Social networking is an increasingly important tool
Social networking is an increasingly important tool that freelancers are using to get jobs. And 'no', I'm not speaking of MySpace or YouTube specifically. There are a lot of social networking sites that are built specifically for professional relationships and connections. The point of these sort of sites are to make 'real' online connections with other people who can help you professionally. The premise is very simple. You know people and so do other people.
The more people you meet online, the larger your network grows. For example, your online friends might know about a friend of a friend who needs your services. There are three basic ways the freelancers find jobs through social networking sites. The first is to actively look for jobs on those sites that are geared towards letting you do that. The second is to post profiles on numerous social networking sites and let clients find you. And the third is to network with people extensively on the sites in order to make enough connections that word of mouth will lead you to work and work to you.
Classified job sites such as those available on Craig's List can be a great opportunity for finding your first freelance job. You can apply for those jobs, making sure to point people in the direction of your website and social networking profiles to boost your credibility since you don't yet have a resume.
If you don't land a job right away, you should still be productive. In many cases, you can get a volunteer job, internship or one-off low-paying gig that will assist you professionally. Ask around on your social networking sites and look at job boards and classifieds online to find these types of opportunities. Don't worry; you won't be doing this kind of work forever. You're just working your way up the ladder.