You may be struggling to find your first job out of college, or you might be in the middle of your first career and already feeling behind. Well, rest assured: You are not alone. Many of us have struggled with these same issues.
It’s hard out there for a millennial! But don’t despair. We’re here to tell you that things are going to get better whether you like it or not and we can help you make that happen faster.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelancing offers flexibility and control over your career path. |
| 2. It can provide an alternative to traditional employment and help avoid the challenges of the job market. |
| 3. Freelancing can be a source of income while pursuing other passions or interests. |
| 4. Building a diverse portfolio of freelance work can enhance your skills and increase marketability. |
| 5. Freelancing requires self-discipline and effective time management skills to succeed. |
Accept That You’re Behind
You’re not alone if you feel like being behind your parents’ generation is more than a temporary setback. According to the Pew Research Center, millennials are the first generation to face a lower standard of living than their parents did at that age.
If this trajectory continues, millennials will be the first generation to be poorer than their parents. No other generation has had such an experience in American history. As a millennial myself, I’m concerned about what this means for my future and yours too.
So what can you do? For starters, accept that being behind financially isn’t just temporary it’s likely permanent for most of us who entered adulthood during or after 2008’s Great Recession (which affected people born between 1980 and 2000).
That doesn’t mean we’re doomed though: We still have options!
If you’re considering a career as a freelance in the manufacturing field, it’s essential to understand the unique challenges and opportunities it presents. Check out our comprehensive guide on What’s It Like to Become a Freelance in the Manufacturing Field? to gain valuable insights and navigate your path to success.
Start Freelancing Now
Freelancing is a good way to get experience and gain a better understanding of what it is like to work for yourself. If you feel that you have no interest in freelancing, then don’t do it!
But if you are wondering what the experience would be like and want to try it out, freelancing certainly won’t hurt your chances of finding an actual job later on down the road.
There’s nothing wrong with working for yourself in fact, most people who start their businesses become very successful at them! So if this sounds interesting to you but also scary (it does take some courage), why not ease into things by starting as a freelancer first?
Find A Mentor
Finding a mentor who has done what you want to do is a great way to get started. You can find mentors in the most unexpected places: your mom, your best friend from high school, or even a stranger at an event that interests you.
Once you’ve found someone who will help guide you in your career and share their knowledge, take advantage of this relationship as much as possible.
Ask questions about their field and how they got started; if they were once just like you and are now successful, ask for advice on how they did it!
Are you passionate about writing and interested in the agricultural industry? Discover how you can turn your writing skills into a lucrative freelance career in agriculture. Learn more in our guide on How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Agricultural Industry and take the first steps towards building a fulfilling freelance writing career.
Stop Feeling Guilty
“Oh, this is the best thing I could do with my life.”
It’s a common refrain. You’ll hear it from friends and family, who are just trying to encourage you as you prepare to start your first job or go back to school.
But if you’ve decided that this career path or college program isn’t right for you, don’t let their words discourage you from doing something else instead.
It’s not their call whether or not your decision is “the best thing,” after all; it’s yours alone. And if they’re telling you that it isn’t? Well then maybe they’re wrong about themselves too!
So stop feeling guilty about the choices you made (and didn’t make). Stop feeling guilty about the choices others made.
And stop feeling guilty about any future decisions that might result in negative outcomes because sometimes doing what feels right means taking risks and accepting failure along the way…but ultimately succeeding anyway!
Understand That Flexibility Is A Luxury, Not A Right
This is an important lesson. Many people believe that flexibility should be a right, not a luxury. But it’s not always possible to be flexible. You can’t always get what you want, and sometimes you need to say no or I don’t know (or even try again later).
If you’re looking for a job at Starbucks where they’ll let you work 5 hours a week until your freelance gig becomes stable enough to support yourself full time, then maybe freelancing isn’t the right path for your life right now.
If your goal is to earn more money so that one day down the road when bills pile up and there’s no money left in savings accounts and retirement funds are gone because of unexpected expenses like a car breaking down or kids needing braces…it might not be worth it
Network
Networking is the most important skill you can develop. The more people you know, the greater your chance of finding a job or getting a gig. Here are some tips on networking from top experts and professionals:
Network with people in the industry you want to work in. If you want to be an entrepreneur, join a local startup incubator or coworking space.
If you’re interested in marketing jobs, get involved with local marketing groups like Wordstock and Startup Weekend. If journalism is your thing, attend events hosted by organizations like Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE).
Network with people in your local community who might have connections that could come in handy down the line.
Such as other freelancers or business owners who might be able to advise on how best to market yourself as well as any potential leads for jobs or gigs that may arise down the road!
The dream of homeownership can feel out of reach for many millennials due to the challenges of the gig economy and freelancing. Gain a deeper understanding of how freelancing impacts millennials’ ability to buy homes in our insightful article, Freelancing Is Keeping Millennials from Buying Homes, and explore alternative paths to financial stability.
Reevaluate Your Skillset
If you’re already in the workforce and feel stuck, look at your current skill set and ask yourself if it’s truly what you want to do. If not, take a chance on something new it may be just the thing that will put your career back on track.
You might also consider changing careers entirely! Don’t be afraid to do something completely different from what you’ve been trained for; chances are,
There are plenty of opportunities for people who can do what you used to do but with a different spin or using newer technology. The world is constantly changing why shouldn’t our work?
