Advantages and Disadvantages of Freelance Work
Advantages and Disadvantages of Freelance Work
I found that making the choice to become a freelancer was not always an easy one. Many people may think that it a simple way of earning a living but this is not always the case. Yes, it does have many perks but choosing if this is the right career for you can be a big decision.
Advantages
One of the main advantages to working freelance is that I am my own boss. This is great because it allows me to work the hours that I want and to work this around my day to day commitments. It also means that I do not have to worry about answering to someone else and can pick and choose the work that I want to do and can learn and challenge myself along the way.
I also admit that for me, one of the best parts of freelancing is the ability to work at home. If like me, you do not drive and have had the nightmare of commuting on public transport, then no doubt this will also be one of the great benefits for you too. Working from home also means that you can work in whatever clothes you want, eat what you want and when you want and take breaks as and when you feel the need. It is surprisingly liberating!
Disadvantages
Sadly I have found that there are a number of disadvantages to freelance work. It can be a very lonely career; often you will not see or speak to anyone for a good part of the day. This is something that you should seriously think about if you are a social type of person. Personally I love having the responsibility for all of my work from start to finish and I quite enjoy making sure that deadlines are met on time and invoices are sent off, but I know that for some this is quite a shock to the system. I have found that this skill is especially crucial when juggling several projects at the same time!
The other down side is that you have to be very strict with yourself. In a normal office work environment it is much easier to get on with your work. At home however there is no end to the possible distractions, you have the TV and the internet and motivating yourself when then dreaded boredom kicks in. Therefore you have to make sure that you are completely dedicated to the task in hand.
Perhaps the hardest that I have found to deal with is the lack of regular work. You might find that you spend a lot of your time to start with applying for jobs to no avail. I know how easy it is to lose confidence and to want to give up but you have to be patient and keep trying to find work, so be prepared for this.
The sad truth to freelancing is that you often end up working more hours then a normal office worker would and often for less money too. It is not always the easy job that people may assume it is. After all, you only get paid for the work you do so you have to make sure that you put the hours in to make your new career as successful as it can be. But remember that it is not all doom and gloom and freelancing can in fact be a wonderful career choice if you know what you are doing.