Don't be unrealistic in your expectations of yourself. Doing all the work in just one day is not realistic and can shortchange your clients exponentially. Take time each day to work on each project and make sure though that when you divide the job, you will not lose the creative flow - the work cannot be done if you don't have the discipline to see it through. This means that you have to make sure that you stick to the schedule that you have set For instance, if you have to finish a specific amount of work at a certain period, then make sure that you finish it.

Continue to Build Your Portfolio

Freelancers tend to think of their resumes and portfolios as a collective of their education, skills and professional experience – but as a freelancers, you need to realize that your work is always growing and maturing. Even mock-ups and rejected work that you are fond of can be included in your portfolio for your potential clients. Don't be afraid of not having the right experience, or not the exact background for each client you work with. Your creativity as a freelancer is what shines through as your career grows.