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.