How freelancing will help you survive the zombie apocalypse

Learning the ropes as a new freelancer and battling the undead have a lot in common. Freelancing is a great option for anyone interested in a Communications-based career like journalism, creative writing, marketing, or social media. It provides you with a chance to beef up your resume, gain relevant skills and find your niche, all while making an income! Not only that, but when the zombies arrive, you’ll have all the experience you’ll need to survive and thrive the post-apocalyptic world.

Here’s how freelancing will help you survive the zombie apocalypse.

Organised and motivated

As a freelancer, your calendar will be your new best friend. First step is to set yourself a plan of action with achievable goals, then plan, plan, and plan some more to make sure you stay ahead of your deadlines.

In the same way you’ll need to become intimately familiar with an emergency pack when the zombies arrive (we’re talking water, non-perishable food, first aid kit), make sure you’re armed with all you need to make it in the freelance world before you quit your day job.

Put yourself out there

No opportunity is just going to fall from the sky—you’ll need to work, and work hard, to build a network and your personal brand. You’ll want to build some type of portfolio on social media, depending on your expertise this could be LinkedIn, Twitter, a personal website, or Instagram to name a few. Surround yourself with local mentors and fellow freelancers—not only will they help build your career, they’ll be good to have on hand to rebuild society after the zombie invasion! There’s nothing worse than battling the undead all alone, so you’ll want to stick together. Plus, how good are you at healing wounds, growing crops, and creating buildings? Networks are necessary.

Think about what everyone else will do – and do the opposite

Before you dive in, do your research! You have a unique skill set just by virtue of being you, so make sure you show it off. Think about your talents and your passions, and follow them up by finding your niche. Going against the grain can feel weird, but it’ll come in handy when chaos descends during the apocalypse; while everyone else is heading to the highway or Costco and jamming up traffic, you’ll be away from the danger biding your time. This is a waiting game folks.

 Be adaptable and stay mobile!

Learning on the go is the best thing a freelancer can do for their career. Take advice from your mentors, steal tricks from your competition, and constantly reflect on what, why, and how you’re working. Once the zombies attack, you’ll have to be just as adaptable: become a super scavenger, a martial arts legend and learn how to navigate by the stars—you will survive us all! Start small but play the long game. If you keep at it (whether it’s freelancing or zombie-hunting) you’ll just get bigger and better.

Embrace the side hustle

There’s no denying it: having no steady income is definitely the worst part of being a freelancer. Between the struggles of pricing yourself and your work, navigating invoices, and working with clients who are slow to pay, your bank account could get low at times. Never fear! Embracing the art of the side hustle will be your saving grace to make money outside the usual 9 to 5, or even help you survive in the future. Uber today, and prepare yourself to become a stellar mushroom forager post-apocalypse.

Ultimately, if you love what you do, keep doing it! Your drive will be your most valuable asset. And if all else fails, you’ll be surrounded by a network of supportive people who want to see you succeed, and will hopefully help you fight off a zombie or two.

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash