Careers at the End of the World: Reimagining Ambition, Work, and Your Job Search in Unprecedented Times

Episode 59: From Side Hustle to Steady Work: Proven Strategies to Attract and Keep Freelance Clients

If you’ve ever wondered “Where do clients actually come from?” – we’re breaking it down for you. Whether you’re freelancing, consulting, building a service-based business, or exploring a portfolio career, this guide helps you understand how people really find and hire you.

You’ll learn what actually works to attract clients (and what doesn’t), how to build relationships that lead to paid work, and the simple systems that make it easier to generate consistent opportunities. Jenn walks through approachable, real-world steps like sending an introductory email, hosting or joining workshops, tapping into referrals, showing up in aligned communities, and creating a supportive professional ecosystem.

This episode is about clarity, confidence, and finding a sustainable way to grow your client base without relying on complicated funnels, constant posting, or high-pressure sales tactics.

Episode Highlights

• How freelancers actually find clients — the real sources that work in 2025
• Why referrals outperform websites, social media, and traditional marketing
• The simple email script that can kickstart your freelance or consulting pipeline
• How to use workshops, communities, and “other people’s audiences” to get discovered
• Turning past employers, colleagues, and friends into paying clients
• What to say when talking about your services so people actually understand and hire you
• Why building a portfolio career requires consistent relationship-building, not sales tactics
• The essential systems every freelancer needs: a simple CRM and data-driven habits

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00 — Freelance Market Trends: Why More People Are Exploring Independent Work
• (search terms: freelance market trends, independent workers, job market shifts)
• 03:12 — Career Support Opportunities: Retreats, Coaching Bundles & Community Resources
• (search terms: career coaching, professional development retreats, job search community, career resources)
• 08:07 — Finding Your First Clients: How Service Providers Get Hired
• (search terms: find your first clients, client acquisition, service providers)
• 11:06 — Referral Strategies That Actually Work for Freelancers and Consultants
• (search terms: referral strategies, freelance referrals, consulting clients)
• 12:18 — Audience-Building 101: Using Networks, Workshops & Community Visibility
• (search terms: audience building, professional network growth, workshops, visibility)
• 16:33 — Industry Peers as Partners: Tapping Into Collaborative Networks
• (search terms: collaborative networks, partnership marketing, freelance networking)
• 20:04 — Turning Past Employers Into Clients (and Pitching Project-Based Work)
• (search terms: turn employer into client, project-based work, fractional roles)
• 26:48 — Systems That Support Growth: Simple CRMs & Tracking What Matters
• (search terms: freelance CRM, business systems, client tracking tools)

Resources and Links

Episode 58: Job Hugging?!: Your Guide to Staying Put on Purpose in a Tight Market

What does it mean to job hug, and when is it actually the right move for you? In this episode of Careers at the End of the World, host Jenn Walker Wall breaks down why so many professionals are choosing to stay put right now and how to make that an intentional, strategic choice. From defining your “why” to setting benchmarks, upskilling, or running a quiet passive job search, Jenn shares practical ways to protect your options, strengthen your skills, and create structure in uncertain times. Because sometimes, a good-enough job in a not-so-great market is exactly the kind of stability you need while you plan your next move.

She also introduces the Revive Sessions, new one-on-one strategy offerings from Work Wonders Careers with flexible pricing and a “take it if you need it” discount for those navigating career uncertainty.

Episode Highlights

• What “job hugging” means and why it’s becoming more common
• How to make staying in your job an active decision, not a passive default
• The risks and rewards of staying put during an unstable job market
• Why a good-enough job can be a great job in a not-so-great market
• Simple ways to start a passive job search without burning out
• Why upskilling, stretch projects, and small freelance tests build future stability
• How to check in with your personal risk tolerance and set career benchmarks
• A look at the new REVIVE Sessions and how they support short-term strategy work

