In this series of blog posts at Chinwag Jobs, we present Secret Diary of a Freelancer, brought to you as part of Xchangeteam’s Freelancer of the Year 2008 awards.

Welcome to my secret diary. It’s secret because I want to be candid and give you the inside track on what my life is like as a freelance gun for hire. It’s warts an’ all but hopefully inspiring in the main, highlighting the highs and the lows of my profession. We freelancers are the future: hear it here first.

Party on

Our digital marketing freelancer thinks Xmas parties are great networking opportunities. Not the office kind, but the client entertainment kind. But be warned – keep the booze intake to a minimum and never be so daft as to think you’re there to enjoy yourself!

Think back: as an office slave, the Office Christmas Party was an outlet for all that pent-up office sexuality – and in my case, an outlet for my inner Olivia Newton- John. Play that funky music white boy and I was off… not dancing on tables, but first and last off the dance floor. It was a lot of fun!

But that was then. And this is now.

I still get invites to other people’s office parties – if working onsite, say – and I sometimes go… it’s an odd experience. In the freelance demi-monde when one works for a company and sits in their office every day, and yet remains apart – ‘not one of them’ – it’s strange being in such a context these days. For which read, office tribalism a go go!

Any-how – my main point is that I and all you other digital freelancers out there just see these events differently now. The main focus for the party season for me and you has to be client entertainment. In that category I’d place the ones you may host for your clients, the ones your clients hosts for their clients, and finally the ones your suppliers may host for you. These various parties all equate to one thing – networking opportunities. Here there is lots of opportunity to make new business contacts, cement existing relationships and to talk shop.

And by the same token screw up the ones you already have. Networking opportunity may turn into networking disaster if you get swept away by that lovely free booze. This doesn’t have to be as extreme as you wearing your skirt on your head… but you may not be particularly funny or clever or even very charming after that one drink too many.

What you don’t want is leaving the client – or indeed anyone you have a solid business relationship with – any enduring image that’s anything less than positive and pleasant. So be warned.

Not in the same league as the gossip fall out from indiscrete goings on at the office party, sure – but it could make or break a business deal, sour a professional relationship,or otherwise give the impression you don’t want (think: the client thinks I fancy them now).

Your motto this Yule: fun – but keep the real fun until you’re with your mates and people who don’t pay your bills. Then get that skirt as high on your head as you like (if you must). Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! xxx