In the Past Couple of months, we have introduced some very talented and hardworking Freelancers. Continuing our Featured Freelancer service, Today we bring you a 65 years old retired lady who helped her family in the Financial Crisis. Her husband was having multiple myeloma and there was no other financial support. She started freelancing to support her family and become a symbol of inspiration to all of us. Today We respectfully announce our most talented and highly experienced Content Developer Mrs Smita Sardesai as the featured freelancer for March 2018. Let’s See what she thing about her Freelance Career.

Tell us about yourself!

Hi, I am Smt. Smita Sardesai. I am a retired Bank Officer, armed with a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Chemistry, Physics and Botany. I am also C.A.I.I.B (Certificate of Accountancy in Indian Institute of Bankers) certified. After working as a Maths and Science teacher in Higher Secondary Education, I joined RBI (Reserve Bank of India) Bombay. After working for 28 years, I took voluntary retirement to pursue my hobbies – reading books, writing intriguing content along with Ayurved and Yoga. I have now settled in my hometown Nashik.

What is your Motto in Life?

I always believe that hard work has no alternatives and if you do your work honestly, people will always help you move ahead. And that’s what I always try to do.

Why & when did you start freelancing?

I started freelancing in August 20, 2017 because I was in need of money, when my husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma which is a type of cancer affecting plasma cells. Although I was getting medical insurance from the bank, it was not sufficient for the entire treatment. My son who is already a freelancer on Truelancer found a Hindi translation project and asked me If I was interested. I found the idea interesting, because I already liked writing and translating. So I went ahead, registered myself, and applied to that job on Truelancer. To my surprise, I was selected for that job and my freelancing career began!

What do you like about being a freelancer?

Now I am almost a housewife after retirement. At this age and in this situation, I am not able to take on any 9 to 5 jobs. But I like being busy. Moreover, there’s the issue of handling finances. So being a freelancer is a boon to ladies like me who can perform their household obligations wile enjoying their hobbies with proper time management. Being a freelancer, I have the liberty to choose my job, do it in my own way within my own time and above all, get compensation for doing it!

What are the challenges you have found in your freelancing career?

What good is a job without any challenge?! So, yes! There are many challenges in this career, should one decide to take it on. For example, adhering to the time schedule. On one occasion I had to stay awake overnight to provide content on an urgent basis to one of the clients. But I was overjoyed when the client appreciated the work on the next day. As another example, I had to learn new techniques like SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) in content, Google worksheets, Skype etc. Being from the previous generation (the ‘70s) this IT related stuff is obviously very hard for me to incorporate. But I enjoyed learning these things and they helped me get even more work.

As Leonardo Da Vinci says,

“Learning never exhausts the mind.”

What, according to you, does it take to be a successful freelancer?

I always rely on hard work, because there is no shortcut to success. According to me, a freelancer is like an entrepreneur. The freelancer should take the responsibilities of:

• Quality in work;
• Submission deadlines;
• Clear and transparent communication;
• Adaptability to new skills and upgrading the current skillset;
  • There is tremendous competition in freelancing. So sticking to only one skillset is not a very good idea. The freelancer should carefully observe the client’s demands in various projects and accommodate the necessary skills in the relevant field to stay ahead of the competition.
• Having a strong portfolio;

How did you get to know about Truelancer?

My son has his own startup in game development, and he is already a member of many freelancing communities. While searching for projects in game development, 3d modelling for games and related outsourcing activities, he came across some translation related work on Truelancer. He knew that I liked literature and literary activities like teaching, reading, writing and translation. So he approached me and asked if I was interested in possible freelance opportunities on this platform. That’s how I came to know about Truelancer.

What do you think about working on Truelancer?

Working on Truelancer is a great experience. The Truelancer team is systematic, friendly, helpful. My son reports that it is way better than other platforms like Upwork, which is artificial and does not care about their freelancer pool at all. Truelancer provides immediate results of work and a freelancer you are appreciated as a part of the collective workforce. The payment process is very easy and job satisfaction is exemplary. I do not even have to look at any other freelancing platforms or contract placement services because Truelancer has made life so much easier.

 

How Truelancer Help you to fight your Financial Crises?

Truelancer, a true guide, friend, and a human.

In June 2017 I was shocked when I was told that my husband is having multiple myeloma. We both are pensioner and my son’s new company was still to be established. I was very much confused and depressed. How to manage finance, emotions, and how to give support to him. When I was surfing the net for his medical report, I just saw the truelancer’s site. I was interested in my son’s 3D projects to be sold on online platform, so I asked him to register. While looking for his projects I came across Hindi content writing. I was interested in Hindi writing, when I was working in bank. So I just registered and put my bid. And to my surprise I was selected. As I was very much depressed and had to attend him in hospitals for treatment of chemotherapy, I thought, this is the way I can divert my mind from the apathy.

Everything was new to me. I was guided right from using workstream to final payment. That was my first earning with my hobby i.e. writing. which I came to know just because of truelancer and the support team.

Those boys, especially Amit Maheshwari helped me too much. I was getting work of translation and content writing. At every step they were with me. Sometimes I got false invitations, a spam. Immediately they cautioned me. And I was escaped from the blunder.  As I had to do so many jobs at a time, I got so helpful and reasonable client that they did not harass me. This site has cultured and reasonable clients and employee. Moreover, this is a website where we feel free like our home.  

I just want to thank to truelancer for helping and safeguarding me in my crucial time just like good Samaritan.

THANK YOU.   

What do you like doing when you are not “freelancing”?

Nothing! I enjoy being freelancer even more than working in the bank.

Well, Smita Seems to be determined and never stopping symbol of inspiration to all of us. We hope she will always work like this and inspire a million of people to do something by removing some useless barriers of this stereotype world. Thanks Smita for choosing Truelancer as your career option.