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome and community updates: navigating work in uncertain times
• 01:36 – Revive Sessions explained: new short-term coaching and career support
• 04:52 – What is job hugging? Why professionals are staying put in 2025’s job market
• 09:49 – The pull of stability: routine, pay, and remote flexibility in a volatile economy
• 13:30 – Job hugging risks: stagnation, burnout, and lost career momentum
• 15:53 – Career growth from where you are: upskilling, reskilling, and passive job search tactics
• 19:01 – Diversify your income: freelance, consulting, and portfolio career strategies
• 21:27 – Jenn’s personal pivot: embracing change and building sustainable success

Resources and Links

If your industry has been hit hard by cuts and layoffs, how do you adapt your career and stand out in a competitive job market? In this episode of Careers at the End of the World, host Jenn Walker Wall shares practical strategies for making a career pivot and finding opportunities beyond your current industry. From adjusting your resume to look more industry agnostic, to tailoring your job search for new fields, Jenn offers clear, actionable resume strategies and job search tips that help you stay competitive. Instead of vague advice, she provides grounded tactics to help you create possibilities, highlight transferable skills, and keep your career moving forward in a tough market.

Episode Highlights

• Practical career pivot strategies for professionals navigating layoffs and industry upheaval.
• How to create an industry-agnostic resume that highlights transferable skills across fields.
• Tactics to stand out when switching industries in today’s competitive job market.
• Why adjusting your resume language is essential for opening new opportunities.
• How to identify and pursue career paths beyond your current industry.

Episode Timestamps

• 00:21 – Why career pivots feel harder in today’s job market
• 01:48 – Rethinking pivots: from 180-degree changes to smaller shifts
• 04:22 – Pivot #1: Changing the structure of your work (consulting, freelancing, contracts)
• 06:00 – Pivot #2: Making an industry change with an industry-agnostic resume
• 09:17 – Pivot #3: Adjusting transferable skills for roles impacted by cuts (DEI, HR, recruiting)
• 11:59 – Why precision in your resume, LinkedIn, and networking is critical right now
• 13:00 – Pivot #4: Location pivots and why onsite or hybrid roles may create more opportunities
• 15:47 – How to avoid burnout in a long search

Resources and Links

Episode 56: How to Create Income Without a Corporate Job: Portfolio Careers, Self Employment and Other Ways to Make $$

If you’re stuck in a slow job market or waiting for the right role to come through, how do you keep your bills paid and your career moving? In this episode of Careers at the End of the World, host Jenn Walker Wall explores practical ways to make money without a traditional 9-5 job. Whether you’re between roles or looking to diversify your income, Jenn breaks down the options from portfolio careers and freelancing to contract work and side hustles. Instead of chasing quick fixes, she offers grounded strategies for generating income, building momentum, and staying engaged while the job market recovers.

Episode Highlights

• How to differentiate freelance vs. contract work and decide which path makes sense during a job search.
• The role of fractional and interim leadership jobs in bridging employment gaps.
• Why ecosystem building and networking for referrals is critical when starting self-employment.
• Tips for launching a low-barrier side hustle or pilot project without overthinking or overspending.
• Why creating income outside a corporate job can help prevent career burnout and provide more flexibility.

Episode Timestamps

• 02:30 – Why today’s job market is so unpredictable
• 07:10 – What is a portfolio career? (with examples)
• 13:45 – The rise of contract and fractional work
• 19:20 – Turning rejection into a freelance or consulting opportunity
• 24:15 – Easy side hustles that actually pay (including pet sitting and adjunct teaching)
• 28:40 – How to talk about freelance or contract work on your resume

Resources and Links

Episode 55: How to Make a Hard Job Search Easier in 2025

In this episode of 'Careers at the End of the World,' host Jenn Walker Wall provides tips and strategies to make the challenging job search process and market a little easier to navigate. Drawing from extensive observations of various job search patterns, she shares practical advice and emphasizes the importance of customizing resumes and interview strategies, considering freelance or contract work for long-term unemployed individuals, and establishing a balanced job search routine. Additionally, Jenn highlights new offerings and services from Work Wonders Careers and announces the podcast's summer hiatus, inviting listeners to explore the archive and stay tuned for upcoming content.

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