A Question for Anyone Does or have Done Freelance Work Successfully

[cinema_babe]

I was having a conversation with the sibling. She asked me what I was going to do this semester and I told her prep for my GREs (again *deep sigh*), polish three papers I've done so they are submission worthy, and freelance, get my PhD school apps ready and freelance to make some extra cake.

She said, "What the hell do you freelance?"
I replied, I can do social media consulting, bring my training curriculum up to day and teach train, and create job search marketing plans for folks in early and mid career."

So she asks me why I didn't tell her this before; she is a consultant so every couple of years she's on to the next job. I told her I'd be happy to work with her and charge her my family and friends rate, 50%. (not that she would listen to my advice, bitter little lol).

She flipped and felt that I should do her resume for free. I told her that this is my business and you never give away a service for free. I asked he if I were a surgeon or lawyer would she expect me to provide services for free. She said yes. Frankly, I don't think I should be doing her resume at all but am I being a asshole for charging her?

Comments

[tisiphone.livejournal.com]

Absolutely not. She might expect it, but that doesn't mean if you were a surgeon or a lawyer you'd actually do it. This is a general extension of the basic principle of "freelance doesn't mean "free"."

[ashbet]

Yep. Agreed.

Sorry she's flipping out :/

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

You know you are not an asshole for charging her.

I don't charge my FATHER. But Daddy sometimes takes my family on cruises because his contract won't allow me to work officially.

So no, I never work for free. At most, there's a trade.

[bunnybutt.livejournal.com]

Depends entirely on your ongoing relationship with your sister, I'd think. If she's a consultant, does she do anything you would find useful to trade?

[grendelgongon.livejournal.com]

Or if you want to make it more charmingly complicated and maybe mess with her head a bit, does she do anything anyone you know would find useful?

You could do her resume free, she could do consulting for X free, and X could give you a check free. *grin* Everyone wins.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

I have, as a way of paying forward, done resumes for free or serious discounts.

But *I* decide that.

My sister expected to pay me. So did my girlfriend.

When someone *asks*, I think not.

You're right.

[spiralsongkat.livejournal.com]

Nope, I don't think you're the one being an ass here. I could maybe see myself feeling more inclined to barter with a family member, but the assumption that you'd work for free is not cool.

[1cmf.livejournal.com]

you are well served by this chorus. it really looks like a bit of a slap to have free work demanded: there are some circumstances where it might be a good idea, as a service to the community, or to win over a future client, or to generate good buzzz... none of which apply here near as i can tell. stick by your guns: a freinds and family rate is there for a reason and makes good sense.

[grendelgongon.livejournal.com]

What he said.

There's nothing actually *wrong* with doing a resume, or whatever yo want to do, for free, and I do often do them for free (or sometimes baked goods), mostly because I find doing the occasional resume amusing. But it's (a) not my *business* so it's not like it displaces paid work and (b) not an expectation on the part of the other person, or at least shouldn't be and (c) on my own time frame when I do which means I may not get to it for a while, and the expectations aren't at a professional level and (c1) you get what you pay for :)