In the survey, I voted that I'd like to work in my own country, but my situation can't be easily determined by choosing either one of two choices. I sort of want a combination of both worlds.
First of all, I have one year left till graduation, studying Business dministration, but I currently already work as a freelance artist/writer/designer, though I've barely gotten my foot in the door and I'm only getting started. But I have taken on the my preferred route, a career as a freelancer, not related to business.
So aside from my graduation not having anything to do with my work, after getting my degree, I would very much like to further expand my freelance output, and instead of only producing work for clients inside the country, I'd produce such work for clients abroad, while STILL being based in Egypt.
With how the internet has made keeping in touch so much easier, turning such a thing into reality shouldn't be all that difficult. I already use email to get illustration, designs, and writing material to clients inside the country, and the same can be applied to clients outside the country. Payment can be handeled via money transfers, PayPal, or whatever.
So yes, I would like to work INSIDE my country, but that doesn't necessarily have to rule out the possibility of doing work for clients OUTSIDE the country.
Just thought I'd point that out.
Mohammed Fahmy
freelance artist/writer/designer person
That's a good approach you are taking, I myself do some freelance work (web site design, digital photography retouching and restoration) when i have the time of course.
However, let me add some comments that might become of an obstacle to your creative goals, but please let us know if you find a solution or work arounds.
Internet Payments, and credit cards are not at all easy in Egypt, PayPal don't work in Egypt either, money transfers charge you a lot of administration fees that might make you much more expensive than your competition abroad... otherwise why would such international client think of offshore freelancers as an alternative, given the time difference issue too! so you have to be very careful when dealing with client abroad since there is no easy way to get paid!
Your line of work might be a very good idea for many others who can do small freelance jobs in their fields and become productive from home.. especially that Egypt has around 70,000,000 million people with around 30% of them in the working force segmint, and with millions of them who can't have a full time job, part-time or freelancing might be the solution.
Using the internet many can fully utilize their talents and work from home, thus reducing traffic, polution, and office costs in general.
Maybe i am dreaming but i see lots of potential there for Egypt.
Please share your positive comments and experiences publicly so everyone can benefit.
I haven?t really had much experience as far as internet payments go (or payments in general, unfortunately). Though, a friend of mine in the States working as a freelance advertising/commercial illustrator once got me (or tried to, at least) a t-shirt gig. A friend of his running a small clothing business wanted a new design for a t-shirt print and offered me a couple hundred bucks in return. He kept apologizing for offering such a low fee, and explained that that was all he could afford. And I, being kind-hearted and the friend of his friend and all that, told him it was understandable (*ahem* yes, you are supposed to laugh here). We agreed payment would be handled via a money transfer, me taking care of the burden of administration fees , meaning he?d still pay me no more than 200 dollars. Any other expenses would be taken out of my pocket (remember I?m kind-hearted and stuff). Unfortunately, though, the deal kinda eventually fell apart. I?m not sure how that happened, but I
do remember letting my brother in on the whole thing, so I wouldn?t be surprised if it was he who envied the poop outta me. ;o)
I?m not too sure what you mean by time difference being an issue though. A freelancer very rarely gets gigs that?ll have to be wrapped up in only a few hours time. Most job will take several days, weeks, or even months. So if the time span is big, how can time differences be an issue?
And although we all dream of less traffic, I doubt freelancing will ever be the solution, because even if a many people stop needing to go to offices, they won?t quit ?seya3a?. ;o)
But yeah, a lot of Egyptians do have a lot of potential as freelancers, but I still feel only a limited few produce the quality of work equivalent to standards in most developed countries. It all comes down to practice though.
As far as positive experiences go, I?m still only a beginner, so not a whole lot of experience, but my work should be publicly available for all Cairo-residents to see in CAMPUS MAGAZINE starting September 1 inshallah. It?ll be my debut print work, featuring an article, an illustration, and a spot gag. Through the process of producing the work, I?ve run into a few bumps? and maybe even? a few road blocks, walls, and dams. And given my track record of projects-fallen-apart, I can only hope nothing else has gone wrong during the print process. Inshallah my stuff should appear in September ya rab. If you (or anyone else) haven?t ever picked up an issue of CAMPUS MAGAZINE (shame shame), I?d be happy (duh) to supply you with a list of outlets across Cairo.
Oh, and don?t worry? the magazine is available to the public for no cost whatsoever. Absolutely free. ;o)
Mohammed Fahmy
freelance artist/writer/designer person
__________________________________________________________
Outgrown your current e-mail service? Get a 25MB Inbox, POP3 Access,
No Ads and No Taglines with LYCOS MAIL PLUS. http://login.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus
Re: After graduation where do you want to work?
In the survey, I voted that I'd like to work in my own country, but my situation can't be easily determined by choosing either one of two choices. I sort of want a combination of both worlds.
