Is Freelancing A Career Or Just A Job?

Most freelancers have to ask themselves this question: is freelancing a career or just a job? The answer is “Yes.” Freelancing can be both, depending on your goals.

In my years of experience and research, I’ve discovered that there are some practices you can follow as a freelancer to make it seem and feel more like a career with long-term benefits and security.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does serve as an introduction for those interested in freelancing full-time.

Takeaways
1. Freelancing offers flexibility and autonomy, allowing individuals to be their own boss and set their schedules according to their preferences.
2. It is essential to understand the distinction between freelancing as a career choice and freelancing as a temporary job or side hustle.
3. Freelancing can provide a viable career path for those who value independence and want to explore diverse projects and clients.
4. Building a successful freelancing career requires continuous self-promotion, networking, and delivering high-quality work to maintain a steady stream of clients.
5. Despite its benefits, freelancing comes with challenges like irregular income, managing finances, and ensuring a work-life balance.
6. Freelancers should weigh the pros and cons carefully and assess their long-term career goals before committing to freelancing full-time.

Freelancing Can Be Both

Freelancing can be a career, a job, a business, and more. But it’s also more than that it’s an opportunity to do something you love on your terms and in your style.

Whether you want to work with clients full time or just on the side while working another job (or even if the idea of having freelance work as another source of income sounds good), freelancing is all about making choices that are right for you.

As the new generation of freelancers emerges, understanding their aspirations is crucial. Discover the insights on what Generation Z freelancers want from their career and how businesses can adapt to their needs.

You’re A Business If You Freelance

When you become your boss, you’re more than just an employee. You’re now a small business owner. The responsibilities and risks of owning a company can be daunting if you’re new to it, but if done right, they can also be very rewarding.

And what does it mean to run your own business? Well for starters:

• You set your hours. If something is going on in your life that makes it difficult for you to work during the day (like taking care of kids or aging parents), freelancing gives you flexibility outside the 9-to-5 grind.

This is especially important if there’s ever an emergency with someone who depends on you you’ll have options available that regular employees don’t have!

• You are responsible for all aspects of success or failure within your company from taxes and health insurance to retirement accounts (if applicable). That being said.

Being In Business Means Freelancing Could Be More Than A Job

Would you be interested in a career as a freelancer? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to think about how you can make that happen. Whether your goal is to make freelancing into more than just a job or if you’re already doing so, these tips will help bring out the best in you.

Being in business means freelancing could be more than a job. It also means there are certain responsibilities and risks associated with running your own show hardly anything worth doing that doesn’t come with challenges, right?

With the gig economy on the rise, it’s essential to grasp the reasons behind the shift in work dynamics. Learn why experts believe the future of work will be freelance and how it will impact industries and professionals alike.

Freelancing Can Have Steady Work, Just Not In The Same Way As Traditional Employment

Just as freelancing can be more fulfilling than traditional employment, it can also be steadier. Because you’re your boss and have complete control over your schedule, there’s no need to worry about job security.

You’ll know exactly how much money you make every month and what your expenses are, making managing finances easier. This freedom also means that it’s easier to take time off if you want to travel or pursue other interests without taking a hit on your income (just remember: freelancing taxes!).

When you’re working as an employee, particularly when there’s a lot of turnover at the company where you’re located whether due to layoffs or seasonal work you might find yourself with less work than usual or even laid off completely. When this happens in freelance life, however especially if it happens once in a while – just look for another client who needs your skillset! And if they don’t pay?. Try again until one does!

You’ll likely have less security, but also fewer constraints.

You’ll have less security, but also fewer constraints. This means you can be more flexible with your time, location, and work.

Security: You’re not guaranteed a paycheck each week or month. Your income depends on how many jobs you get and how much you charge for them. If you go through dry spells where there aren’t enough good jobs to go around, this could cause financial problems for you and your family if it’s not planned for in advance (which brings us back to “don’t quit your day job”).

Constraints: Freelancers are generally independent contractors who work from home or wherever else they want; the only thing stopping them from working at Starbucks all day is their willpower! 

But because being self-employed gives freelancers so much flexibility in terms of location and schedule they can work while they wait at the DMV instead of going into an office every morning it also means that they’re responsible for keeping track of taxes themselves rather than having something like payroll do it automatically (you’ll probably need software like TurboTax).

One of the great things about freelancing is that it’s flexible for your situation.

 Flexibility is a major perk of freelancing. You can work from home, a coffee shop, or anywhere else you feel comfortable and productive. If you have small children, this is ideal because it enables you to be with them when they need you but also get things done during nap time. 

It can also help if one spouse works outside of the home with two full-time jobs going on at once, there’s no need for anyone to stay late at work or come in early every day. You get to decide how much or little work you want to do each week/month/year.

This means that if your situation changes (e.g., someone gets pregnant), then there’s no problem adapting your schedule accordingly!

Freelancing may come with its challenges, but the rewards can be extraordinary. Explore the reasons behind the difficulties and the reasons why you should embrace freelancing regardless. Check out our article on why freelancing is hard and why you should do it anyway to gain valuable insights.

