This format will be what we use for this and the next two posts. In this blog post we’ll be looking at what freelancing is, why I think freelancing is a great place to start and how to start out in the freelancing scene.
Let us spread our wings and fly free with our starting point. What does freelancing mean?
What?
To work freelance means to be free from being tied down to one company, you don’t have to be stuck in one particular place all the time. Working freelance means that you are your own boss to some degree. You are in control of what jobs you do and do not do however there is no guarantee you will find paid work in this regard.
On that note let us look at the pros and cons of being freelance, as these are the most pivotal things to know about that define what freelance is and will help you to decide if freelance is for you.
Cons
No Job Security – once a job is done the client will likely just thank you, give you the money you ask of them for the job, then not contact you for a while if at all.
No employee benefits – Some companies and employers will take good care of their employees, say maybe a seasonal bonus based on company earnings or something small like free transport too and from work. You won’t get anything.
You have to take care of your own taxes – Rather than have an employer set everything up for you and manage it all, you will have to fill out your own tax forms and maybe even hire an accountant to help manage everything.
Likely working alone from home – Something isolation due to the issues of recent years should have taught us is that working from home and not seeing anyone is great for us introvert types but a living hell for extroverts. Freelancing means no colleagues to go in to see on workdays as you will be working from home most likely.
No paid time off/sick pay – The only way you are getting any money when you are sick or taking time off to sit at home and eat snacks all day is if someone donates to your donation page.
100% Responsibility – If anything goes wrong it is all on you. You are to blame for everything.
Pros
Flexible work hours and workload – Being your own boss means you set the time and how much you do per day. Want to sleep till after 1pm, go for it. Can be a double-edged sword if your easily distracted.
Choice of who to work with and what to work on – Most of what you are working on will be passion projects or things you want to work on when people approach you asking for your expertise.
Work from anywhere on earth, maybe even space – Working from home or laptop means you can take your work on the go. Going abroad but want to keep doing some work stuff? Go for it. Taking a trip to mars? How about working on stuff in the shuttle on the way?
Set your own wage – Rather than have an employer tell you what you are worth, you can set a price for what people should pay you for your time and expertise.
Knowledge of business – Even if you didn’t take courses in business, you’ll over time become self-taught in the realms of the business owner.
Why?
In my opinion the pros out way the cons. For me it’s a case of not wanting to be under the thumb of some authority figure who could treat you however they choose. As well as pay you badly for whatever level of work you produce. The term ‘Minimal work for minimal pay’ is something I have heard a lot and it’s one that is mostly avoided by going freelance. Due to the simple fact that if someone pays the amount you set for your work then they must think its worth it.
This combined with the fact you can choose your own hours if fantastic for the likes of me who hates mornings and would much rather sleep through till the early afternoon and work into the late night. Being an introvert is a big win in terms of freelancing, the whole work from home or in isolation aspect is something that puts me at ease. I won’t have to worry about being in an office surrounded by people who will make judgements or make comment on my work before its in an appropriate state to submit for feedback.
How?
If you are an extrovert and thrive on being around others and enjoy the social aspect, there is a high chance you will prefer to avoid the freelance scene. However, for introverts like myself, get creative, work on those passion projects, make your portfolio. Someone will notice you and through that, your freelance career will kick off.
To get started in freelancing you are going to want to have a good online presence that’s for sure. I have a whole blog post about it, and you can find it HERE!
Maybe from working freelance you will find a company who you just click with so well that they will want you as a permanent member, you may step out of your comfort zone with a company like that and actually want to socialize.
In Summary
Freelancing is an important thing to consider looking into, I feel like it most likely depends on whether you are in introvert or extrovert when it comes to the long term. It is something that I think everyone starting out should get into. Especially if they are still unsure of what to focus on. Being a jack of all trades is fine but with work coming in from freelance work, this will give a good taste of what specialties are more interesting than others. Hence allowing you to home in on the specialty or two you want to become a master in. Like I say, freelancing is a good starting point also in terms of networking, there is a good chance you may find someone who will want to fully employ you after paying you for a piece of work.
There is a good amount of both pros and cons when it comes to freelancing so make sure to do your research, although it may be a good starting point. It may not be a good long-term decision for you.
Here is a short video I found that may help you in making the decision:
What are your thoughts on freelancing? Is it a good idea to start off in or are you better just taking the plunge and looking for a secure job? let me know in the comments bellow.