Working as a freelancer is certainly something that is becoming more popular in the world today, but is it the way that you should go with your own career?
At first glance, it sounds amazing to be able to be your own boss, set your own hours, and often work from home with your hair a mess and half-glancing at that old mug of coffee sitting beside you. But then, there has to be a point where reality kicks in.
Freelance work brings with it different pressures. You may be your own boss, but you are responsible for every single decision. It is up to you to pitch you services to clients and then produce the work that they want. If something goes wrong, it rests on your shoulders and there is no hiding place.
This in itself brings a considerable amount of stress, but at the same time, you need to be confident in your ability to produce the goods. After all, the freelance market is huge, so your client will be able to go elsewhere without much difficulty if you fail to perform to the standard that they expect.
Before you launch your freelance career, you need to understand that you do not have the same protection as you do when working for a company. There is no guarantee of you earning the money that you need to ultimately live and survive. The start is tough while you find your feet, and there's no way of knowing how long that is going to take.
Also, you must be the kind of individual that does not allow rejection to affect them in a negative way. Yes, it's all fine and well to be disappointed, but you cannot allow that disappointment to hang around like a cloud. If it does, then your chances of being a successful freelancer will diminish before your eyes.
You will be undercut with your bids. People will look over your bid due to being new and apparently not having the 'experience' even if you have been working in the field as an employee for years. You may have to bring your prices down and make very little money until you have built your reputation; it's a hard slog and you have to keep standing as you absorb the punches. You will need to keep your wits about you for people potentially scamming you as they are out there and can often prey on those individuals that are new to this way of working.
OK, I accept that this post may sound rather negative for any individual who is contemplating becoming a freelancer, but that is not the intention. Instead, anybody who is looking at selling their services to clients need to be aware of the issues that they may face if they are to ultimately establish themselves within their chosen industry.
Not everybody is going to prove to be suitable for this line of work. It requires confidence in your ability and a strong will to not allow those rejections to bring you down. It is hard work and you must really sell your talents to those clients.
Being a freelancer can be fun as it certainly has its benefits, but be honest with yourself and think about your reaction when things aren't going well at the start. If you feel strong enough, then perhaps being a freelancer is indeed going to be the correct way to go for your career.