When I tell people that I freelance, I usually can count on one of two responses. The first is “What’s freelancing?” and the second is “I’ve never heard of that, but tell me more!” Now, let me be clear: my family and friends aren’t idiots.
They’re just not familiar with the term ‘freelance’, so I’ll take this opportunity to explain what it means for those in the same boat. In short, freelancing means working for yourself instead of for a company or an organization.
Freelancers can work on all kinds of projects depending on their skill sets and passions from writing articles about travel to building websites from scratch to designing eye-catching logos for new businesses popping up across town each day.
But there are also numerous benefits you might enjoy when you freelance:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Generation Z is heavily involved in freelancing, and there are reasons why you should consider it too. |
| Freelancing offers flexibility, independence, and the opportunity to pursue your passions. |
| It allows you to have control over your work-life balance and create your own career path. |
| Freelancing can provide financial stability and the potential for higher earnings. |
| With the right skills and mindset, freelancing can be a viable and fulfilling career option for Generation Z and beyond. |
Freelancing Is The Way Of The Future
Freelancers are the future. And it’s not just because I’ve been told by several friends that they prefer working for themselves over a company. The freelancing economy is growing, and it’s expected to grow even more in the coming years.
According to Freelancing in America: A National Survey from Upwork and Freelancers Union, freelancers account for 34% of all U.S workers, with one-third of those working as full-time freelancers (a number which has grown by 53% since 2014).
The study also found that nearly half of all Americans have done some form of freelance work before whether it was part-time or full-time and 40 percent said they’d be open to doing more in the future!
Needless to say, there are a lot of people who think freelancing is cool right now and most likely will continue being cool for quite some time.
Treating freelancing like a business is crucial for success. Learn why in our article on is freelancing a business and discover valuable insights on how to maximize your freelancing potential.
Freelancers Can Relate To Other Freelancers
Freelancers are a close-knit group, both online and in real life. In fact, we often refer to ourselves as “freelance families” or “the freelance tribe.” It’s an incredibly supportive community and you will find people who are willing to help you out in any way they can.
Part of being a freelancer is the constant learning process you never stop learning how to be better at your craft, which means that there are always new tips and tricks for you to learn from other freelancers!
You Might Be Able To Negotiate For More Money
You may have the opportunity to negotiate your salary with your new employer, which is great news for anyone who started working in a field that doesn’t pay very well in the first place.
But it’s also good news if you’ve worked at that same low-paying job for several years and are ready to move on.
In fact, according to an article from Fast Company magazine, 43 percent of millennials negotiated their salaries when they did so (compared with only 37 percent of Gen Xers and 24 percent of baby boomers).
So if you’re interested in doing so, here are some tips for how to go about it:
Do your research before negotiating! You’ll want a good idea of what other people in similar positions are being paid so that you can use this information as leverage during negotiations and make sure that yours isn’t too outrageous (or underwhelming).
Try using Glassdoor’s salary estimator tool when looking into salaries or visit websites like PayScale or Salary.com instead; they’ll give you detailed information based on location and experience level.
Remember: The goal here isn’t just getting more money it’s making sure there aren’t any glaring disparities between what others around you are making versus what one might be paying them!
Don’t feel guilty about asking for more money than someone else would expect from their employer;
Everyone wants something different out of their career trajectory and depending on where each individual stands right now financially/emotionally/etc., asking for more could mean big things down the line!
Understanding design contract clauses is essential for freelancers. Dive into our comprehensive guide on design contract clauses to protect your rights, ensure fair compensation, and establish strong working relationships with clients.
You Can Work From Anywhere (If It Has Wifi)
That’s right. Anywhere. No more commuting to the office to be stuck behind a desk all day, no more spending every weekend at your cubicle farm, and no more working in that suffocating office space with everyone else.
Nowadays, people can freelance on their terms and one of those terms is that you can do it from any location with wi-fi access.
You don’t have to worry about having an office anymore; instead, you can work wherever you please!
