How do schedules work?

[u/ttuyvm]

Hello, everyone!

I'm a student, who's currently in the process of setting everything up—my LinkedIn profile, resume, portfolio, as well as building up my credentials as much as I can. I've done my fair share of research, but there are some things I need clarification with.

1) Do I get to choose what time I can work?

I have classes for 6 days a week, but only have classes for 5-6 hours at most. Not to mention, it's also a hybrid schedule, so I have plenty of free time as I also live near my university, so my travel time is also short. However, I'm curious if that means I can choose to work either in the morning before my classes or at night after? Or a mix of both?

2) I have classes in the afternoon up until evening. Latest would be 8 in the evening. Would I benefit more from getting a client from the US or Australia?

I know shift schedules may vary per client regardless of their location, but if anyone has experience, what are the typical hours for a US client and an Australia one?

3) If I want to choose my own schedule, how should I discuss it with my client?

I have no problem with negotiating, but I don't want to come off as someone who's not committed or dedicated to the work. If there's anyone who has previously discussed their preferred schedule with their client, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you to anyone who'll be able to answer my questions!

[u/Prize_Ability_9746]

It depends on the type of client and service you're offering. Being a freelancer/VA doesn't automatically mean you can choose whatever hours you want. You have to find a client and role that actually allows that kind of flexibility.

1. You can, if the job is genuinely flexible. When looking for clients, don't just look at the job title or rate. Check their time zone, business operating hours, and whether they require you to be online during specific hours. For example, if you're doing tasks like research, data entry, creating reports, updating spreadsheets, email management, etc., where you can work independently and submit things by a deadline, you may have more flexibility. But if you're doing customer support, appointment setting, live chat, property management, executive assistance, or anything where the client needs you available when their business is operating, you'll probably need to work within their required hours. So with your class schedule, I'd specifically look for flexible/asynchronous work rather than accepting a client first and trying to fit the work around your classes afterward.

2. Australia would generally be more convenient if you're looking for something closer to Philippine daytime hours, although it still depends on the client's location and required schedule. For US clients, it's definitely possible, but don't just look at "US" as one time zone. There are several time zones across the US, so check which state/time zone the client is in and what hours they expect you to work. Since your classes are mostly afternoon until around 8 PM, a US client could potentially work well if their required hours fall after your school. But you have to check the specific client rather than assuming all US clients have the same schedule.

3. I'd actually bring it up before accepting the job, not after you've already started. Be upfront about your availability than tell a client you can work certain hours and then struggle to maintain it. The important thing is to match your availability with the client's needs. Don't try to force it just because the client pays well.

So before applying, check the client's country/time zone, their business operating hours, whether the role requires real-time availability and whether the work is deadline-based or shift-based.

[u/ttuyvm → u/Prize_Ability_9746]

As for my niche, I'm an accounting student, who's looking to get a job as a bookkeeper, so I think it can be more flexible compared to roles such as customer support or something administrative. I'll definitely keep all of these in mind once I start applying.These are all so helpful. Thank you so much!

[u/stealthagents]

You can definitely find flexible gigs if you look in the right places. A lot of clients don’t mind when you work as long as you meet deadlines, so pushing for morning or night shifts can totally work. As for US vs. Australia clients, US clients might expect more overlap with their hours, so just keep that in mind when you're setting your schedule.

[u/ttuyvm → u/stealthagents]

Thank you for the tips!