Antonio Cruz - Telecommunications and Electronics Engineer

1. FREELANCER INSIDES Antonio Cruz – Telecommunications and electronics engineer More interviews with freelancers on www.freelancermap.com... © freelancermap.com info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

2. Our freelancer of the week, Antonio Cruz lives and works according to his motto: “Don’t say: I can’t do this, but: how can I do this?” Because he is from Cuba where for example broadband internet isn’t available, Antonio is excellent at solving problems and handling difficult circumstances. For four years now he has successfully and with joy found efficient solutions for all kinds of complex problems and wishes that his clients had… info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

3. 1) First off, can you tell us a bit about yourself? Hello, my name is Antonio. I live in Cuba, a small island in the Caribbean. I am a Telecommunications and Electronics engineer and I work as a full-time freelancer since four years ago. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

4. 2) If you would search for your profile on Google, which are the keywords you would type in the search bar? I think the three words that define my work are: efficiency, research and innovation. Where I live, having broadband internet isn’t possible. I use an analogic-modem connection of 56 kbps and I shouldn’t exceed 100 hours of Internet connection a month. So, finding good jobs is not quite simple given the communication barrier. However, such difficulties have prompted me to efficiently use the internet connection, to develop websites that are optimized in size and speed, and to study and implement simple and easy solutions to hard problems. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

5. 3) What was your inspiration and when did you actually decide to become a freelancer? I had two motivations: firstly, economic, and secondly that I enjoy programming so much. As a freelancer I earn more money than in my previous work, so I can be a better provider for my family. Also I can do something I love to do, and even if it has been a challenge because of my working conditions, I have been working as a fulltime freelancer for four years now. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

6. 4) What kind of services have your clients asked you to provide? Whenever I see or receive a work offer, I have this slogan: “Don’t say: I can’t do this, but: how can I do this?” I love to understand how things work so I haven’t been afraid to do complex web systems from scratch or using any new programming languages. I have developed (for some clients) my own frameworks, CMS and software. I implemented payment gateways that do not exist in my country. In other words, everything that a client requests or needs, I try to develop and deliver it to him/her. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

7. 5) Do you use other freelancers or companies to provide skills that you don’t possess? When I don’t have time to do a certain work or I do not know how to do it, I suggest other freelancers who can perform it for the client. Generally they are freelancers or enterprises I know from other projects. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

8. 6) Now tell us, how do you find new clients that are interested in your services? Sometimes getting a job is quite difficult due to the communications limitations and the payment ways. Almost all freelancers’ websites require a pre-payment to access or contact clients. But even if I have the money, I can’t pay over Internet because it is not available in my country. However, there are a few free sites where I am able to contact some clients and send them my CV. Once I have a client I must do my best, deliver the work on time and with the expected quality, because this client may contact me for new jobs or refer other clients to me -which is a common way for me to find new clients. Also I have a website that too promotes my work and services. And it is also a place to contact me. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

9. 7) What about freelancermap.com? Can you tell us a little bit about your experience with our IT-network? I found out about freelancermap by accident when I was reading an article. I love the way I can access all its options and how the website manages the work offers. I would love a better support for the Spanish- language market. I hope I will get good offers here. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

10. 8) How do you set yourself apart from your competitors? What makes you special? Respect, innovation and commitment… these three things have helped me a lot to get jobs. Also not being afraid of learning new things and never saying it cannot be done, but looking for a feasible solution instead. These things and the promotion from my own clients and their colleagues and friends have been very important to get new jobs. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

11. 9) What are the top three books, blogs or magazines you read to stay up to date in the IT-market? Every day I spend between an hour to an hour and half with reading general news and studying new technologies and ways to program. Some of the blogs and developing sites I follow are: • http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/ • http://www.forosdelweb.com/ • http://www.phpclasses.org/ info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

12. 10) Freestyle! Is there anything you would like to tell our readers? I think the best advice I can give (about work) is that you must do something you love to do. We spend almost a third of our lives at work, that’s why our work should be something that helps others and makes us feel good at the same time. We shouldn’t hinder ourselves. If there is anything we think that can’t be done, the best is to study and try. You’ll be surprised that most times you’ll be able to figure it out. info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015

13. Further freelancer interviews available on www.freelancermap.com/freelancer-insides Contact freelancermap.com Contact person: Doreen Schollmeier - International Affairs Mail: info@freelancermap.com Skype: doreen.schollmeier Phone: +49-911-37750286 facebook: www.facebook.com/freelancermapInternational Twitter: freelancer_INT © freelancermap.com info@freelancermap.com 10/12/2015