So if you want to work from home or from the coffee shop near your house or at one of your favorite parks or at the beach or even in the library or on a train or even in an airport/hotel room nothing is stopping you from doing so!
You Have The Opportunity To Do What You Want When You Want
Working for yourself means you have the opportunity to do what you want, when you want.
You can choose your own schedule and set your own hours. You can work on the weekends if that’s when inspiration strikes or take vacation time during the week if that’s more convenient for your lifestyle. You can even work in your pajamas! The important thing is that it works for YOU.
You’ll Get To Connect With People From All Over The World
With the power of the internet and a little bit of hustle, you can get your work out there to people from all over the world.
You’re going to learn about other cultures, different ways of doing things, and more importantly people who think differently than you do.
You Won’t Be Stuck In A Cubicle All Day
I’ve been freelancing for over a decade and have never had a full-time job. That may make you wonder, “Isn’t that the same thing?”
And while I can’t answer that question definitively because it involves you, me, and several other variables, I know this: being an independent contractor means having more control over your schedule and lifestyle.
In my experience, if there’s one thing Generation Z has taught us millennials is that we don’t have to be chained to office jobs anymore.
They’re changing our relationship with work by demanding more flexible schedules from employers and embracing side gigs as sources of income during their college years and beyond!
If you feel like working 9-to-5 is choking creativity out of your life (or just want more freedom), this piece will show how easy it can be for anyone to become an entrepreneur who does whatever they want every day with their business model.
Are you looking to kick-start your freelancing career? Check out our expert tips in the article 12 tips to kick-start your freelancing career and learn practical strategies to accelerate your growth and achieve success in less time.
It’s Possible To Make More Money Than Someone Who Works 9 To 5
A freelancer can set their rates. They can also negotiate for more money if they’re in demand, which is a big perk of freelancing.
Freelancers can work more hours than 9-5ers, and they don’t have to worry about clocking out at 5 pm because there’s no one keeping track of them (except themselves).
If you work from home or from anywhere with wifi, you’re not limited by your commute time you could be on your way to the grocery store while watching Netflix or catching up with friends instead of sitting in traffic! Finally, freelancers can work on their own schedule.
If someone needs your help right now? No problem! You’re free to help them immediately instead of having to take off early or leaving early just so that someone else may find something wrong with your job performance later down the road.
It’s A Lot Easier To Network As A Freelancer
During your career, you’ll find that it’s quite hard to network with other people. You feel like you don’t have the time and effort to put into a proper relationship with someone else, and that just one mistake could ruin everything. But as a freelancer, this isn’t true!
Freelancers are better at networking because they know how valuable their skills are and because they’re not afraid of competition from fellow professionals (they’ll just hire another freelancer).
They know that if they’re good at what they do, then there will always be an opportunity for them somewhere else. So when you meet someone new who might be able to help your business grow (or even pay your bills!), don’t be afraid; go ahead and give them your contact information!
You Can Balance Your Work And Personal Life Better When You Freelance
My Generation Z Homies Are All Freelancing, So Why Shouldn’t You?
Now that you know the benefits of freelancing, let’s talk about how to get started. First and foremost, know that there are plenty of resources available to help you take the first steps toward a freelance career.
For example, there are sites like Upwork where companies can hire freelancers for projects and gigs. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in doing on a regular basis (or even just once), then consider signing up with these platforms!
However, if this doesn’t sound like something for you at all… don’t worry! There are plenty more ways for members of your generation to make ends meet without having to work full-time jobs or commit themselves to traditional 9-5 schedules.
Here are some great ways my peers have been making extra money without leaving their beds:
It’s A Way Of Getting Experience In Any Field You’re Interested In
There are many ways to learn a new skill. You can watch someone else do it, you can try and then learn from your own mistakes, or you can try and then read about what you did wrong so that next time you want!
By freelancing, you have the opportunity to watch others work in their fields while also learning from them directly.
