Provide services on a freelance basis Evidence Guide

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Evidence Guide: CUFIND401A - Provide services on a freelance basis

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

CUFIND401A - Provide services on a freelance basis

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Promote yourself to potential employers

Establish, follow up and regularly maintain business contacts within industry
Participate in relevant networks to support your freelance activity
Identify and follow appropriate strategies to enhance your professional reputation
Maximise your reputation by circulating current and succinct information about your experience
Join and maintain regular contact with relevant employment networks
Advertise your services in relevant media outlets as required
Produce and distribute promotional material as required

Establish, follow up and regularly maintain business contacts within industry

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Participate in relevant networks to support your freelance activity

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Identify and follow appropriate strategies to enhance your professional reputation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Maximise your reputation by circulating current and succinct information about your experience

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Join and maintain regular contact with relevant employment networks

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Advertise your services in relevant media outlets as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Produce and distribute promotional material as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Negotiate work arrangements

Establish clear performance outcomes for jobs and agree on fees, schedules and expenses
Ensure that contracts contain payment terms and conditions that provide a viable cash flow
Ensure that contracts contain a clear statement of the obligations of all parties and a process for varying terms and conditions
Ensure that the terms of contracts match agreements and securely store written copies of final signed contracts for reference during the course of jobs
Negotiate variations to contracts as required
Seek specialist advice in the development of contracts where appropriate
Be willing to adapt to the demands of others, but without compromising your personal work ethic and reputation
Be prepared to reject work offers that do not provide sufficient financial remuneration or job satisfaction

Establish clear performance outcomes for jobs and agree on fees, schedules and expenses

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Ensure that contracts contain payment terms and conditions that provide a viable cash flow

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Ensure that contracts contain a clear statement of the obligations of all parties and a process for varying terms and conditions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Ensure that the terms of contracts match agreements and securely store written copies of final signed contracts for reference during the course of jobs

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Negotiate variations to contracts as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Seek specialist advice in the development of contracts where appropriate

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Be willing to adapt to the demands of others, but without compromising your personal work ethic and reputation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Be prepared to reject work offers that do not provide sufficient financial remuneration or job satisfaction

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Manage financial and business aspects of freelance work

Seek advice on and determine the most appropriate way of operating as a freelancer
Set up and use effective systems for managing budgets, finance and paperwork
Establish and maintain effective support services
Establish a realistic fee structure that takes into account all factors associated with your freelance activity
Plan ahead to organise and maintain a viable work and cash flow
Send invoices in line with payment terms and conditions and follow up any non-payment of invoices promptly and in a businesslike manner
Keep simple but accurate and up-to-date accounts and records
Submit annual tax returns, using the services of an accountant as required
Comply with regulatory, taxation and insurance requirements relevant to freelance activities

Seek advice on and determine the most appropriate way of operating as a freelancer

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Set up and use effective systems for managing budgets, finance and paperwork

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Establish and maintain effective support services

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Establish a realistic fee structure that takes into account all factors associated with your freelance activity

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Plan ahead to organise and maintain a viable work and cash flow

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Send invoices in line with payment terms and conditions and follow up any non-payment of invoices promptly and in a businesslike manner

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Keep simple but accurate and up-to-date accounts and records

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Submit annual tax returns, using the services of an accountant as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Comply with regulatory, taxation and insurance requirements relevant to freelance activities

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Undertake strategic planning

Identify and implement strategies that help identify work opportunities at an early stage
Seek constructive feedback from relevant people about your performance and evaluate feedback to identify personal development needs
Identify opportunities for ongoing professional development and take appropriate action to ensure that your skills and knowledge keep pace with industry developments
Identify and act on opportunities to expand your client base, either alone or in partnership with other freelancers
Regularly revisit, review and set realistic objectives
Continually monitor and analyse work options against quality of life, and artistic and commercial outcomes
Identify risk factors and take action to minimise risk when planning work activities

Identify and implement strategies that help identify work opportunities at an early stage

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Seek constructive feedback from relevant people about your performance and evaluate feedback to identify personal development needs

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Identify opportunities for ongoing professional development and take appropriate action to ensure that your skills and knowledge keep pace with industry developments

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Identify and act on opportunities to expand your client base, either alone or in partnership with other freelancers

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Regularly revisit, review and set realistic objectives

