What if a job allowed you the freedom to choose, gave you a healthy work-life balance, and plenty of time to pursue your interests outside of work? It sounds like a dream job. Doesn’t it?
Have you thought of ‘Freelancing’ as a career option yet?
The world of freelancing is a beautiful place; allow us to guide you through it. As a freelancer, you have the flexibility to choose your time, place, types of work, and whom to work for. You become free from all the strings attached to a hardcore corporate life. You are no longer subject to surveillance for production hours. More crucially, there is no one to deduct money from your income because you could not work for a day or two.
While imagining such a situation couple of years back was a luxury, post-pandemic, the work environment has taken a 360-degree turn. Whether you work remotely or freelance, everything has become the standard. According to enterprise data, globally, the freelancing market will grow 15.3% per annum between 2021-2026.
As per the global industry report, the overall size of the freelance market is $1.5 trillion and expanding. That is a significant deal. Isn’t it?
So, if you are wondering whether freelancing can be a full-time career option, here is an easy guide to chalk out a plan on how to make freelancing as a career choice.
Choose Your Clients & Costs:
Freelancing, as a career path, may be pursued by absolutely anybody and everybody, regardless of their area of competence. You will effectively be in charge of running your own business, and it will be up to you to decide which new clients you will work with and what your hourly cost will be. So, while choosing your clients, make sure to have a mixture of good work, working style, work-life balance and pay. Generally, start-ups commission work where learning opportunity is great. While established companies do provide a work-life balance, the pay is good with start-ups.
Deciding your rate card can be a challenging task. But keep in mind to charge your clients for the value you and your work provide to the company. It can differ from industry to industry and depend on the level of complexity of the work. Freelancers often charge for the amount of time they put in to accomplish the task.
Set Your Own Work Hours:
Very often, we force ourselves to go to work even when we have a strong desire to stay in our warm bed and have a cup of steaming coffee instead. Freelancing as a career can fulfil your dream. As a freelancer, you can do that, and no one will ask you about it as long as the work that you have agreed to do for your customer is finished by the deadlines that were agreed upon. One significant benefit of freelancing is the autonomy to determine your work schedule. So, choose your convenient work hours and see that the work is delivered on time. Remember to take breaks in between to provide your busy brains with the much-deserved breaks.
Design a Workstation:
It goes without saying that freelancers are not restricted to working within the confines of an office cubicle. They can do their work from the convenience of their own home or a local coffee shop. This has the additional benefit of reducing the amount of time spent travelling to work. Also, you get to work, even wearing pyjamas at any time of the day. Moreover, nobody will question your preferences, which is a plus. However, while you are free to choose your perfect workplace, having a designated place as your workstation is always better. Do you want a reason? Well, believe it or not, this would help you concentrate on your work and bring a sense of seriousness to the job.
Hone Your Talents:
As freelancing gives you the ability to choose your own work hours, you can devote time to expanding your skill sets and advancing your career. You can take up an online certification course related to your domain that will help you stay up-to-date in the market; also, take up freelancing jobs that will help you enhance your newly acquired skills. But make sure to put your charges accordingly and let your clients know that you are still in a learning phase. And this advantage is not limited to the development of talents; as freelancers, you should devote time to pursuing your interests too.
If you are looking to try out some exciting options to pursue freelancing as a career, click here.
Break from the Monotonous Routine:
If you have ever worked in a typical office setup with a regular job, you would know that the work can get monotonous. Many of us would feel bored doing the same thing 5 days a week. Freelancing gives a break from the monotonous routine. Since one is not tied to one organisation, they have the opportunity to work in all the fields they have skills in. For example, a person can be a content writer, dancer, or painter and earn equally from all these fields. So, make the most out of freelancing as a career option.
Manage Multiple Sources of Income:
And so, when we talk about having multiple clients or working in different fields, it also implies that there can be multiple sources of income. Freelancing as a career option not only ensures a steady source of income but also provides job security by giving the opportunity of having multiple clients or offers. But for this, you must set strict guidelines for your clients regarding payments and billing methods. Keep track of all the invoices in a well-documented sheet, and ensure you share your rate card with all terms and conditions before accepting any work.
Promote Your Work:
You might be very good at your job, but what is the point if people are not able to locate you digitally? It goes without saying that in the world of social media, it is imperative to be noticed. And it’s not just for you; your work also needs to be recognised. So, don’t be shy to promote yourself or your work online. This will help you build your credibility and gain the trust of clients.
To Sum It Up,
Freelancing as a career option can be a boon for anyone looking for a work-life balance. It gives opportunity to grow your own business and be your own boss. So, plan your day in a way that you have time to accomplish your work and still have time for personal goals. This means you should be able to work full time and still find time to go to the gym or sit with your kids for their homework. So, what are you waiting for? Chalk out a superb career plan and dive into the world of freelancing. It can be a game changer for you.
