After a couple of tough years, the job market still feels like a game of musical chairs. Budgets are tight, big layoffs keep making headlines, and the pressure to “do more with less” is real, especially with AI in the mix. For many, freelancing or contract work has become the fallback plan. It keeps the lights on, but it’s not exactly a straight path to job security.
If you’ve been stringing together short-term gigs and wondering when the “career” part of your career kicks in, you’re not alone. The good news is you don’t have to wait for someone to hand you a full-time offer. You can use every freelance role (even the more informal ones) to build momentum.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to turn temporary work into long-term growth. Think of it as career recycling: nothing goes to waste if you know how to use it.
Understand the value of freelance work
Before anything else, you’ve got to shift how you see freelance work. It’s easy to think of it as temporary, or as an in-between step — what you do while you wait for “real” work to show up. But that mindset sells your experience short! If you treat freelancing like a side gig, others will too.
The truth of the matter is freelance work is your career right now, and you’re building it one project and one contract at a time. Every client, deadline, and deliverable is proof that you can handle real responsibility. Freelancers juggle a lot. You manage expectations, run your own schedule, troubleshoot without a built-in team, and often wear four hats…all before lunch. That kind of adaptability, ownership, and problem solving are traits that employers love, even if they don’t always list them in job postings.
Start thinking of each contract as a case study. What was the challenge? What did you do? What happened because of it? Keep track of all your results, even the small wins. These stories will come in handy when you’re updating your resume or prepping for interviews.
Next, we’ll walk through five practical ways to turn that mindset into long-term career growth.
Tip 1: Build a cohesive career narrative
One of the biggest hurdles freelancers face is how to make all those short-term gigs look like a long-term plan. It can definitely start to feel like your resume is a patchwork quilt while everyone else is walking around in tailored suits.
Here’s the trick: stop listing jobs, and start telling a story.
Group similar projects together under one headline, like “Freelance Marketing Consultant” or “Contract Software Engineer.” Underneath, focus on what you delivered. Did you increase engagement by 30%? Launch a feature in record time? Lead a cross-functional team without a manager breathing down your neck? That’s what recruiters want to see.
Skip any fluff and filler words, and don’t bury your wins in a sea of bullet points. Start with the outcome, then explain how you got there.
On LinkedIn, make your headline and summary work for you. Say what you do, not what you’ve done. That shift in tone shows direction, not drift.
Remember: you’re not just cobbling together gigs, you’re building a career one project, one result, and one story at a time.
Tip 2: Leverage relationships for visibility and referrals
Don’t take your networking for granted — freelancing means you're always meeting new people: clients, collaborators, vendors, that one project manager who lives in spreadsheets. Don’t let those connections fade!
Most full-time jobs don’t get posted, they get passed along. That’s why staying in touch with past clients matters. If you wrapped up a project on a good note, check in a few months later. A quick “How’s the team doing?” goes further than a cold application ever will.
After a strong project, ask for a testimonial or LinkedIn recommendation while the work is fresh. Don’t wait until you’re desperately looking for your next job. By then, everyone’s memory is foggy.
And don’t freelance in a vacuum. Join Slack groups, attend virtual mixers, or show up in LinkedIn comment threads. The more you show up, the more visible you are to people hiring behind the scenes.
Here’s the mindset shift: every freelance project is a job interview you’ve already passed. The client picked you once and they might do it again (or they might know someone who will).
Tip 3: Identify companies that convert contractors to employees
Many companies (especially in today’s market) see freelance roles as a warm-up. It’s cheaper and faster than running a full hiring process; and if the fit is right, they’ll keep you around.
So how do you find those companies? Start by reading job posts closely. Phrases like “contract-to-hire,” “long-term potential,” or “opportunity for extension” are big green flags. Even if it’s not spelled out, trust your gut. If a role looks meaty and involves working closely with internal teams, there’s a good chance they’re testing for fit.
You can also reverse-engineer it. Hop on LinkedIn and search for people in full-time roles at companies you’re targeting. Scroll back in their work history and see if maybe they started as contractors. That’s a great sign the company hires from within its freelance pool.
Ask around! Other freelancers are often the best source of intel on which companies treat contractors well and which ones treat them like disposable help.
To go from freelancer to full-time, aim for the places that already see freelancers as future team members. Otherwise, you’ll spend all your energy trying to prove yourself to a company that never planned to invest in you.
Tip 4: Upskill with purpose
When budgets are tight and job posts get flooded in minutes, one of the best ways to stand out is to sharpen your skills strategically.
Freelance work often keeps you in execution mode. You’re heads-down, getting things done. But full-time roles usually ask for a little more: cross-functional work, leadership, big-picture thinking, or experience with tools you didn’t get to use on short-term gigs.
That’s where upskilling comes in.
Start by identifying the gap between what you do and what your ideal full-time role requires. Maybe it's experience with AI tools, stakeholder management, or presenting to executives without breaking a sweat. Then pick one or two skills to build — no need to completely overhaul your life. A course, certification, or even a side project can do the trick.
Stick to platforms that carry weight in your industry or freelance niche. Bonus points if you can demonstrate your work (think portfolio pieces or a short write-up on LinkedIn).
The goal isn’t to chase every shiny new skill. It’s to make sure your next employer doesn’t have to squint to see how you fit.
Tip 5: Know when and how to pitch yourself for full-time
At some point, you’ll feel that moment when a freelance gig starts to feel more like a job than a project. It might look like getting looped into team meetings, solving problems outside the original scope, or becoming the go-to person for something critical. That’s your sign: the door might be open.
But don’t kick it down. Timing and tone matter.
Pick a moment when things are going well, maybe after a successful launch, a strong review, or positive feedback. Then start the conversation with curiosity, not pressure. Try something like:
“I’ve really enjoyed working with the team on [project name]. I’d love to explore ways I can keep contributing — possibly in a more permanent role. Is that something worth discussing?”
This keeps chats open, respectful, and focused on your value, not just your need for a steady paycheck. You’re not asking for a favor, but rather you’re offering long-term impact. If the company’s already seen what you can do, pitching yourself full-time is a logical next step.
Final thoughts: your career is a long game
Freelancing can feel like you’re building your career with duct tape and hope. But it doesn’t have to. When you approach it with intention, every contract becomes a stepping stone, not a detour.
By shifting your mindset, building strong relationships, showcasing your impact, upskilling with purpose, and knowing when to make your move, you give yourself a serious edge in a tough market.
You’re not just filling gaps, you’re writing your own career story, one project at a time.
Looking for your next opportunity? Check out PowerToFly’s virtual job fairs and networking events. You never know who’s hiring — or who’s watching.