First of all, I have one year left till graduation, studying Business dministration, but I currently already work as a freelance artist/writer/designer, though I've barely gotten my foot in the door and I'm only getting started. But I have taken on the my preferred route, a career as a freelancer, not related to business.
So aside from my graduation not having anything to do with my work, after getting my degree, I would very much like to further expand my freelance output, and instead of only producing work for clients inside the country, I'd produce such work for clients abroad, while STILL being based in Egypt.
With how the internet has made keeping in touch so much easier, turning such a thing into reality shouldn't be all that difficult. I already use email to get illustration, designs, and writing material to clients inside the country, and the same can be applied to clients outside the country. Payment can be handeled via money transfers, PayPal, or whatever.
So yes, I would like to work INSIDE my country, but that doesn't necessarily have to rule out the possibility of doing work for clients OUTSIDE the country.
Just thought I'd point that out.
Mohammed Fahmy
freelance artist/writer/designer person
Re: After graduation where do you want to work?
Hi Mohammed,
That's a good approach you are taking, I myself do some freelance work (web site design, digital photography retouching and restoration) when i have the time of course.
However, let me add some comments that might become of an obstacle to your creative goals, but please let us know if you find a solution or work arounds.
Internet Payments, and credit cards are not at all easy in Egypt, PayPal don't work in Egypt either, money transfers charge you a lot of administration fees that might make you much more expensive than your competition abroad... otherwise why would such international client think of offshore freelancers as an alternative, given the time difference issue too! so you have to be very careful when dealing with client abroad since there is no easy way to get paid!
Your line of work might be a very good idea for many others who can do small freelance jobs in their fields and become productive from home.. especially that Egypt has around 70,000,000 million people with around 30% of them in the working force segmint, and with millions of them who can't have a full time job, part-time or freelancing might be the solution.
Using the internet many can fully utilize their talents and work from home, thus reducing traffic, polution, and office costs in general.
Maybe i am dreaming but i see lots of potential there for Egypt.
Please share your positive comments and experiences publicly so everyone can benefit.
Lovely day
Mo
el-shella.com founder
Re: After graduation where do you want to work?
Hey Mo,
Thanks for your input.
I haven?t really had much experience as far as internet payments go (or payments in general, unfortunately). Though, a friend of mine in the States working as a freelance advertising/commercial illustrator once got me (or tried to, at least) a t-shirt gig. A friend of his running a small clothing business wanted a new design for a t-shirt print and offered me a couple hundred bucks in return. He kept apologizing for offering such a low fee, and explained that that was all he could afford. And I, being kind-hearted and the friend of his friend and all that, told him it was understandable (*ahem* yes, you are supposed to laugh here). We agreed payment would be handled via a money transfer, me taking care of the burden of administration fees , meaning he?d still pay me no more than 200 dollars. Any other expenses would be taken out of my pocket (remember I?m kind-hearted and stuff). Unfortunately, though, the deal kinda eventually fell apart. I?m not sure how that happened, but I
do remember letting my brother in on the whole thing, so I wouldn?t be surprised if it was he who envied the poop outta me. ;o)
I?m not too sure what you mean by time difference being an issue though. A freelancer very rarely gets gigs that?ll have to be wrapped up in only a few hours time. Most job will take several days, weeks, or even months. So if the time span is big, how can time differences be an issue?
And although we all dream of less traffic, I doubt freelancing will ever be the solution, because even if a many people stop needing to go to offices, they won?t quit ?seya3a?. ;o)
But yeah, a lot of Egyptians do have a lot of potential as freelancers, but I still feel only a limited few produce the quality of work equivalent to standards in most developed countries. It all comes down to practice though.
As far as positive experiences go, I?m still only a beginner, so not a whole lot of experience, but my work should be publicly available for all Cairo-residents to see in CAMPUS MAGAZINE starting September 1 inshallah. It?ll be my debut print work, featuring an article, an illustration, and a spot gag. Through the process of producing the work, I?ve run into a few bumps? and maybe even? a few road blocks, walls, and dams. And given my track record of projects-fallen-apart, I can only hope nothing else has gone wrong during the print process. Inshallah my stuff should appear in September ya rab. If you (or anyone else) haven?t ever picked up an issue of CAMPUS MAGAZINE (shame shame), I?d be happy (duh) to supply you with a list of outlets across Cairo.
Oh, and don?t worry? the magazine is available to the public for no cost whatsoever. Absolutely free. ;o)
Mohammed Fahmy
freelance artist/writer/designer person
__________________________________________________________
Outgrown your current e-mail service? Get a 25MB Inbox, POP3 Access,
No Ads and No Taglines with LYCOS MAIL PLUS.
http://login.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus