I’ve been a professional freelancer since I was 16, and now at age 17, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on it. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been obstacles along the way!
Freelancing can be really hard for some people, especially because technology makes it so easy to compare yourself to other people who seem more successful than you.
As much as we can try to be immune from this stuff, we’re all human (especially Gen Z!). So here are the top 13 challenges of being a Gen Z freelancer and how to overcome them from someone who’s been there!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Identify Generation Z freelancer challenges and their impact on the work landscape. |
| 2. Develop strategies to overcome freelancing hurdles with a focus on Generation Z’s unique traits. |
| 3. Embrace empathetic leadership to connect with Generation Z freelancers and boost engagement. |
| 4. Cultivate a dedicated workspace to enhance productivity and work efficiency. |
| 5. Understand the scope and challenges of freelancers in the modern competitive market. |
| 6. Implement practical tips for successful client relationships and professional interactions. |
| 7. Utilize technology and personalized approaches in event planning for Generation Z participants. |
| 8. Manage stress and balance work-life commitments effectively in the freelancing journey. |
| 9. Enhance communication skills to build better business relationships and deals. |
| 10. Explore various freelance skills with less competition for a competitive edge. |
| 11. Leverage feedback and client reviews to improve freelancing businesses on platforms like Upwork. |
| 12. Navigate challenges of working in the manufacturing industry as a freelancer. |
| 13. Adopt time management techniques and diversify skill sets for freelancing success. |
1. The Risk Of Burnout
Burnout can have a serious impact on your life and career, so it’s important to learn how to avoid it. Here are some ways you can help prevent burnout:
Avoiding burnout starts with taking time off. Take regular breaks throughout the day, even if they’re only 10 minutes long every hour or two.
This will give your brain a chance to relax and refresh itself while giving you an opportunity to recharge your batteries before going back into work mode again later in the day (or after lunch).
Get enough sleep each night – at least seven hours for adults – so that when you wake up in the morning.
All of the mental energy from having gotten good sleep will be available for productive use during the day without having to fight through grogginess first thing in the morning or afternoon.
Make sure that there are no distractions around when working including phones ringing or emails coming through which could interrupt what needs done at any given moment.
Because otherwise, these distractions may cause something else on their terms instead of yours which would then cause issues later on down the line when trying to finish something up.
Before leaving work for home again later today/tomorrow morning etcetera depending upon whether tomorrow is Monday or Tuesday etcetera).
Struggling to create a productive workspace for your freelancing journey? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Check out our guide on how to set up a dedicated workspace and be super productive in your freelancing endeavors.
2. Finding A Mentor
You’re going to need a mentor. You may think you can do everything yourself, or that no one’s going to help you anyway, but there are many reasons why mentors are important:
A mentor can help with skills development, which is something Generation Z is all about. Your generation has grown up in an increasingly digital world where they have access to a wealth of information and resources like no other generation before them.
But it’s still important for young people to learn from older generations’ experiences so they don’t make common mistakes (like getting overly emotional when life gets hard).
Plus, if your goal is a success as a freelancer, having someone who has been where you’re headed will give your confidence and motivation an enormous boost!
Mentors can provide career planning and development advice for their mentees but only if those mentees ask for it!
It’s just as frustrating when people don’t take advantage of opportunities because they don’t want others telling them what to do; however, these same people often fail at making life changes because the “right” time never seems right enough until later…or never comes at all!
If everyone asked questions instead of waiting around hoping someone else will come along with answers (which rarely happens).
Then suddenly there would be lots more pros doing amazing things every day instead of just complaining about problems without trying anything new.”
3. The Competition
As a freelancer, competition is always present. You might be tempted to think that this is a bad thing after all, who wants to have their work compared with other people?
But the truth is that competition can be a good thing for you as a freelancer. Competition keeps you on your toes and makes sure that you’re always striving for better results.
The key to making the most out of this aspect of being a freelancer is knowing how to take advantage of it in positive ways. Here are some tips:
The best way to use competition is as motivation as inspiration and information source. When someone does something amazing with their business or craft.
It can inspire us and help us learn new things about our work habits and processes by seeing what works for them and how they go about doing things differently than we do (or vice versa).
Freelancing is no longer limited to writers; it has evolved into a diverse field with numerous opportunities. Discover more about this transformation in our article on why freelancing is not just for writers anymore and explore new horizons for your freelancing career.
4. The Sneaky Bad Habit Of Thinking Less Is More
One of the most common mistakes that Gen Z freelancers make is thinking that less is more when it comes to their business.
They get it in their head that they should focus on doing less and being a bit more conservative with their time, but this is a sneaky bad habit that can lead to missing opportunities for growth.
I’m not saying that you should try to do everything all at once in fact, I don’t recommend it! But there are two things you can do to keep from falling into this trap:
(1) focus on building your skillset by learning new things or taking classes; and
(2), think about how each new thing fits into your long-term goals and life plan.
It’s easy to get caught up in short-term gains (like getting paid right now) instead of thinking about how every move you make will impact where you end up down the road. But if one goal is important enough to you and if it takes time and effort to achieve, then why stop halfway?
5. Body Image Goes Digital
It’s a common misconception that Generation Z is a self-absorbed generation. The reality is that they’re just as insecure and affected by society as any other generation. But because of the digital age we live in, their insecurities are often amplified.
The pressure to be perfect starts early: children’s toys with unrealistic body proportions and gender stereotypes have been on the market for years now.
But when it comes to social media and reality TV shows like Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the pressures have only gotten worse.
Our Gen Z freelancers may start believing that they need to be skinny, rich, famous, or all three!
They may feel like they need to master every skill known to man (and some not yet invented), and if their skills aren’t up-to-date enough then they might not even get considered for jobs at all!
6. The Comparison Trap
Comparison is the thief of all joy. It can be damaging to your self-esteem and lead to feelings of envy and resentment, making it harder for you to feel like you are good enough.
The comparison trap is one of the most common challenges Gen Z freelancers face due to social media platforms and other digital marketing tools that encourage sharing our work with others.
How Do I Get Out?
To get out of this comparison trap, start by focusing on yourself rather than others: What do you want from your career?
What will achieving that look like? If it helps you can write down some goals for yourself or create a vision board with images representing what matters most in life (not just work).
Building successful client relationships requires tact and discretion. Curious to know the secrets? Delve into our list of 13 things freelancers should never reveal to clients to maintain strong client connections and professionalism.
7. Isolation And Social Anxiety
There are a lot of challenges specific to Generation Z freelancers. One of them is isolation and social anxiety.
This happens when you don’t have enough social interaction in your life, which can lead to a lack of support and connection as well. This type of isolation can cause feelings like loneliness, but also might make you feel less confident in yourself or your abilities.
If this sounds familiar to you, don’t worry! There are ways that we can help our clients avoid these feelings so they can continue on their journey towards being successful entrepreneurs who love what they do!
8. Lack Of Structure
It’s no surprise that freelancers are often highly independent and creative individuals. But while this mindset can help you develop new ideas and find creative solutions to problems, it can also lead to procrastination and burnout if not balanced with a healthy dose of structure.
Because no boss is looking over your shoulder at all hours of the day or week, it’s easy to let things slide when they should be getting done.
If you have trouble getting started on tasks that need to be completed before others (like invoicing clients), consider setting up an appointment with yourself in your calendar every Friday afternoon for example, “Invoice Client X for $XXX by 3 pm today.
Make sure this is something that happens every Friday so that after several weeks in a row of successfully meeting deadlines on time, it will become a habit for you!
If you find yourself frequently overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs doing then break down larger projects into smaller chunks so there isn’t such an overwhelming feeling associated with them
Freelancing has revolutionized the modern work landscape and brought forth new possibilities. Explore the benefits and experiences of freelancers in our insightful piece on why freelancing is the best thing to happen to work in a long time and embark on your freelance journey with confidence.
9. Losing Touch With Real People In Real-Time
When you’re working from home, it can be difficult to stay in touch with other people in real life. However, this is an important aspect of the freelance lifestyle that you don’t want to miss out on.
Make sure that you schedule time each week for seeing friends and family if possible, even if it’s just for a short time (and don’t let yourself get too caught up in work).
If possible, try to meet up with others who are also freelancers and try to encourage each other by sharing stories or ideas.
