Hey High-Flyer… congratulations, you scored your first job! Behind every job is a client, with whom you’ll be given the challenge to effectively and consistently communicate. Today, we’re giving you Minite’s tips for ongoing job success when it comes to working together with your client. 

Maximize your first meeting. 

Your first meeting is where you get to build the bases for a brilliant freelancing experience. No pressure… we’re kidding, but actually, you’ll relieve a lot of potential stress and confusion from the start if you prepare well for your first meeting with your client. Research your client’s company and the industry they’re in. Better understand your job by answering the question, what is my client/ company’s mission? Ok, so that’s done. Do you happen to have any other curiosities? Make sure you prepare some questions for your client to make that first meeting as efficient as possible. That way, you’re starting your job mission on the right foot!

Check in regularly so that you know what is being expected of you. 

Clarify what your client is expecting of you. You can start by doing some research on your own-- after all, the internet is perhaps grander than the physical universe, and full of interesting insights and information if you know where to look. Find out what your client’s company is all about, in terms of branding, mission, and future goals. Then, if you still have any questions, you can proactively ask them in your first meetings with your client. Take notes and make sure you’re on the same page-- literally. 

A best practice is to check in with your client regularly, preferably on a weekly basis. Make sure you have a set time (thirty minutes is ideal) and a set day of the week which both of you have blocked in your agenda to catch up. This way, you can actively track long-term strategies and provide ideas in a more effective way-- if you know what’s going on, your fresh perspective can be streamlined for the current momentum of your client’s company. You’ll find your ideas will be far more appreciated when you give them at the right time, and this is why regular check-ins are so important. 

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Regular check-ins allow you to actively track long-term strategies and provide ideas more effectively.

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Plan ahead so that you know what you’re expecting from yourself, too. 

Make sure you’ve made your own expectations, too-- sure, it’s nice to work independently, but are you committing yourself to an action plan? You can’t rely on your client to provide that for you, they’re busy and actually under the impression that you’re already doing that. So if you’re here to take initiative, then do it! Create a plan for your work two or three weeks in advance, even if it can’t be detailed. That way, you’ll know what you can work on even when your client isn’t being responsive. 

Here’s the thing: when you’re stuck with a client that’s not responding to you, you have to remember that your success is in your hands. It’s your responsibility to look forward to your freelancing journey and figure out what you can work on in the coming month, even. You can start by setting consistent times every week at which you commit to freelancing. Then, fill your weekly time slots with ongoing jobs first-- thing you know you’ll always have to be giving time to. Next, think about some ideas for growth and improvement you have-- let your inspiration free and block time to work on ideas that you can present to your client when they haven’t given you anything else to do. See? Boldness will never get you bored. 

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It’s nice to work independently, but are you committing yourself to an action plan?

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Set boundaries and make sure you both stick to them. 

From the beginning, establish boundaries when you start your job. It’s essential that you understand and communicate expectations upfront. However ambitious and motivated you are, you won’t be able to do everything at once. If you feel that your client is asking too much of you given the hours in your contract, or if more work is being required of you than was initially listed in the job description, talk about it with your client. If they’re giving you ownership of which they have little knowledge, they may not be aware of how much time it takes to work on that one thing, and you’ll be left in the dark. In situations like these, speak up sooner than later. Otherwise, you’ll be left with overdue work that you can’t complete and a confused client who certainly won’t be happy. Clarity at every juncture of your job journey is a good thing. You don’t have to be ashamed of not being able to do something, it’s better to just be honest upfront!

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Being a student at the same time as you are a High-Flyer, it’s vital that you understand and communicate your limits.

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Now look at you standing tall, High-Flyer hero! You’re about ready to conquer any job with these tips in your arsenal. Ready to get even more startup experience under your belt? You can always browse more jobs on our website if you’re interested in taking on a second one. Good luck now, fly high!

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