What is a Freelancer?

The job market has changed dramatically in recent years. The gig economy and the digital revolution are replacing the traditional employment model. Now, you can be your own boss working with companies on the other side of the world.

Are you interested in becoming self-employed but want to know more about what it’s like being a freelancer? Here is a bit of information for you and some professional advice to kickstart your new, independent career.?

What is Freelancing?

Being a freelancer means you earn money based on?specific projects you complete rather than from a set annual salary or hourly wage. Multiple companies can hire you to perform short-term work for them. Rather than entering an employment contract with one business at a time, you work independently and can juggle multiple gigs at once.?

What is the difference between a freelancer and an employee??A freelancer is self-employed rather than employed by a company. This involves a different compensation model than hired employment does. Plus, it doesn’t require a long-term commitment or exclusivity.?

Freelancers are often contracted to perform on projects and once the project is completed, they move onto the next project.

What skills do you need to become a freelancer??

To succeed as a freelancer, you’ll need to be:

• Flexible:?You need to be available at short notice to complete tasks in a tight turnaround time.
• Self-motivated:?When you’re your own boss, it’s your responsibility to stay on-task and avoid distractions and procrastination. Exercise good time management.
• Good communication:?You need clarity and precision when communicating with company representatives. Ask questions to clear up confusion and understand their expectations.
• Project management:?You are responsible for dividing big jobs into bite-sized steps that you can handle. Being detail-oriented is important.
• Negotiation:?You have to stand up for yourself when forming and following a contract. It’s up to you to set boundaries, advocate for yourself, and argue for a fair pay rate that reflects your skills and expertise.
• Well-informed:?Hired employees often receive on-the-job training to complete their work, but you won’t receive training as a freelancer. It’s up to you to know your industry and become an expert in your field.

Pros of Freelancing

Having control over your workload, the clients you work with, and your income is a big benefit of freelancing. When you freelance, you’re in the driver’s seat. You determine what jobs to take on, which clients you want to work for, and your pay rate. Depending on your level of expertise, it could be possible to work part-time hours, but make full-time pay.

Flexibility and remote work are also a perk. Most of the time, working on freelance projects will involve working at your home office and working the hours you so choose. You’ll absolutely have deadlines to meet, but you will decide when and where you work.

Working with amazing Agencies who can assist you with working with your target clients, negotiations on rates and contracts, as well as knowing when a project is close to the end and assisting you with the next one.

Cons of Freelancing

With the ultimate in control, comes additional responsibilities. As a freelancer, you are a business owner, and you need to stay on top of taxes, invoices, payments received, finding your own health insurance, and buying every piece of software and technology you need to complete your work.

Some months you’ll be full to the brim with work, while the next month may be a ghost town. You may be relying on a consistent contract with one client, only to find they don’t need you anymore suddenly. Freelancing requires good money management and constant sourcing of new clients.

There are solutions to these downsides. They just require a little extra work. If it looks like too much to handle, you may want to consider sticking to standard employment instead of freelancing.