Without a doubt, there are tempting perks associated with freelancing. Who wouldn’t want to work on their laptop while sitting on their couch at home or from inside a Starbucks with a venti latte within reach?
In some creative and communications fields such as writing or video production, freelancing for small and large organizations can be necessary for months at a time as you seek more a permanent position. But before you quit your day job to pursue freelance work, it’s important to know the lifestyle and other requirements that come with this type of work experience. Here are some aspects of freelancing that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Freelance work is sometimes remote As mentioned earlier, the flexibility of choosing your own workspace is a key benefit of freelancing. With the plethora of video and audio conferencing technology at our fingertips, all we need is a mobile device and Wi-Fi to connect with anyone and complete tasks. Become familiar with emerging communication platforms and don’t be afraid to use your smartphone to call people too. Like this article mentions, consider how much social interaction you need while you work. Ask yourself if you look forward to eating lunch with colleagues or if that water cooler break with your cubicle mate is an essential part of your day. Working on your own outside of the office can be lonely. If you choose not to work from home in your pajamas, make sure to go to an area free from distractions or major interruptions so you can stay on task. There’s nothing worse than your roommate blasting music or playing video games in the background when you are trying to Skype with an important client or boss. Time management is vital Time management probably was, and still is, drilled into your head as a college student. But when it comes to making your own schedule, remember with great power comes great responsibility. Unlike working in a full-time position, if you take a vacation or give yourself a weekend off from freelancing you will not receive any income. Procrastination may cause you to miss out on future opportunities, as you must constantly be applying for work in a competitive gig economy. Searching for your next chance to freelance often coincides with meeting deadlines for projects you’re currently working on. Understand there will be busy and slow times of the year Freelancing can be inconsistent at times, especially when you are just starting out. Opportunities may not present themselves around the holiday season or in the summer as opposed to other months of the year. Other chances to freelance may come on week long or month long projects. When researching freelancing opportunities with companies, individuals, or non-profits, make sure you’re aware of the peaks and valleys of their workloads so you know when clients will most heavily rely on you. Online job boards such as Upwork and vWorker are just a couple of the general outlets with freelance postings. In its own way, freelancing is a great way to network Freelancing is a great way for recent college graduates or employees looking for a career change to get their foot in the door with an organization. Freelance work allows you to build your portfolio and sometimes collaborate with other part-time or full-time employees to complete a specific project. Displaying your expertise and soft skills in a freelance setting is one of the best informal ways to build your network. If you produce high quality work in your assignments, your colleagues and superiors can attest to your credentials and act as a good reference for another freelance or more permanent position down the line. Freelancing can help you develop your passions into a fruitful and stable career. While giving you great flexibility, freelancing always requires a unique type of hustle. Like with any type of professional development, you must be satisfied with the contributions you’re making and always maintain and build your network of contacts.
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