"Can I Work Freelance Even If I Am Not Fluent in English?"

"Can I Work Freelance Even If I Am Not Fluent in English?"
Credit to Justin Mclean, Flicker

Definitely, you can! BUT, make sure that the freelance contracts you are eyeing for do not require for 100% fluency in English. Do not let English fluency prevents you from pursuing a freelance career.

If you are in Design and Creative or in Engineering, English proficiency may not be required. Though it is a huge plus if you are.

Your fluency in the English language does not discredit the freelance skills you are good at.

If you want to work online and get freelance projects from websites like Upwork, you must at least know how to speak and understand English to be able to communicate with clients.  But if you will be working offline and will be talking more with Filipino clients then it won't be much of a problem.

Upwork provides self-assessment for English proficiency. This sets an expectation when clients deal with you.

Despite your challenge in the English language, you still can be a good freelancer and be successful in your career if you make sure you do the following:

1. Understand the needs of your client.

A client hires a freelancer because of a need. Make sure you get exactly his/her requirements. If you did not get the instruction or explanation at first, do not pretend. Ask. If not, reiterate in your own words and confirm from the client if you are on the same page.

Always give a full attention when speaking with your client and listen to understand. 

Stephen R. Covey said: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” So, be attentive to what the client is telling you. Take notes.

2. Keep the client in the loop.

Update your client regularly. Send your initial work or draft to make sure that you are starting it right. Inform him/her of the project status from time to time.

By this, it also means you must not go AWOL like the client does not know what happened to you or to the project. Always reach out and inform the client what's going on.

3. Ask for feedback or comments.

Feedback does not have to wait when the project is done. Ask your client while you are still working on it. That way, if something was not right, you can immediately make an adjustment.

Whether you have a good command of the English language or not, the key is communication. Communication is not about wide vocabulary, jargons, and complicated sentences and expressions. It is how you interact with your client, which shows your work ethics.