Being a freelancer can enable you to find meaningful opportunities to express your creativity and to build a career that you’re proud of, all on your own terms. But, you have to work at it.

In Dribbble’s annual global survey of more than 17,000 design professionals, we found that more than 75% of respondents have done freelance work within the past year, and many are currently hunting for new freelance opportunities.

While nearly half of the U.S. designers we surveyed (49%) say they learned design in school, nearly a third of designers reported learning design on their own (31%).

Outside of technical skills, the designers we surveyed also reported an interest in improving their communication and business skills, too.

Not only are you working on your creative projects, you’re also managing client reporting, balancing your finances, developing contracts, and more.

When it comes to getting hired, it’s critical that freelancers build meaningful connections with fellow designers and hiring professionals in the industry.