Three things I've learnt in the two months since I left my job to go freelance

Two months ago, I worked my last day as digital editor of Times Higher Education. It was a good job, working alongside some of the most talented journalists I have ever met. I had applied to work there several times (finally landing a reporter job at the third time of asking), and I had thoroughly enjoyed my five years on the title. So why quit?

There are several reasons. Chief among them was a desire to spend more time at home with my two-year-old. I did discuss cutting down my hours while staying with THE, but ultimately it seemed that the only way to secure genuine flexibility was to take the plunge and become a freelancer. So that's what I did.

I am lucky. Journalism is inherently freelance-able. In fact, according to the Labour Force Survey by the Office for National Statistics, there were 34,000 freelance journalists in the UK in 2016 compared to 18,000 a year earlier. It's a booming sector (although slightly depressingly, according to a survey by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the average salary for a freelance journo is ￡20,000).

If you are considering jumping ship and setting up on your own, there are a few things I would recommend that you bear in mind. My experience is still limited, of course, but here's what's worked well for me so far.

Get as much experience from your current role as possible

You are going to need a strong CV. In the journalism world, you are one of 34,000 people all chasing work - and other sectors will be highly competitive too. The ONS says there are about 4 to 5 million freelancers in the UK all told.

I was fortunate in previous jobs to be given the opportunity to write regular news and features, launch a series of podcasts, chair conference sessions, develop SEO-optimised content, and even produce video interviews with celebrities.

Clearly not all jobs will have this flexibility, but having as many things on your CV as possible will serve you well - so make the most of what's available to you. Put your hand up if someone says they need help on a new project.

Embrace variety

My specialism is undoubtedly education journalism, and this has served me well. Most of the work I have had since I went freelance has had some relation to education, including analysis articles for the TES, news reports from conferences in Birmingham, Liverpool and Brighton for SecEd, and even an analysis of health education in Wales for the British Journal of School Nursing (yet to be published). I'm also now a columnist for HE at Research Fortnight.

However, I have also been shifting on a magazine targeted at independent retailers and writing press releases. It is refreshing to be able to pitch articles not only about higher education, but across the spectrum of education, while also getting experience other sectors. As a freelancer you have to find work where it is available, so in these early months I've been saying yes to a lot of things, both within and outside of my comfort zone. It's the only way to find out what works.

Don't burn any bridges, and be nice to people

Fortunately, I haven't had any reason to fall out with any of my previous employers. No job is perfect, but I feel I have been pretty lucky in working in places where I felt valued and was able to gain lots of experience (see point one). But I would say that, however tempting it may be to settle scores and grudges as you leave a job, if you think your current or former employers might send work your way, then keep them on side.

I have been commissioned to do several projects for Times Higher Education. I used to be chief reporter at SecEd, and now write regularly there. I know the news editor and the HE editor at Research Fortnight, and when I ran into the latter at a conference, it resulted in the aforementioned column.

In all industries, contacts are important. But as a freelancer, you find out quickly who can help you get work - and it might not always be the people who you thought it would be. So don't burn bridges.

Pretty obvious stuff really. But so far I have enjoyed the experience of working for myself. I've no doubt that there will be challenges, but at the moment, things are going just fine.

Oh - and let me know if you need a freelance journalist - details on my site.