On Declining Work

Today I declined work, but I didn't decline a client.

This is a key difference that many people forget, but we'll get into that later.

First:

I declined work.

As a freelancer, part of your education will be learning when to say No and why you're saying no. One of the causes of stress for anyone in any working environment is taking on more than one can chew: more work, more responsibility, new work, and doing things that just aren't in your particular sphere. Now, while I heartily encourage learning new skills, you also have to be able to say: You know what? There is someone out there who is far better qualified than I to do what you ask and I think it would be in both our best interests to pursue that line. Or something along that tangent.

In my case, I was asked if I could manage social media. I can't. I'm really bad at it actually; I get bored easily, I wander away, I never know what to say and I forget to retweet. I don't even have a Google+ account for pity's sake. (beyond the default one I have just for being on Google, but I've never actually signed into it). Social media is just not a realm I'm interested in, let alone capable of handling. Does this mean that I should try anyway? I did, about a year ago. While the client never dropped me (he was a longstanding client) I know that I just didn't do a good job and as a result, that part of my duties faded out. With a new client, such as the one who asked today, I outright said no. I didn't want to lose the client to my pathetic social media skills and besides, he said himself that he had about three truckloads of writing work for me anyway and that IS in my sphere.

Now to the differentiation that this entails.

I declined the work. I didn't decline the client.

Many new freelancers think that if they say 'no' to a particular job from a client, the client will drop them like a hot potato. I know I used to think that which lead to uncomfortable work! However, this is just not the case. If a client asks you if you can do something and you can't, just say no. Politely of course. Explain why that job isn't in your realm of skills and how they would be better off asking someone else. Offer to help them find that someone else! (In my case, I suggested another client of mine on the same bidding site so hopefully the bidding site won't kick up a fuss XD) This all makes you look professional, humble, intelligent, and honest and if the client is worth his salt, he'll just put you back on what you were doing, recognizing that the original work was where you shone and where you are best put to use. It's not like he's going to go: Well, you won't do XY and Z? WELL SCREW YOU BUDDY, YOU'RE NOT DOING AB and C ANYMORE EITHER! {insert evil laugh here} (Unless he's a real jerk, in which case, trust me: good riddance)

So, if you get asked about a job and you really don't think you can do it very well, cut it to the bud. Thank the client for thinking about you, but explain that you're just not comfortable with that sort of work and that you'd both be better off with the work you were already doing. At the end of the day, you will actually get more respect for it.