10. Performing For An Audience
One of the biggest challenges for Gen Z freelancers is performing for an audience. Whether you’re working with a client, team, or manager, you need to be able to pitch ideas and clearly explain your reasoning.
That’s not easy when you don’t have the confidence and experience of having done it before.
One way around this problem is to try and find someone who will listen to you pitch an idea whether they are a family member, friend, or stranger so that they can give feedback on how well you did.
They might even offer suggestions as to how your pitch could have been presented better!
11. Working Remotely Without Proper Tools/Equipment
You will also need to make sure your laptop or computer is up to the task. It’s a good idea to invest in a solid device with good battery life, as you don’t want it dying on you during an important job interview or project deadline.
You should also look into getting an external monitor so that you can keep track of everything happening on your screen while working remotely.
12. Lack Of Space/Work Environment Issues
Dedicated workspace is important: When you’re in a shared office, it can be hard to have time on your own to focus on work. If you have your dedicated workspace, it’s easier for you to stay focused and get things done without distractions.
Set up your dedicated workspace: A good way to set up your dedicated workspace is by putting all of your devices in one area (e.g., monitor and keyboard), so that when you want to start working, all the materials are easily accessible at once.
Make use of your dedicated workspace: Try adding plants or other decorations around the space they’ll make it feel homier and increase productivity by helping reduce stress levels!
You can also do things like keeping snacks nearby so that if hunger strikes while working through lunchtime hours.
There won’t be any problem grabbing something quick as long as they’re within arm’s reach at all times without having too much trouble getting back into focus mode afterward 🙂
Make sure everything works properly before moving on to anything else: Before starting any project online where there might be lots of distractions around us instead of focusing only on what matters most (our computer screen!).
Double-check everything first just because sometimes small details can cause big problems later down the line when deadlines start creeping closer towards our faces faster than expected.”
13. Unexpected Costs (Client Flakes Or Doesn’t Pay)
This is a common problem for freelancers. It can happen for many reasons, but it’s important to know how to handle it when it does. The first step is to be prepared for this possibility and have a plan in place.
You need to set aside some of your revenue from each client as an emergency fund so that you can handle any unexpected costs or problems that come up with a client, whether they’re flaking out on paying their bill or taking months longer than expected to pay their invoice.
The best way to do this is by setting up an automatic transfer from your bank account into your emergency fund every time you get paid by one of your clients.
This way, the money doesn’t even hit your checking account before being transferred over into the safer zone where it will sit until needed!
Freelancing can be an exciting career path, but it comes with its share of stress. Want to make it easier on yourself? Check out our article on how to cope with the stresses of freelancing and implement practical strategies to enhance your freelancing experience.
Conclusion
We know the challenges of being a freelancer are many but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams. Freelancing can be both rewarding and challenging, but it’s up to you as a Gen Z freelancer to rise above the challenges and reap the rewards.
The key is not giving up on yourself or your goals when things get hard. We wish you all the best in your freelance journey!
Further Reading
How to Overcome the Challenges & Frustrations of Leading Gen Z with Empathy: Learn effective leadership strategies to address the unique challenges faced while leading Generation Z with empathy.
Scope and Challenges of Freelancers: Explore the scope and challenges freelancers encounter in the dynamic and competitive work landscape.
How to Overcome Generation Z Meeting Planning Challenges: Discover practical tips and solutions to overcome meeting planning challenges when dealing with Generation Z participants.
FAQs
Can empathetic leadership improve the engagement of Generation Z employees?
Yes, empathetic leadership fosters a sense of trust and understanding, leading to improved engagement among Generation Z employees.
What are some common challenges faced by freelancers in their careers?
Freelancers often grapple with inconsistent income streams, maintaining work-life balance, and securing long-term projects.
How can organizations adapt to the unique needs of Generation Z in event planning?
Organizations can embrace technology, interactive formats, and personalization to cater to Generation Z’s preferences and enhance event experiences.
How does empathy help leaders in addressing the frustrations of Generation Z?
Empathy enables leaders to connect on a deeper level with Generation Z individuals, understanding their perspectives and concerns to find suitable solutions.
Are there any specific strategies to effectively manage freelancing challenges?
Freelancers can adopt time management techniques, diversify their skill sets, and build a strong professional network to overcome common freelancing challenges.
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.