{"id":1555,"date":"2013-08-26T17:07:41","date_gmt":"2013-08-26T22:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thegradstudentway.com\/blog\/?p=1555"},"modified":"2013-11-14T21:41:26","modified_gmt":"2013-11-15T02:41:26","slug":"going-freelance-gradschool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thegradstudentway.com\/blog\/going-freelance-gradschool\/","title":{"rendered":"Going Freelance Out of Graduate School"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite what one may think, there are many different alternative PhD Careers that are available out of graduate school. The goal here is to make you aware of what is out there and encourage you to follow your passion, whatever it may be (it could\u00a0capitalize on a\u00a0newly found skill, or something that you have had all along).<\/p>\n

Also, keep in mind that some may have financial pressures\/incentives that ‘dictate’ or influence\u00a0your choice of career out of graduate school,\u00a0but I hope that these personal stories at least\u00a0open your eyes to all possibilities<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0And with that, I will introduce you to someone who has found their passion out of graduate school and continues to pursue this further.<\/p>\n

The Story: A Scientific Visual Communicator<\/h3>\n

I finished my PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology program at UW Madison two months ago in June of 2013.\u00a0 Now I am using my graduate degree to develop informative diagrams for scientists as a freelance scientific visual communicator<\/a>.\u00a0 I help clients disseminate their complex ideas as well-organized figures.\u00a0 Although I use graphic art tools to build these images, I think of them as efficient communication rather than pieces of art.<\/p>\n

I chose this field because it requires my strongest skill.<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I am a good bench scientist, but I am exceptional at translating scientific ideas into visual images.\u00a0 I have a broad and deep biology background, strong graphic software experience, knowledge of publication standards, and inquisitive people skills.\u00a0 Together, I can extract complex information from scientists and formulate a journal-ready image much quicker than a typical researcher.\u00a0 I hope that these skills constitute a rare and valuable skill combination that I can use to help people and be financially successful.<\/p>\n

Many scientists need my help<\/h3>\n

Scientists spend long and frustrating hours formatting images or trying to put together model-diagrams.\u00a0 I can save them tremendous amounts of time and make an impressive image that will help readers understand their presentation, article, or grant application.\u00a0 It is extraordinarily satisfying for me to save hours of someone\u2019s time with just a few minutes of my own<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When reading scientific papers or watching presentations, I often see a need for my type of work.\u00a0 Some well-meaning researchers choose the wrong type of graph for their data or fail to label the graph well enough for readers to understand it.\u00a0 Many gels\/blots lack labels and require the reader to interpret the caption and re-draw the labels in order to make sense of the 12+ lanes.\u00a0 Often I read complex genetic models in discussion sections that are difficult to understand from the text alone and would have greatly benefited from a diagram.\u00a0 Many researchers don\u2019t know what adjustments they can safely make to their photomicrographs that won\u2019t change the meaning of the image but will make it easier for readers to see their data.\u00a0 I can solve these problems quickly and efficiently.\u00a0 I also enjoy teaching people so that they can take these skills forward to future projects.<\/p>\n

I am a freelancer<\/h3>\n

I wanted to be a scientific visual communicator after graduation, so I created a job for myself as a freelancer.\u00a0 During graduate school I didn\u2019t have enough time to maximally advertise myself or build a large portfolio of clients.\u00a0 However, I had done a small number of projects during graduate school and was hopeful that I would have a small number of repeat clients once I started business on my own.<\/p>\n

Freelance work is not for everyone<\/h3>\n

To start a freelance business right out of graduate school means not getting paid often and no employee-benefits.\u00a0 I would not recommend this trajectory to anyone that doesn\u2019t have a cushioned nest egg saved up and the capacity to obtain reasonable individual health insurance.\u00a0 As an alternative, one could wait for a vacancy at a university or a biotech company.<\/p>\n

A major benefit of being freelance is that I could start right away, and I have immense freedom in work load and schedule.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have a packed schedule every day, so I have had time to catch up mundane things that were suspended during the intensity of finishing my thesis.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an adventure starting a business because of the high risk of failure.\u00a0 I have tried to enjoy the journey by keeping in mind that I am prepared for its possible failure.\u00a0 Madison is key to my freelance plan.\u00a0 I was a researcher at the UW for eight years and I know a lot of scientists here.\u00a0 My freelance aspirations rely on leveraging these contacts and networks.<\/p>\n

I prepared for my new business<\/h3>\n

Some of my friends have compared starting my own business to leaping off a cliff.\u00a0 I have done my best to make it more like a ball pit so that I will not be ruined if I fail to attract sufficient customers.<\/p>\n

Financial cushion<\/h3>\n

In order to popularize my services, I am charging very little right now.\u00a0 As a result, I am not making enough income to support myself and am living off of savings.\u00a0 I hope to increase my rates and number of customers as my name grows.<\/p>\n

Health insurance<\/h3>\n

When I first got the idea of becoming a freelance scientific visual communicator, I wasn\u2019t sure if I could get individual health insurance at a reasonable price.\u00a0 I worried that health insurance would be the \u2018deal breaker\u2019 for being self-employed.\u00a0 As a graduate student, I had excellent health care through the university with Dean Heath.\u00a0 I heard from a friend that the same company had good rates for individuals too.\u00a0 I used the Dean Health website to get a quick quote<\/a>.\u00a0 Thankfully, the price was not prohibitive for me, and I was accepted into the quoted plan.\u00a0 One reason this plan is affordable is the caveat that it does not cover pregnancy for women.\u00a0 I think my plan will have to start covering child birth in 2014 during the final implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).\u00a0 I suspect that my rates might change to reflect this increase in coverage.<\/p>\n

Advertising my services is important to finding clients:<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friends and Contacts<\/h3>\n

The number-one way that I have been finding clients is through word of mouth recommendations.\u00a0 I have tried to increase my network by participating in new events that allow me to meet new people and tell them what I do for a living.\u00a0 I have chosen a non-conventional career, so clients need to be told that services like mine exist and are affordable.\u00a0 Having friends tell their friends about me and meeting new people face-to-face has absolutely been my most successful advertising strategy.<\/p>\n

Introductory Prices\"\"<\/h3>\n

I have been offering very low quotes in order to increase my client list as much as possible.\u00a0 My informal researched showed that clients would like to be charged a set price for a project; thus whenever possible I try to provide a set quote for a job.\u00a0 II read some online resources to find that some experienced web developers and graphic designers charge $40 an hour for their services.\u00a0 For now, I am using the calculation of $20 an hour to make my quotes.\u00a0 I have also been offering some free bonuses (like an extra diagram) to endear myself to my clients.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if this strategy is really helping me because so far my clients have not been very concerned with the price.\u00a0 One customer even insisted on giving me more than my quoted amount.<\/p>\n

Taking all jobs<\/h3>\n

I have been accepting every job that crosses my desk, regardless of whether it\u2019s science related.\u00a0 I have been doing travel photo retouching for a brother of a friend and making websites for my uncle\u2019s asphalt business<\/a>.\u00a0 At this point, any money is good money, and expanding my portfolio seems like a good idea.<\/p>\n

Getting new clients<\/h3>\n

I have posted free graphic tools on my website<\/a> in the hope that people would share the link and consequently spread the word that I exist and can help scientists.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I have successfully obtained any paying jobs through this route yet, but my friends have thanked me for providing the illustrator brushes.<\/p>\n

The next step for me in my business is going to be more aggressive client acquisition.\u00a0 I am currently weighing the relative value of the following ideas:<\/p>\n