Admit That You Need Some Help
Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you don’t need help. In fact, as a millennial, it’s even more important that you get support and guidance from people who have been in your shoes before.
The worst thing about being young is that we often assume we know everything and can do everything ourselves without any assistance. This is not the case! We need other people’s wisdom just like anyone else does.
So ask for help from others people who are older than you, younger than you, and even peers your age who may be more experienced in certain aspects of life (like freelancing).
Volunteer And Take Classes In Your Field When You’re Unemployed
Volunteering is a great way to beef up your resume and build your network, gain skills, feel good about yourself, and make a difference in the world. It’s also an opportunity to explore different parts of the field that you might not have been exposed to before.
For example, if you’re interested in graphic design but don’t have any experience with it yet, volunteering with an organization like Goodwill could be helpful because they often have pressing needs for designers (e.g., flyers or posters).
Read About Business And Finance
You can also use freelancing to avoid becoming the “screwed generation.” You are probably familiar with the term, which refers to how millennials are having a hard time paying off their student loans and buying houses. That’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t have to be that way for you.
Freelancing is a great way for millennials to get more control over their careers. By becoming a freelancer, you’ll learn how business owners succeed in the real world.
You’ll also find out what works and doesn’t work when starting your own business or freelancing on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
Learn About Taxes And Retirement Plans And Apply That Knowledge
If you’re a Millennial, you’re probably not thinking about taxes or retirement plans. But if you want to avoid becoming the screwed generation, it would be wise for you to start thinking about them.
Taxes and retirement plans are important because they make sure that your money can grow over time so that when you retire, you don’t have to worry about how much money is coming in each month.
To prepare yourself for the future and make sure that your money can continue growing even after retirement age has come around, there are some things that Millennials need to know:
- How saving works (and how much should be saved)
- How investing works (and how it affects both how quickly investments grow as well as their overall value)
- How planning for the future works (and what steps need to be taken now so there aren’t any problems later on down the road).
Are you ready to take your freelance business to the next level and turn it into a successful career? Discover practical tips and strategies to elevate your freelance business in our guide on How to Turn Your Freelance Business into a Career. Unlock your full potential and create a sustainable and fulfilling freelance career.
Embrace Uncertainty
You can’t predict the future, but you can be ready for it.
If you find yourself worrying about what happens next in life, take comfort in knowing that no one else does either. The people who appear to have it all figured out are just as anxious and uncertain as you are they’re just better at hiding their fears and anxieties.
The truth is that no one knows anything about what lies ahead: not your boss, not your coworkers or classmates or parents or friends, and not me!
You may think I’m trying to say that there’s nothing we can do about uncertainty; that if we worry too much about it we’ll end up paralyzed by fear of our imaginations. But that’s not true at all!
We should be aware of how little we know about what will happen next in life (and remember those three things: uncertainty means opportunity for growth).
But instead of being paralyzed by this knowledge, I want Millennials to embrace uncertainty with excitement rather than fear.
Because when you stop looking backward into the past and start looking forward into an uncertain future full of potential opportunities and possibilities…well…that’s when the magic happens!
Millennials, take control of your financial future by leveraging the power of freelancing. Learn how freelancing can help you avoid becoming the ‘screwed generation’ and gain financial independence in our informative article, How Millennials Can Use Freelancing to Avoid Becoming the Screwed Generation. Discover the benefits and opportunities freelancing offers for millennials in today’s evolving job market.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of our deep dive on how millennials can use freelancing as a tool to avoid financial struggles and make their way. It’s a lot to take in, but you don’t have to consider all of it at once.
Freelancing might not be for everyone, but if you are constantly looking for new ways to supplement your income or expand your career prospects, then you should seriously consider it as one of your options.
We hope this article has given you some much-needed insight into just how powerful this opportunity can be!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the topics related to millennials and freelancing:
Millennial Burnout: Why Can’t Millennials Even?: Explore the concept of millennial burnout and its impact on the modern workforce.
As More Millennials Are Choosing to Freelance, Employers Must Evolve to Suit Employees’ Needs: Learn how employers can adapt their strategies to accommodate the growing trend of millennial freelancers.
6 Things to Remember When Managing Millennial Freelancers: Discover valuable tips for effectively managing millennial freelancers and optimizing their productivity.
FAQs
What is millennial burnout?
Millennial burnout refers to the phenomenon where individuals from the millennial generation experience chronic exhaustion, stress, and disillusionment in response to societal pressures, work demands, and personal expectations.
Why are more millennials choosing to freelance?
Millennials are increasingly drawn to freelancing due to the desire for flexibility, autonomy, and a better work-life balance. Freelancing allows them to pursue their passions, have control over their schedules, and explore multiple career opportunities.
How can employers adapt to the needs of millennial freelancers?
To accommodate millennial freelancers, employers can consider offering remote work options, flexible schedules, and project-based assignments. Creating a supportive and inclusive work culture that values work-life balance and professional development is also crucial.
What are some challenges of managing millennial freelancers?
Managing millennial freelancers may involve addressing their desire for clear communication, regular feedback, and opportunities for growth. It’s important to establish transparent expectations, maintain open lines of communication, and provide meaningful feedback to foster a productive working relationship.
How can employers optimize the productivity of millennial freelancers?
Employers can optimize the productivity of millennial freelancers by providing them with the necessary tools and resources, setting realistic deadlines and expectations, fostering a collaborative work environment, and recognizing and rewarding their achievements.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.