Why did you decide to be a freelancer?

To have the freedom of choice, of my way of working, of my schedule.

I often felt exploited in my previous companies for my varied skills, and also felt my skills were not sufficiently recognized or valued, so I decided to make my way alone. Having a big enough network after a career of over 15 years, combined with sought-after technical expertise, recognized business skills and the ability to undertake and manage the commercial part, it was quite natural to me to be able to work on my own.

What do you like about your freelance life?

Being able to choose my missions, taking my time to deal with my clients or missions one by one. Meeting new people, the plurality and variety of assignments, projects, sectors of activity. I never get bored, I do what I like, my skills and my value are recognized and I enjoy accompanying my clients.

How do you work most efficiently as a freelancer? 

I work from home, with little or no daily commute to the office. After living in Paris for 13 years, I realized that I save 3 hours of transportation per day today! I also save many hours of meetings, canteen breaks or coffee breaks, I concentrate on the essential and the mission that is entrusted to me.

I work during the day, but I can also work in the evening or on weekends. I arrange my schedule according to my schedule, as only the results count for my clients. I have a results-based culture, and that’s what my customers pay for. No matter how much or how long something takes you, you have to be efficient. 

What do you do to stay competitive among freelancers? 

I train myself, certify myself, on the tools I master but also on new ones that could allow me to increase my knowledge.

As a freelancer, you have to be multidisciplinary. You have to have at least one recognized technical expertise and also know how to master the rest.

Do you have side projects or other activities in parallel?

For the moment, no, but I'm considering a reconversion to business, yes.

How does this  complement your freelance work?

For now, I have a job as a mother of a 5 year-old girl, and some free time to enjoy it and have a balance between work and life.

Have you encountered any difficulties in your career as a woman in Tech? 

Of course, you have to make your place, men often take the credit.

In one of my previous and last companies, we were 3 women who developed a very complex project for one of our biggest clients. The reward was to accompany that client to Chicago to showcase the project. None of us went to the USA, only the bosses (6 men) went, telling us that it was a better way to represent the company.

We have to take advantage of this injustice and go for it because we are just as capable as they are of undertaking and succeeding.

Do you have any advice to give to other young women who want to get into this business?

Believe in yourself, don't be afraid to work a lot and more intensely over short periods of time, don't be afraid of the lack of visibility, highlight your expertise and skills, work on your network, have partners, participate in events, know how to manage a budget and have commercial and accounting knowledge.

What do you like about Comet?

Simple, easy, fast. Few interlocutors and quality interlocutors. The platform is user friendly and easy to navigate. As a freelancer, at the end of each month, the process is simple to declare your hours.

What are your advantages with Comet?

Fast contract set up. Trusted partner for companies that do not want to or cannot contract directly with freelancers. Fast payment of invoices only a few days after the declaration of the CRA.

How does Comet help you to grow in your work and life?

It saves me time for the creation of my invoices, my CRA, and guarantees me a faster payment, no reminder to the accounting department to manage. It's simple, efficient, and the people I talk to are very friendly and lively. The network seems to be well supplied, which gives me good hope of finding something quickly in the event of having a break in missions.