6 ways in which you can call yourself as a freelancer

One outstanding ethical practice in freelancing is to use the right title for what you do. For example, if are a doctor, let the world know you as one and not something else. However, often times you’d want to be referred to in relevance of the work you are engage for at a particular time. In other words, you cannot always be referred to as a freelancer even when it is not fitting. For example, there have been times when I had to call myself a consultant because I had been hired by a company to work as one of their team members.

In this post I will give you six different ways of how you can refer yourself to as you work with different clients, and why you’d want to use that title. Basically, the titles will set the tone to potential employers, and that is what I explain in the next section.

NOTE: Next to each title I put a percentage of how freelancers prefer to call themselves. This is from a study conducted by ‘Freelance Business’ in 2022. It is true that the position may have changed but it would not be very different from what it used to be.

1. Freelancer (32.5%). This sends the message of flexibility, full control and self-sufficiency. It is well suited for a worker who offers general services. Not much of skill goes into what you do but more of natural advantages. This title stands out as the most popular in the industry.
2. Consultant (24.4%). This style gives you a higher level position with the notion of expertise of solving business problems and help clients towards reaching their goals. You attract high profile clients who are ready to pay at a relatively high rate.
3. Independent professional (16.6%). Independent professionals have a high degree of autonomy and flexibility. They can choose when, where, and how they work. The message is that you are self-satisfied to live within your means while pursuing your passion.
4. Self-employed (13.8%). This suits jobs where you observe standard working hours, responsible for everything that makes your business function and have the autonomy to close or down scale your operation.
5. Solopreneur (5.3%). Similar to self-employment, this stands out as working alone, when you are not available, everything stops. You are responsible for managing, organizing, and taking on the risks of the business. In this style you perform the work yourself without any help.
6. Contractor (3.7%). This has the connotation of time limits and the ability to work under extreme pressure. Often this has to do with manual work. You are perceived as the one overseeing the project or work in its entirety.

It is permissible for you to take any of the positions based on the work you are targeting. The term you use to describe yourself can affect who hires you, shield you from abuse or expose you, and it can also determine the legal steps you need to take to work in your state.

You may want to assess your capabilities and then decide on how you want to pitch to your clients. Remember to remain truthful by all means possible. Never fake your capabilities because often time it catches up with you.