5 Questions you Need to Ask yourself While Choosing Freelancing as a Permanent Career Option

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “freelancer?” Flexible working schedules, being your own boss, freedom, sometimes working in sweat pants, steering forward without any restrictions and absolutely zero office politics. Fantasizing these things is quite normal but never turn a blind eye to the dark side of this career. After all there are downsides to everything. We want you to make a decision by equally weighing the pros and cons.

Still confused? Trust us you will be no more by the time this blog ends. So, brace yourselves up because here are some questions you need to ask yourself while choosing freelancing as a permanent career option.

Why freelancing?

It’s definitely the first question that will pop up in your mind. Why become a freelancer when you can choose to do a stable, secured and a predictable job with fixed salary? Basically, you have to choose between stability and flexibility. If you are tired of being a part of 9-5 rat race and want to pursue your passion then freelancing is an option for you. If you are someone who prioritizes family, friends and life experiences over a rigid time schedule then you can walk on this career path.

As a freelancer you will have a full control on whatever you do. Moreover, you don’t have to bear with any of the office politics. You can enjoy a great deal of freedom. You will work on your own terms and can choose your projects. But no one can deny the insecurity that comes along with freelancing.

The way you want your life to be influences the decision of choosing freelancing as a permanent career option. You have to consider your priorities and circumstances.

What type of freelancer you aspire to become?

You need to clarify in your mind what type of freelance job you want to pursue. We believe that there are countless options available for any freelance business. You can start with any small-scale business from your bedroom and we are not even kidding. In this digital era, freelancing is just not limited to writers or graphic designers.  All that you need is a creative mind. There is a plethora of options available to choose from like:

• Freelance photography
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services
• Virtual assistant work
• Music writing and production
• Travel consulting
• Online researching
• Editing
• Interior design consulting

Whilst we have listed some limited yet significant ideas there are still many more waiting to be unraveled. All that you need is a creative mind. You need to find out what suits you the best. You can also make a decision based on the market needs. We encourage you to choose the type of freelance job and then break it down to certain areas of specialty.

Do you have a financial cushion?

As a freelancer you can suffer a situation of “feast and famine” very often. Say, In January you are flooded with assignments while in February you don’t have any. At such times it will get difficult to manage the financial affairs because of that instability factor. Freelancers can lose their clients in just a matter of minutes. Full time employers have a predictable income which helps them to do budgeting. Being a freelancer, you will be quite uncertain on the financial front. You will not get paid for the day you don’t work. Moreover, there is no guarantee of the next projects.

Prior to choosing freelancing as a permanent career option you need to consider this thing. But again, we would like to tell you that times have changed. Freelancing used to be considered as an insecure or unreliable path before digital era. Today it’s different if not quite the opposite. You may face problems as a beginner in getting projects but everything will find its place with the passage of time.  It also depends on what you can offer to people. There is no denying the fact that freelancers can earn more than full time employees.

Are you disciplined enough about your work?

Every individual has a different approach towards life. Some are leaders while others want someone to manage them. The latter approach is not suitable for freelancing. Always remember, being a freelancer, you are your own boss. You need to be self-motivated with a strong work ethic. Yes, freelancing is an escape from a rigid lifestyle but wrong attitude can hold back your productivity levels. To succeed, you have to develop self-discipline.  No one else can do it for you.

You need to ask yourself whether you will be able to manage your time well. Freelancing is just not the option for aimless procrastinators. Self-discipline is one of the listed qualities that make a good freelancer.

How are your networking skills?

Well, networking is quite important for freelancing. You should build your circle with the like-minded freelancers. If you have weak networking skills, we would not say that freelancing is not for you. Rather, we would advise you to start building. We can very well understand that networking doesn’t come easy to all the freelancers especially if they are not social creatures.

You can start with your family and friends. Make them aware about your job and what exactly you do. Tell them to spread the word. You can attend local networking events or go to trade shows. Making networking efforts is extremely important. A famous adage, it’s easier to sell to existing customers rather than finding new one, holds true in case of freelancing. You may feel uncomfortable as you try to build your own community. But remember a little discomfort is preferable over an inability to make ends meet.

Freelancers are pioneering an innovative approach to work. Ask yourself these questions and make a wise choice for yourself. Making a move towards freelancing seems quite exciting however it warrants some serious consideration. If you have professional engagements and credentials to flaunt, as a freelancer or otherwise, check out Resumod, and build your resume within minutes.