You’ll Do A Lot Of Things You Didn’t Expect Starting Out

You’ll have to learn new skills, and that can be frustrating at times. You might find yourself doing things you don’t like but are necessary for your business (doing the laundry, cleaning toilets). You may work long hours or from home on occasion.

And if freelancing isn’t already something people know about you, it will become even more apparent when they see what your job entails: Calling clients, finding new clients, and keeping current ones satisfied… It’s not always fun!

Freelancing Requires Learning New Skills And Constantly Improving Your Existing Ones

One of the best ways to learn new skills is by doing. Do you have an idea for a project? Start working on it and see how far you get. If you’ve never done anything like this before, don’t worry: most people have no experience with freelancing when they start. You will be learning as you go along just like everyone else!

Learn new skills by watching others; If there are people who do what you want to do better than anyone else out there (and in the case of freelancers, there usually are), then watch them! Watch them do their thing, see how they solve problems and complete tasks.

Then try incorporating some of those solutions into your workflow. It might take some practice but eventually, it’ll become second nature and help make your projects even more efficient than before!

Growing As A Professional Is One Of The Best Parts Of Freelancing

One of the best parts of freelance writing is that you get to choose what you learn and what you don’t. If a company wants someone to write 300-word articles about how to set up an Instagram profile, but you’re already an expert on social media marketing, that’s great! 

You’ll be able to use your expertise and earn more money in less time. On the other hand, if a company asks for someone who knows how to write content for their website but isn’t familiar with SEO (search engine optimization), then this is going to be a struggle for them as well as for you because now there’s another thing on your plate: learning all about SEO before writing anything else.

The best part about freelancing is learning as much as possible from your clients’ needs and your peers’ successes/failures so that every project becomes easier than the last one and sometimes even fun!

Embarking on a freelance journey can lead to unexpected personal growth and revelations. Learn how the experience of working as a freelancer opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities and self-discovery.

Work And Life Are More Intertwined When You Freelance, So You Need To Take Care Of Yourself To Keep It Sustainable

As a freelancer, you have to make sure that you take care of yourself. Because the nature of your work is more intertwined with your personal life than in traditional jobs, it’s important to have a good work-life balance. 

This can be challenging when both jobs require so much time and energy: You might not want to take breaks from one because you feel like there are things left on the table, and taking breaks from the other feels like giving up or admitting failure.

To combat this, think about how long you can go without taking any kind of break (whether an hour at lunch or three full days off). And then keep track of how often these breaks happen throughout the year and try to increase them over time. If two weeks sounds too long right now, start with one day per week and build up from there. 

It’s also important not just to take breaks but also to make sure they’re good quality ones – try meditating or exercising instead of just watching TV!

When You Freelance, You’ll Find Yourself Balancing Multiple Priorities All The Time 

Freelancing is all about time management. You’ll have to balance multiple priorities, learn how to multitask, prioritize what’s most important and say no when you need to.

In a freelancing career, you’re not just one person; you’re many people. Freelancers are entrepreneurs and business owners who wear many hats: designer, writer, marketer, and more. When we work on projects for clients (or even ourselves).

We wear those different hats at different times based on the needs of the project at hand. We may be writing copy one day while designing a website the next day (and then doing SEO). And then on another day we might be updating social media profiles or pitching our services to potential clients and that’s all just in one day!

The bottom line is if you want success as a freelancer (or even just being able to pay your bills), then learning how to manage your time effectively is key!

Freelancing Is Filled With Choices, Some Easier Than Others, But You Still Have To Make Them All The Time

Choosing your clients is one of the first and most important decisions that freelancers have to make. If you’re working for someone who doesn’t value your time, it’s okay to say no.

As a freelancer, you can also choose when and where you work; this is something I’ve found incredibly liberating. The freedom to choose your hours means that if something is going on in your life a birthday party for a kid or a family vacation you don’t have to worry about it affecting work commitments because there aren’t any!

Finally, the projects that come through my inbox are often very different from one another; some require more research than others while some just need me to sit down and write them up without much thought required.

Since I work with several clients at once, this means I can pick which projects I want based on how much effort they will take or how far away they are from my current project list (and how much time they might take away from other tasks).

While freelancing offers flexibility and autonomy, it’s crucial to be aware of its challenges. Get to know the potential pitfalls and the strategies to overcome them. Check out our guide on the problem with freelance work to make informed decisions in your freelancing career

Freelancing Will Give You Plenty Of Opportunities To Improve Your Financial Situation If You Take Advantage Of Them

The most obvious way to make money as a freelancer is to complete projects and sell your services. However, there are other ways to generate revenue that you might not have considered. For example, you can sell products and/or services related to the topic of your freelance writing gig. 

You can also use affiliate marketing techniques to earn passive income from the websites where you publish your content. Don’t be afraid to explore these options if they come up during your work!

Your Finances And Your Mental Health Can Be Closely Related When You’re A Freelancer, So Learn How To Balance Them Both

Start with a budget: This is one of the first things that many people suggest when they talk about managing money as a freelancer, and it’s not just because budgets are effective at keeping track of spending.

