Reasons why you might want to become a freelancer
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Just a few short years ago, career paths seemed far more limited than they are now. You studied, then depending on where you lived, it seemed you either went into an office or manufacturing job. Career choices were not as varied.
But, this is no longer the case. Since the dawn of the internet and technological revolution, the world of work has changed massively. The gig and freelance economies have boomed. If you’re considering changing it up and finding something you might enjoy more, you might want to become a freelancer. Here’s why…
Freelance definition
First off: what is a freelancer? Simply put, a freelancer is someone who sells their services to other clients or companies. Effectively, a freelance worker is their own boss but works as an outsourced worker for other companies.
Often, a freelancer specializes in a certain area and works for multiple clients at once. They work on a money-per-job basis, rather than a salary. The fee for each job is agreed upon ahead of time and paid to the freelancer by the company on completion of said work.
Types of freelance jobs
So, what kind of areas can a freelancer specialize in? Well, there are hundreds of options! Often, a freelancer works in a certain speciality. For example, there are many freelance writers, social media managers, or marketing strategists.
Freelance work is often found in the entertainment industry, too. You can find freelance jobs in acting, voiceover work, music, singing, photography, and a variety of other arts. This is what’s great about freelance work; you can become an expert in something and then sell your service – no matter what that service may be.
Follow your passion
One of the main draws of working freelance is to work in something you enjoy. Many people feel that work and pleasure cannot be mixed; their job is their job, their fun happens outside of work walls. This simply does not have to be the case!
You can, instead, work in exactly the kind of field you love. Take sport, for example. If you love football, you can take coaching courses and become a freelance coach, or work as a social media expert on a freelance business for football teams. This can apply to any other kind of field too! No matter what your passion is, you can monetize it in a freelance career.
Be your own boss
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Another amazing perk of working for yourself is, well, just that! You are your own boss. You never have to beg for a holiday day again, never have to chase up unpaid overtime, never have to question your company’s decisions.
This does, however, require hard work and dedication. Without someone breathing down your neck checking that you’re working hard, you only have yourself to answer to! Make sure that you can motivate yourself to complete work, chase invoices, and take on the right workload.
Only take jobs you want
Speaking of workload, a real blessing of freelance work is that you can pick and choose which jobs you want to take. If you have too much work on, you don’t need to pressure yourself with more. If a certain job doesn’t interest you, you can simply say no. You can choose how varied or repetitive you want your work to be and work with whoever you want to.
Step out of the office
Many of us dread going into the office every day. Whether that is due to the other people there, the type of work being undertaken, or the pressure of the environment, many people just don’t like the office. Well, as a freelancer, you don’t have to go into the office! You can literally work from wherever you want in the world!
If your dream is to travel the world and work remotely – you can. Clients are so used to taking on freelancers based in different parts of the world that you will have the freedom to work where you like.
Work when you want
Not only can you work wherever in the world you’d like to as a freelancer, but you can also work the hours you want. No longer will you have to commit to standard 9-5 office hours. Instead, you can tune into your work whenever you feel most productive. This is really beneficial, as many people feel they are more productive early in the morning or late at night, but can’t work those hours in a standard office job. Also, if you want to take a leisurely stroll or long lunch – you can!
Earn more
As a freelancer, the potential for earning a good wage is definitely there. It is, obviously, linked to how much work you can fit in. As a master of your craft – whatever that may be – you should be able to work efficiently and quickly, meaning you can get more work done.
Also, if your services are in demand, you can charge a good rate. People are outsourcing their work to you because they need you. Ensure that you are charging the best rate you can for your services and deliver quality products, then you are set to earn great money as a freelancer.
Grow & learn
Finally, one of the best things about freelance work is the ability to grow and learn. Let’s say you’re starting out in the world of freelance writing. At first, you may find the job slow, hard, or time-consuming. However, as you do it more, you’ll find your style. You’ll become quicker, more eloquent, and find yourself developing into an all-around better writer.
On top of that, you can constantly expand your offering. If you started out doing simple, small writing jobs, that’s fine. But, you may find that over time you develop a wide understanding of advertising and marketing, meaning you can start to offer full-scale marketing assistance. The possibilities are endless.
So, freelancing is flexible, enjoyable, and can earn you great money. If you find a freelance career within a field that interests you, you can grow to become an expert in that world. You’ll build a great client base and be as busy as ever – but, with the ability to take time off whenever you want.
