Mandy Jenkins provides advice for freelancers on exiting a full-time job well and preparing for freelance work. She recommends (1) keeping clear notes on meetings, teams, and priorities, (2) providing thorough handovers to the next manager with dossiers on each employee, and (3) being open about departing to get help finding new work. Jenkins also suggests freelancers build an online presence, determine an appropriate rate, ask former colleagues for advice and referrals, get agreements in writing, and maintain a support network.

1. Oh no!
I’m a freelancer now
Real Talk and “real talk”
Mandy Jenkins (@mjenkins)

2. A bit about me….
My professional background:
● Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel
● Cincinnati Enquirer
● TBD
● Huffington Post Politics
● Digital First Media -
Project Thunderdome
● Storyful
● John S. Knight Fellowship
● McClatchy - The Compass Experiment
○ Mahoning Matters
○ The Longmont Leader
● Factal (current)

3. Well, now what?
Have a framework for making a good
exit and planning what comes next.

4. Trust me: You want to exit well

5. Keep clear, shareable notes and records always
I use Apple Notes/GDocs, but you can use any application. I have notes for:
● Each standing meeting
● One for each direct report or team
● My to-do lists (work, personal)
● Short, medium and long-term priorities
● Things I often forget

6. Give thorough and thoughtful handovers*
● Get your team set up for the next steps on an individual basis
○ Reiterate their skills and goals
○ If possible, prepare a dossier for the next manager on each person, what they
do, what they need help on, their future plans
● Good to just have one of these plans written, just in case
● As leaders, you hopefully will have enough advance info to at least get the sense
you may want to have an exit plan ready
*If you get the opportunity

7. As you are departing… be open
Be as open as you can about your departure to get help with finding the next
thing
1. Reach out to trusted friends and allies
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for their help - referrals, introductions,
references
3. Note on social media, etc. you’re looking for projects/freelance
work/collaborators (if you are)
If nobody knows you’ve been laid off, they won’t be able to hire you (or
recommend you to someone else)

8. Finding a new job - or a job between jobs
● What are your unique strengths as a leader?
● Are you an exceptional writer or editor?
● Researcher?
● People manager?
● Process or project manager?
● There are jobs that still need these skills,
and some that are only temporary or on a
contract basis

9. What can I do now?
● Leading set-term editorial projects (new newsletter, section, redesign, etc.)
● Leading set-term organizational projects (new tools, processes, projects)
● Compiling research for new products or markets
● Fill-in editing at a newsroom
● Freelance editing
● Leading workshops based on your skill set
● Take classes to add new skills or bulk up rusty ones
Then you have to tell people about it!

10. Build/revamp your “home base” online
Having a website or blog or a
tricked-out LinkedIn is helpful for
your SEO, but also to showcase
you and your past work.
Make sure it has a way to contact
you*
*(I suggest a form!)

11. Do you have what you need?
● A personal email address for a grown-up
● WFH equipment (computer, printer, etc.)
● A place to work (desk, kitchen table, couch)
● Reliable internet
● Reliable cell phone
● Online tools:
○ Work software (MS Office, Google, etc.)
○ Grammarly or other “backup” editor
○ Password manager
● Office space (if needed)

12. Finding potential “gigs”
Reach out to your network, tell them the
work you would like to do or what you can
add to their projects.

13. Advertise yourself
Update your LinkedIn and other social
presences to reflect you’re contracting and
what sort of work you can do.

14. What’s your rate?
[Desired annual salary / Time period (Hours/days/weeks/project)]
+ Work expenses
=
Your rate (should be your minimum!)
Your rate could be by the hour, by
the project, flat rate or time based

15. Ask for advice and referrals
Reach out to freelancers and project
leads you know for their advice and
experience.
Ask them to refer projects if they can
(and vice-versa).

16. ...and return the favor
* When someone I know
tweets/FBs/emails they are looking
for a job, I add them to my list to
keep an eye on jobs for. I’m not alone
in this.

17. Get it in writing!
1. An agreed-upon project description
2. Expected deliverables
3. Expected communications
4. Time frame with deadlines

18. Lean into your “fan club”
● “Independent” doesn’t mean alone
● Tap into your network and ask for help
● Schedule regular catch-ups with fellow pros
● Have people you can vent to (not your
partner/kids/friends!)

19. Keys to success
Set work hours for every day
and week (and stick to them)
Use a scheduler program like
Calendly (or others) to have a
link to give to potential clients
and contacts to schedule
meetings with you

20. Be strict with your time

21. Remember This:
We didn’t get this far into our
careers or newsrooms without
learning a few things, and it turns
out a lot of people need those skills,
both in media and in business.

22. QUESTIONS?

23. Mandy Jenkins
mandyjenkins@gmail.com
@mjenkins
More resources and such at:
zombiejournalism.com