When it comes to starting your career in the world of freelancing, most people choose it as a way of breaking away from the constant routine of ‘Monday to Friday, 9 to 5’, to get more flexibility and establish a satisfactory work-life balance. That is not to say that being a freelancer is without its own challenges, but the sense of freedom and pros seem to always outweigh any negatives.
Many turn to freelancing when they come face to face with the realisation that the job they always said was ‘only temporary’ or ‘just until they found something else’, has become a long-term position, and they want to break free before getting a long-service award! This is usually when working as a freelancer has the most appeal. Once starting, in fact, the most common complaint is wondering why they didn’t start freelancing earlier.
Reach your full potential
33% of Fortune 500 companies
Turn to freelance sites to outsource their work
Freelancing enables you to work with a more varied array of clients (of your choosing, of course), on projects that you want to work on, and challenge yourself on your own terms. After freelancing for a particular period, this will become second nature, and then you will know, as many freelancers have also claimed, that you will have made the right decision.
The idea of working for yourself and, in essence, being your own boss, is also something many people think will be the best solution, and it can be if you make sure you are disciplined with yourself, but also allow yourself respite; you didn’t become a freelancer to work every hour of the day and night. This self-orientated and independent approach can , therefore, result in better time management and improved organisation. Many freelancers attest to the fact that one of the biggest shifts they noticed was things that used to cause high levels of stress (such as having multiple projects running at once) become something they thrive on after embracing the role of a freelancer.
Work that’s worth it
60% of freelancers
claim they’re able to make more money than they did with their previous jobs.
Another significant benefit associated with going freelance is the fact that you are likely to make more money than in a more traditional ‘9-t5’ position. Remember that you are a specialist in your field, and therefore you need to charge the right price for your services. The company or business who has chosen to employ your skills has done so because you offer something their existing workforce cannot provide. The benefit of your ability to be managing multiple projects comes into play here. As you can be working on several projects at once, you are receiving income from all of the balls you have in the air.. Companies and businesses will pay well for a freelancer; you are an expert at what you do, you require minimal supervision and you can get the job done punctually and to a high standard. This results in good recommendations and repeat business, resulting in a better wage packet for you.
Flexible working hours and location
68% of freelancers
claim to have taken up their work to have more flexibility in their schedules.
Another key reason for the switch to becoming freelance, is that when being ‘a cog’ in the workings of a larger company, much of your time gets taken up by other things, such as project planning and management. No matter what job you do, there will always be elements you don;t enjoy, but when taking control of your own career in this way, you can limit the amount of time you have to dedicate to ‘admin’ and spend more time doing what you love, and are good at.
Timing is a big draw for those looking to work freelance. Although you will be working to your clients timescales, your own time management will become a valuable skill. When and how you work will, likewise, be up to you. Some people work better early in the mornings, while others are night owls, and find that working in the evening suits them best. Becoming a freelancer gives you the ability to make this preference a reality.
Similarly to working times, working locations are also interchangeable, making for a more flexible working arrangement, tailored by you, for you. There are those who flourish in an office environment, while others find being tied to a particular place can feel claustrophobic and limiting. When you work freelance, you can choose the location that is the best fit for you; whether you prefer the quiet of the library or the buzz of a coffee shop, freelancing enables you to work in a place that suits your requirements. There are many freelancers who like this flexibility, but do also miss the stability an office can provide. Community working spaces or shared offices exist in cities around the world and are ideal for those who want to benefit from the best of both worlds. This solution allows you to adopt a hybrid, fluid working arrangement that benefits your new role as a freelancer.
Start the new journey!
Many people who have worked as freelancers for a long time make it clear that there were plenty of pitfalls at the start of their journey. With the increasing number of freelancers in the industry however, there is, likewise, an increase in services that deal with the potential difficulties. These include such issues as managing your own accounts for the first time and, with certain creative vocations, ensuring you have the means to acquire the equipment necessary to do your job when first starting out. In amongst all this, however, the most common regret people voice is waiting so long to ‘take the plunge’, as it were, into the world of freelancing.
Finding work is often one of the biggest worries people have when new to the world or freelancing, but never underestimate word-of-mouth; people talk, and when they’ve had a good service provider, they will tell others about it. This, together with networking and creating a good base of contacts can work wonders, and before you know it you’ll be turning jobs down. Establishing yourself as a freelancer does take time, and a lot of work is necessary (certainly in the beginning), but all that effort at the start will pay dividends before you know it. You will be able to become adaptable and flexible to both your own and the clients needs; you will learn to understand the requirements of your clients, be able to deliver the work in good time, and realize why other freelancers say that it’s by far the best career decision they ever made.
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