Freelancing is the name of the game in 2023. Why would you work for one company, having to deal with demanding colleagues and projects they assign to you, when you can work from your own house (or from a sunny beach, cozy co-working space, or whatever office fits you), choose only the projects you like to do, and take on just as much workload as you feel ready to handle? Toptal and other freelancing platforms offer you this freedom. You just have to demonstrate your skills, and get onboard one of the platforms.

One of the questions you will face in the process relates to the types of projects you’d like to work on. It is an easy question for someone with a lot of experience in freelancing, but a tough one for someone just starting in the field, or someone who hasn’t really worked on a project-basis before. In this article we will look at 7 sample answers to the question. The list includes answers from different perspectives, and answers for freelancers specializing in different fields. I hope at least one of them will resonate with you and make sense in relation to your application. Do not forget to check also the notes below the list of answers, for additional hints and explanations. Enjoy!

 

7 sample answers to “What types of projects would you like to work on?” interview question

  1. I would like to work on projects that match my specialization. It means mobile app development, and any software development projects done in C++, Python and Ruby. I also prefer long-term projects, that allow for at least 300 programing hours, but I am ready to consider also short-term projects, as long as they match my specialization.
  2. I am interested mostly in translation projects, Italian to English and Spanish to English, preferably fiction books. I would like to translate my strengths into an excellent work for the clients, and my experience has taught me that I excel particularly in fiction translations. Having said that, while new on a platform, I am ready to work on any projects I have qualification for, in order to build my name and reputation here.
  3. As a developer with 10+ years of experience, I would live to work on projects I can still learn something from. Ideally projects related to robotics and artificial intelligence, since I see a huge potential in these technologies, and I want to be a part of the movement. Another thing which matters a lot to me is teamwork. I enjoy freelancing, but I am not a lonely wolf. Cooperating with others and sharing ideas is what pushes me to try even harder, and what helps me enjoy my work on any project. Hence I am looking for projects with more people involved.
  4. To be honest, I do not have any preferences. I am just starting in freelancing, and will take on any project I can handle to the satisfaction of the client, considering my skills and experience. For me the most important thing is the number of hours I can work every week. I need at least 20 hours of programming work, considering my hourly rate and my expenses. As long as I can get enough work here, I will be satisfied.
  5. For me the most important thing is that the projects are completely remote. With my present lifestyle and family I cannot imagine traveling for meetings in person anywhere, even if they were just monthly. Other than that I do not have any special expectations.
  6. To be honest, I chose your company on purpose, because I really like the projects you work on here. I always wanted to work on big advertising campaigns for TV and with budgets in millions of dollars, and that’s exactly what you do here. I find it fascinating how one can impact the buying decisions of masses with the right campaign, and in this way have an impact on the entire economy. Considering everything, I cannot wait to start working here.
  7. I would prefer to work on projects for “ABC” and “KLM” company. They both hire freelancers on your platform, and it is the no. 1 reason why I want to register with you, and not with one of the competing platforms for freelancers. I have friends who work as freelancers for them, and they have said just the best things about both the projects and the compensation for their work. Having said that, I am open minded and do not rule out an option to accept some other projects, with some of your other clients.

 

You can focus on your expertise in your answer, but you have also other options

The most obvious answer, and indeed a good one, is matching your expertise and experience with the projects you’d like to work on. Someone who excels in mobile app development, and has done that for the past ten years, is going to enjoy projects in the field of mobile app development. It is as simple as that. However, in case that you do not have much experience, or for some other reason cannot, or do not want to go with this answer, you have several other options.

You can focus on the number of hours you want to work each week or month, type of a cooperation on the project, project length (looking for short-term gigs or rather long term projects that require hundreds of working hours), or even pick particular clients of the given freelancing platforms you’d like to work with. Last but not least, you can focus on the intangibles, saying that you look for projects you will learn something new working on, or perhaps projects that will allow you to work (though remotely) with other interesting people, freelancers from all around the world.

 

Saying that you will accept any projects you are qualified for is also an option

If you do not know what to write or say, or simply do not want to limit yourself, you can always say that you will accept any work, as long as you have the skills to get it done in a given time frame. This answer makes sense especially for people who are just starting in the world of freelancing, and need to build their name and reputation first, before they can really choose the projects they want to work on, since everyone would love to see them working on their project. Needless to say, it takes time to get to this point as a freelancer, and if you’re not there yet it makes perfect sense saying you will accept whatever project you may realistically get.

Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Do not forget to check also sample answers to other tricky interview questions:

Matthew Chulaw
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