Interview for Malt Spain

The interview was conducted by Cayetano Fernández // Communication and Social Media at Malt.

The Interview

A few weeks ago, Malt contacted me for an interview. They wanted me to share my experience as a freelancer and the state of the market amidst the pandemic.

So, I started answering their questions from my base in Cyprus and finished while I was at my base in Madrid. 😊

I believe the interview turned out to be a quick read that clearly explains the realities of the freelance world in iOS. I hope it helps many freelancers overcome their fears and take the leap into this new way of working.

I would like to thank Cayetano Fernández for the interview he conducted.

Why did you decide to become a freelance iOS developer?

Becoming a freelancer was a coincidence, but I discovered that once you reach a certain level as a developer, freelancing is one of the best paths. I can't see myself spending 20 years in the same company doing the same things. This path gives me the freedom to learn and face new challenges, which is fantastic.

I wanted to travel the world and improve my English. The only opportunity to work remotely at the company I was in was by being a freelancer, so I took the plunge.

As a freelancer, my income has tripled, and so has my freedom. I have the advantage of working on projects that I enjoy and from wherever I want. Right now, I'm in Cyprus, and if it weren't for COVID, I would be working from Japan, changing countries every five months.

Honestly, I wouldn't go back to being an employee, neither in the short term nor in the long term.

What would you say to large companies that still don't work with freelancers? What can freelancing offer them?

Currently, talent is hard to retain, and thanks to the freelance market, companies can access high-level professionals with less risk and cost than having them on the payroll.

In the end, freelance consultants are their own brand. We need to stay at the forefront of technology and offer good service to keep working. So, it's much easier to find updated and high-level profiles in this market.

Like me, freelance professionals have generally worked on many different projects, so we can bring a fresh perspective to the project with a fresh mind. In addition to updated knowledge of the latest technologies, we are accustomed to working on all types of apps and companies, from startups to large corporations.

Any final thoughts?

To the Malt community, I would say that with the current COVID situation, it sometimes feels like the world is falling apart, and it's normal to be afraid of the crisis. But as software developers, there is a lot of work out there. I currently either turn down projects or recommend them to friends within the platform.

Since I started seriously with Malt, I have never been short of work, from Monday to Sunday. This August, I have billed more than I ever have in my life, which would have been impossible as an employee unless I worked for a large American company. Now I have financial freedom and no fear of running out of projects. There is always work, and something new always comes up.

Moreover, COVID has changed the world. Many companies are opting for freelance experts. In fact, a client recently told me: “With COVID, I have to have everyone working remotely, so rather than hiring a programmer based on proximity, I hire based on talent and remotely, which is why I prefer a freelancer like you.” This is the case with all the freelancers I know—they are all swamped with work.

Don't be afraid and go for it!

Here is the interview with all the details.