If there is someone who has the experience that comes from working in your field of interest (for example: if they worked on a project similar to what yours would be), consider asking them for advice on how they got their experience.
This will help get your feet wet before diving into anything too advanced!
Additionally, once your freelancer career takes off and business starts coming in (which statistically speaking will probably happen), it’s also likely that people with connections within the industry will want some extra help with projects unrelated to yours.
These unsolicited gigs may sound unappealing at first but remember: every little bit counts when building up those skillsets we talked about earlier!
Discover how freelancing can positively impact your life during maternity leave. Read our personal story on how freelancing affected life during maternity leave and gain insights into the flexibility, fulfillment, and work-life balance freelancing can offer.
Your Schedule Is Flexible When You Freelance, Which Can Help If You’re A Night Owl
Imagine this: it’s 10 p.m., and you’re in the zone. The idea for a new blog post has just popped into your head, and you know exactly what you want to write about.
You could be working on something else right now, but there’s no way you’re going to stop writing this one it’s too good! With freelancing, when inspiration strikes is up to you.
You can work whenever it suits your fancy or need and that includes well past midnight if that’s what works best for you (or all night if that’s how long inspiration keeps flowing).
If this sounds like freedom from routine, it is! But remember: while flexibility is awesome.
Don’t forget the importance of healthy habits like sleeping at least seven hours a night and taking breaks throughout each day so that everything stays fresh in our minds including those creative juices!
Humble Bragging Is Such A Big Part Of Freelancing
Humble bragging is a great way to share your freelancing experience without being annoying. It’s also a good excuse for you to brag about how much time and energy you’ve been spending on this gig, but in a non-annoying way.
In the past, humble bragging has been used by many people for its ability to make them sound cool without coming off as arrogant. But in our generation, it can be used even better because it gives us an opportunity to seem humble while we talk about all the freelancing we’re doing!
Interested in exploring the freelance agency model for your business? Our article on what is the freelance agency model provides a comprehensive overview and practical tips on how to implement this innovative approach to maximize productivity and scale your operations.
Conclusion
If you want to join the millions of people who are already freelancing and start making some extra cash, do it! There’s no better time than now.
The world is changing, technology is more advanced than ever before, and there are tons of opportunities for you to get started. It can be scary at first, but it’s worth it you’ll never regret trying something new
Further Reading
Here are some additional articles to explore for further reading on the topic of Generation Z and freelancing:
Gen Z Career Choices: Discover the unique career choices and preferences of Generation Z, including their inclination towards freelancing and alternative work arrangements.
The Rise of the Gen Z Side Hustle: Learn about the increasing trend of side hustles among Generation Z and how they are leveraging their skills and interests to pursue additional income streams.
Nearly Half of All Gen Z and Millennial Workers Did Freelance Work This Year: Gain insights into the rising prevalence of freelancing among both Generation Z and Millennial workers, and understand the reasons behind this growing trend.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to freelancing and Generation Z:
What is the appeal of freelancing for Generation Z?
Freelancing offers Generation Z the flexibility to work on their own terms, pursue their passions, and have a better work-life balance.
How can Generation Z effectively manage their freelancing careers alongside other commitments?
Generation Z can manage their freelancing careers by setting clear boundaries, practicing time management techniques, and leveraging technology tools to streamline their workflows.
What skills are in demand for Generation Z freelancers?
In addition to specific technical skills, Generation Z freelancers should focus on developing strong communication, problem-solving, and adaptability skills to thrive in the competitive freelance market.
How can Generation Z freelancers find clients and build a network?
Generation Z freelancers can utilize online platforms, such as freelancing websites and social media, to find clients and establish professional connections. Attending industry events and networking with like-minded professionals can also be beneficial.
What challenges do Generation Z freelancers face and how can they overcome them?
Some common challenges for Generation Z freelancers include managing finances, dealing with isolation, and establishing credibility. By seeking mentorship, developing a strong support system, and continuously improving their skills, Generation Z freelancers can overcome these challenges and succeed in their freelance careers.
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.