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Continually monitor and analyse work options against quality of life, and artistic and commercial outcomes

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Identify risk factors and take action to minimise risk when planning work activities

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________ Date: _

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide


The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Evidence of the following is essential: preparation of resume's and other material to promote oneself to potential clients or employers ability to: negotiate work contracts develop and maintain industry contacts participate in industry networks develop and maintain an effective financial record-keeping system develop work plans that take account of the need for adequate cash flow.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment must ensure: access to a range of relevant and current industry information and networks access to office equipment and resources access to examples of work contracts access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.
Method of assessment	A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance observation of the candidate negotiating a work contract or being interviewed for a job written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit case studies to assess ability to undertake strategic planning when developing freelance work opportunities.
Guidance information for assessment	Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUFIND402A Develop screen and media specialist expertise BSBREL401A Establish networks.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

communication literacy skills sufficient to:

establish and maintain industry networks

write resume's and other promotional material for potential employers

clarify work requirements

negotiate with clients or employers to achieve mutually acceptable outcomes

present confidently in a job interview situation

seek and act on feedback from others

problem-solving skills sufficient to factor in a range of costs when establishing fee structures

planning and organising skills sufficient to:

plan work to maximise cash flow

prepare and circulate self-promotional material to potential clients or employers

establish and maintain personal financial and work record-keeping systems

plan for contingencies

develop personal budgets and monitor income and expenditure against budgets

initiative and enterprise in the context of:

being proactive in identifying and following through on work opportunities

developing a strategic approach to maximising return from freelance activity

balancing work and personal commitments

self-management skills sufficient to:

prioritise work tasks

complete work according to contract terms and conditions

make decisions within level of own responsibility

seek expert assistance when problems arise

learning skills sufficient to:

keep breast of industry developments relevant to own area of work

participate in professional development activities

technical skills sufficient to:

use the internet as a source of information

use standard word processing, spreadsheet and database applications

Required knowledge

well-developed understanding of the relevant industry sector, including:

profile of major employers

industry networks

issues and challenges that arise in seeking freelance work

industry codes of practice

licensing requirements

sources of information about regulatory, taxation, insurance and OHS requirements in relation to offering services as a freelancer

typical formats for presenting resumés

Range Statement


The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Networks may include	chambers of commerce community organisations industry professional associations lobby groups unions.
Strategies may include:	developing a personal website to showcase your achievements and to promote your services entering competitions offering your services to educational institutions as a guest tutor or lecturer seeking industry awards.
Information may include:	achievements availability awards client list contact details past work portfolio of work rates referees show reels skills testimonials URL of personal website.
Employment networks may include:	agents Centrelink industry professional associations online employment agencies unions.
Support services may include:	accountants couriers design services equipment repair and maintenance services film laboratories financial planners government agencies printers tax consultants.
Factors may include:	advertising and promotional costs equipment costs such as: purchase of new equipment maintenance hire and leasing arrangements insurance materials overheads, e.g.: telephone rent superannuation workers' compensation rates recommended by industry bodies travel time and car expenses any other work-related expenses.
Records may include:	computer-based: spreadsheets accounting software applications, e.g. MYOB and Quicken databases project management software applications filing system for receipts and invoices manual: financial ledgers and journals petty cash records invoices receipts.
Regulatory, taxation and insurance requirements may include:	insurance: third-party insurance on motor vehicles workers' compensation comprehensive insurance for vehicles, property or equipment public liability insurance professional indemnity insurance other insurance cover as required by state or federal legislation, or contractual obligations regulation: OHS legislation business registrations and licences planning and other permissions environmental legislation duty of care equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination legislation anti-competition regulations taxation: tax file number ABN GST registration BAS and GST returns PAYG and withholding arrangements other taxation obligations.
Relevant people may include:	clients colleagues employers mentors officers at employment agencies.
Objectives may relate to:	business and financial targets job satisfaction performance and progress quality of life training needs use of time and other resources in achieving objectives.

NTISthis.com

Evidence Guide: CUFIND401A - Provide services on a freelance basis

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

CUFIND401A - Provide services on a freelance basis

Promote yourself to potential employers

Negotiate work arrangements

Manage financial and business aspects of freelance work

Undertake strategic planning

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

Instructions to Assessors

Teacher: ___________________________ Date: _