7 Tips to Start Freelance Work Between Jobs

Turn your experience into flexible hours and more income

Matt Swenson,

AARP

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En español

Published May 07, 2025

A colorful collage of older adults looking for work on a smartphone and a desktop computer

Ran Zheng

Ron Kissiah, a technical writer in Atlanta, has worked in full-time positions enough to know that he prefers to work freelance now.

“It’s more secure,” says Kissiah, who is older than 50 and has been in business for himself since 1994. “People look at me with crossed eyes when I say that. But… I can choose exactly what work I do and exactly what projects I work on, and I can control my career and build a stronger portfolio each time I work.”

Kissiah’s career choice may be one option for some older adults who opt to work for themselves as corporate layoffs and government downsizing have shaken the job market.

Job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actions have led to as many as 280,452 layoffs and voluntary departures of federal workers and contractors across 27 agencies through April.

Given the demographics of the federal government, older Americans are disproportionately affected by its downsizing. According to the Partnership for Public Service, over 42 percent of federal employees were over the age of 50 in 2023. Pew Research Center breaks the number down further, noting 28.1 percent of federal workers are ages 55 and older.

Meanwhile, corporations like Starbucks, Meta, JP Morgan Chase, and Chevron have also announced thousands of layoffs in early 2025.

Fewer job openings and an increased number of highly skilled employees suddenly out of work presents daunting challenges to getting hired but perhaps an exciting chance to start over at a moment when freelancers may be in demand.

A 2025 report from Upwork, an online platform connecting businesses with independent talent, found that 49 percent of companies are turning to freelancers to address critical skill gaps, and 48 percent of CEOs plan to increase freelance hiring over the next year.

“For all the anxieties this shift can produce, there are equal, if not more, ways to be excited about the new opportunities for independence, flexibility and growth,” says Nicole Berg, senior director of talent and managed services at Upwork. “Freelancing and becoming your own boss come with many perks.”

Here are seven tips to help you become a successful full-time freelancer.

1. Start with some self-analysis

Two questions should come to mind before making this switch: what do I want to do and is contract work really the right fit? “If you are someone who knows how to motivate yourself, who doesn't necessarily need that external validation, and who's comfortable with uncertainty, [freelancing] can be a good fit,” says Lorraine K. Lee, an award-winning keynote speaker and the best-selling author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career. Lee’s point should be well-taken.

Freelance work requires finding your own clients, proving your worth and marketing your skills regularly. You also need to be prepared to handle rejection. “It takes a certain amount of fortitude,” says Thomas Smith, a professor at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School who specializes in labor economics.

2. Brainstorm your options

Once you’ve decided you’re up to the challenge, the next step is discovering what your business will offer customers and how it differs from what’s currently available. One option is to stay in the same field as your previous job. Another path is to follow your passion and try something new or creative, like launching an Etsy store.

The most important element is not to be defined by your old job but instead think about which of your talents cross industries and are in high demand, advises Berg.

“In today’s talent economy, skills are becoming the new currency of success,” she says. In the case of Kissiah, he has made a living by finding his niche. “It's a very specific kind of writing, and I do it mostly for companies that want their technology made clearer and easier to use,” he says.

3. Plan your progress

“Having a business plan is a must,” says Toni Frana, a career expert manager at FlexJobs, an online job directory specializing in remote work. “It's something that's going to create this road map for you.”

Frana advises freelancers to identify ideal clients, projected costs, your rate, marketing ideas, and develop a mission statement that sums up why your services are too valuable to pass up. This takes research and confidence in your abilities, adds Heather Allen, an independent meeting planner outside of Greenville, South Carolina who started her own business seven years ago at the age of 51.

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4. Use your network

Allen, now 58, naturally plans ahead. When the events industry’s commissions structure changed, she and her business partner began formulating a way to take control of their finances by starting their own company. In May 2018, Allen started laying the groundwork for Mindful Meetings Pros by meeting with clients she was already helping at a third-party firm and harnessing her industry knowledge. “We didn't have to convince anybody,” says Allen. “We let [existing clients] know that we were leaving and they were, like, ‘We want to come with you.’” That strong base helped her company survive the pandemic, which essentially shut down meetings and events, and to grow post-COVID.

Regardless of industry, your contacts will be essential to your success as a freelancer. “There are many people who support you,” says Frana. “Any conversation you have about what you're going to do as a freelancer can potentially open doors to a client or a collaboration … that wouldn't have existed had you not.”

5. Develop your brand on LinkedIn

Regardless of whether you have an effusive personality or are introverted, a freelancer has to establish a business identity that sets them apart from the competition. One of the most visible places to distinguish a business is on LinkedIn. “Personal branding on LinkedIn is important now,” says Frana.

There is more to the platform than setting up a LinkedIn profile, building a resume, and linking to your portfolio. You also need to be an active user. Each like, post, or comment helps guide the program to professionals who are a good match for your network, notes Frana. Views range on the number of times freelancers should post, but Lee stresses you must maintain consistent quality with each entry. “Don’t post for the sake of posting,” says Lee, an instructor at LinkedIn Learning. Kissiah adds he updates his digital profiles on LinkedIn and other job boards“whenever I am out work.”

6. Use experience to your advantage

There is always the possibility an older freelance worker can run into age bias. Try flipping the script by emphasizing you have experience and knowledge other candidates don’t have, says Frana, who suggests mentoring as a possible avenue to grow your business. Upwork’s report shows that personal coaching is among the fastest-growing skills on the platform, with demand increasing by 74 percent year-over-year.

7. Never Stop Learning

Another way to combat bias is to demonstrate knowledge of tools modern offices use, such as Zoom or Slack, says Frana. Also of note, Upwork data shows AI-related projects grew 42 percent year-over-year in 2024 particularly in healthcare, finance, and marketing three fields that lend themselves to freelancers. Familiarity with ChatGPT and other AI tools can help you grow your business, says Lee. “What the future holds is a balance between human skills and knowing how to manage AI skills,” she predicts.

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