Month: July 2017

Many people don’t consider a career as a freelancer but the truth is there’s never been more opportunity as far as freelancing goes. Below are some of the main pros and cons of working as a freelancer so you can decide if it’s the right move for you. Pros You have a lot more flexibility – One of the major benefits of working freelance as opposed to a regular job is that you have a lot more flexibility in your working hours. For example, if you have work to do, you don’t have to do it during traditional working hours and can instead make it fit your schedule. You can choose a career you’re passionate about – Another great benefit of working as a freelancer is that you’re able to do something that you’re passionate about. One of the most popular freelance paths is graphic design. However if you’re not interested in that there are many other things you can do i.e. web development, freelance writing, teaching etc. Cons Finding steady work can be tough – One of the major challenges that new freelancers face is finding enough work to support themselves. It’s certainly true that when you first start freelancing, finding clients can be tough, especially if you don’t have much experience or an established presence online. You need to be self-motivated – For a lot of people, this is the biggest challenge of freelancing. It’s easy to underestimate how much motivation you need in order to succeed as a freelancer. It’s not just completing the work that you have from home where there’s no boss looking over your shoulder; but also being motivated to grow your business and expand your client base. Conclusion Whether working as a freelancer is right for you will depend largely on your personality type. If you need a lot of stimulation and enjoy working around other people then it’s probably not the right choice for you. However if you’re self-motivated, can work to deadlines and don’t mind the challenge of finding new clients then working freelance can be a great way to gain financial independence.… Continue reading »

Finding the right career path is something a lot of people struggle with. In order to help you make the right decisions when it comes to your own career, below are 5 key tips to finding the right career path. There is also a great UK government site to help you decide on your career. 1. Know your strengths Knowing your strengths is one of the best ways to find the right career path. Everyone has things they’re naturally good at but people often don’t pay attention to them when thinking about their ideal career path, instead choosing something that’s practical or available. By knowing your strengths you can then work towards a career that you’d be ideally suited to. 2. Know your weaknesses Just as important as knowing your strengths is knowing your weaknesses. For example, if you’re easily bored and need a lot of stimulation then an office job where you’re stuck behind a desk for 8 hours a day probably isn’t the best choice of career for you. 3. Think about what you would enjoy doing This is something that so many people neglect when it comes to their career. Thanks to the internet and social media, people now have more choice than ever when it comes to careers. There are so many skills you can learn online, such as web design, graphic design, web development etc. that you no longer have to do something simply because it makes money. Think about what you would enjoy doing in the long term and aim towards that. 4. Make use of connections If you know people who are able to help your career then this is a huge advantage. Of course you want to be sure you’re suited to any particular role before going for it but having connections in a particular industry is something that can really boost your career. Think about practical considerations Sometimes it’s easy to like the idea of a career without really considering if it would be practical for you. For example, if you wanted to work as a courier then it’s not just about whether you’re able to drive but if you can afford the initial investment in a van and whether you’re fit enough to carry parcels around all day. Thinking about the practical everyday realities of a job will help you avoid those you’re not suited to.  … Continue reading »

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