A budget also helps you make sure that the amount of money coming in matches the amount going out. If it doesn’t match up, then something needs to change and that something could be part of your career path or part of your lifestyle.

Know what’s coming in: One way to make sure that everything matches up is by knowing how much freelance work will pay each week/month/year before accepting any jobs. If there are factors beyond your control (such as an increase in expenses), then have an emergency fund ready for these situations so that they don’t affect other parts of your life negatively (like making rent).

It may take some time before this becomes second nature; but once it does, having financial security will feel amazing!

You Could Get Paid With More Than Money If You Freelance Long Enough (Assuming Whatever It Is Has Value)

You’ll build a portfolio that showcases your skills, which can be valuable to future employers.

You’ll learn how to set up your own business and grow as an independent worker, which means you have a leg up on the competition when it comes time for your next job hunt.

If there’s anyone out there who can help you get better at what you do by paying attention to their work and giving them feedback (and they’re willing), then freelancing is likely the best way to go about this, since most people would rather not pay someone else if they don’t have to and that’s exactly what freelancers offer: access without any overhead costs beyond their own time spent doing so!

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering freelancing already, the next step is figuring out if it’s right for you. There are a lot of benefits to this type of work, and while we’ve only listed a few here, there are many more.

Most people who freelance wouldn’t go back to traditional employment if they could. If the idea of working from home and setting your schedule appeals to you, then give freelancing some serious consideration. Sure it has its challenges, but so does any job (and probably more so than most). We hope these tips have given you a glimpse into what it might be like if you take the plunge yourself someday soon!

Further Reading

Millennials’ Guide to Becoming a Freelancer vs. Employee: Learn about the key considerations millennials should keep in mind when deciding between freelancing and traditional employment.

What Is Freelancing and How Does It Work?: Discover the ins and outs of freelancing and gain a clear understanding of how freelancers operate in today’s job market.

Benefits of Freelancing: Is It Right for You?: Explore the advantages and potential perks of freelancing to determine if it aligns with your career goals and lifestyle.

People Also Ask

What Is A Freelancer?

A freelancer is a person who does work for others instead of having a full-time job. Freelancers are not employed by the companies that hire them, but they are paid for their work. Freelancers can be people with special skills or services to sell, businesses that provide a service to companies or individuals, or individuals who offer their services to other individuals or small businesses.

Is Freelancing A Good Career Choice For Me?

Yes! Freelancing is a flexible, engaging way to make money. You can work from home or on the go, and you can decide what kind of projects you want to take on. If you’re looking for a rewarding career, freelancing is a great place to start.

How Do I Get Started?

There are lots of ways to get started with freelancing. One option is to use an online platform like [company name] where you can connect with other freelancers who are looking for help on their projects. Another option is to find clients by posting your resume on job boards or in social media groups.

What Kinds Of Skills Do I Need?

Some people think that they need certain skills to start freelancing like graphic design experience or coding knowledge but this isn’t necessarily true! Many freelancers don’t have any formal training at all before they begin working independently. 

You may also find that some clients require specific skillsets from their workers, so you must know what your strengths are and what type of work will suit them best before accepting any offers from potential employers!

How Many Freelancers Are There?

It’s hard to say exactly how many freelancers there are in the world, but it’s estimated that there are between 36 million and 55 million worldwide (in 2016). In the US alone there were an estimated 53 million freelance workers in 2016 that’s one in three U.S. workers!

What Are The Benefits Of Freelancing?

There are many benefits of freelancing. You get to choose when and where you work, which means you can have more control over your schedule and lifestyle. Freelancers have more freedom than employees because they don’t have an employer telling them what time to arrive at the office or when they can take vacation time off from work.

Freelancers also have more flexibility with their finances because they aren’t restricted by taxes or other company policies that could affect their bottom line as much as if they were working full-time for someone else’s company (or even part-time).

How Do I Know If I’m Ready For A Freelance Career?

If you’ve got a great portfolio, a solid work ethic, and a creative mind, then you’re probably ready to go out on your own! But there are some things to keep in mind before you take the plunge:

• It’s not easy. You’ll need to be willing to work long hours and put in extra effort when necessary.
• You’ll need to be self-motivated. The more self-sufficient you are, the easier it will be for you to succeed.
• You need multiple streams of revenue. If one client drops out, you don’t want all your eggs in one basket you want options so that if one thing falls through or doesn’t work out, there are other options available to keep things afloat until something else comes along.

How Do I Get Started As A Freelance Writer?

The first step in becoming a freelance writer is finding work online (or offline). It’s important to do this before you start working on your projects so that you have something to show potential clients when they ask for samples of your work.

How Do I Get Started As A Freelancer?

The first thing you need to do is find clients. There are tons of ways to do this you can look for them on social media, put up a website and let people know about it, send cold emails, etc. You just have to be creative and not afraid to try new things. Of course, once you’ve found some clients, you’ll want to set up your rates and contracts so that everyone knows what’s expected from each side.