Unemployment insurance was unheard of some centuries ago – today it is mandatory in most countries, but does it have any value? The probability is too low to ever make use of it even if you will be unemployed at some time. Besides frugal living and getting educated, what can you do right now to assure a safer future? Get yourself a freelancing account and develop your reputation. Having a profile full of good reviews from your customers on an international website is the best unemployment insurance you can develop in a cost-efficient manner. This is an extremely useful experience for teenagers – for the following reasons:
– reputation takes time to build – just like in compounding interest, the earlier you start, the better
– it is a great opportunity to get out of your shell – if you are a shy person, this will expose you to lots of people and you will learn not to take rejection personally
–you can develop and refine your skills according to the demands of the global market; for example, I noticed that in international settings, natives are preferred in translation and proofreading projects. It is much easier to translate from a foreign language into your native one than the other way round and these are the kind of projects that pay the most. It does help if your native language is largely used – if not, turn your focus to greener pastures:)
-you will learn the value of a portfolio – whether you post it on your profile or better yet, you create a website for showcasing your skills – all the while learning vital 21st century skills like web publishing, writing, graphic design and online store creation.
-by administering a freelancing account, you will learn how to earn AND manage money – by earning money in small steps you will also learn to manage it the same way, so once you will have a bigger sum of money, you won’t squander it away on stupid things
There are several freelancing websites – international, national and regional.
What were your experiences? Did you use any freelancing website? Did you ever outsource a project to someone abroad?
