Self-employment is a vague or superficial dream for many people who imagine working from home with no overbearing bosses and unlimited time for recreation. While those goals aren't impossible, it takes a proactive, disciplined professional to make sustainable income from a full-time freelance job. If you're prepared to manage your own career, a freelance job can lead to satisfying work and offer the flexibility to pursue other passions.
1. Work-Life Balance
Freelance jobs let you choose your schedule and the projects you accept. As long as you meet deadlines and communicate regularly with clients, you can build your work schedule around personal priorities, such as family activities or volunteering. Even when you're considering an on-site position, freelancing gives you the power to renegotiate contract terms that conflict with your lifestyle.
With a flexible schedule, you can take afternoons off for doctor's appointments or school events and plan vacations when it's most convenient for your family. However, working from home opens the door to procrastination and distraction, especially when friends and family believe you can ditch work at any time to accommodate them. Balancing income and project goals can help you stay focused while leaving room for unplanned changes to your schedule.
2. Self-Defined Career Path
When working for an employer, you have to move in whatever direction the company wants or find another job. Your role may change, your department may be restructured or your promotion may fall through, and you have little control over the outcome. A freelance job lets you leverage specialized skills to develop a custom career path, making it easier to stay engaged in your work. Self-employment often appeals to people who like creative or nonlinear careers, as it allows professionals to create occupational niches based on their unique abilities and experiences.
3. Job Stability
To skeptics, freelancing often seems like a financial limbo, forcing people to make risky choices in pursuit of an uncertain paycheck. The 2008 recession showed Americans that in-house positions can disappear at any time, while self-employment helped many displaced workers thrive despite economic downturn. An in-house job has a single income source, giving one company significant power over your financial wellness.
On the other hand, freelancing jobs are widely available from individual clients, government agencies and companies of all sizes, letting you diversify your income sources. You decide what your services are worth, so income depends on how well you structure and promote your business.
4. Advancement Opportunities
For employers, freelance jobs are a cost-effective means of obtaining skilled labor without hiring full-time employees. As a result, freelancers contribute to competitive projects and companies that are difficult to access through traditional employment. Freelancers aren't limited by geographic location, and they often land high-profile jobs without going through a long multistage recruitment process. Promotions and hierarchies are virtually meaningless in the freelance world, where you can overcome a short work history with an impressive portfolio and strong marketing skills.
Don't let fears of failure or financial instability scare you away from self-employment. If working for yourself is your dream, try a part-time freelance job to build your confidence and portfolio while exploring options. As a freelancer, your skills and track record can outweigh status and education, creating an even playing field where successful projects lead to higher-paying clients and opportunities.
Photo courtesy of nenetus at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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