The idea of freelancing divides opinions in
the working world. There’s a collection of freelancers who absolutely love this
way of doing things. They enjoy the freedom, flexibility, and potential of
freelancing - particularly when compared to a similar job in a more
conventional work style. Then, you have individuals who try to freelance but
hate it for one reason or another. It makes the decision to freelance slightly
more confusing for any up-and-coming professionals.
Is freelancing right for you? It’s a pretty
big career shift - and can be a risk - so it helps to know if you suit this
lifestyle or not. Here are four ways to find out if it’s a big yes or a massive
no:
#1 Take a detailed career test
Career tests or assessments are pretty good
ways of seeing what jobs might suit you more than others. Certainly, it can
indicate if the world of freelancing is worth entering. Undergoing things like
the Strong Interest Inventory Assessment will show
you what type of work suits your main interests and passions. This can tell you
whether or not your interests are best suited to freelancing or traditional
work.
You may discover that your main interests and
skills align perfectly with a traditional 9-5 job in an office. Or, it may be
abundantly clear that your skills suit the life of a freelancer. You probably
shouldn’t use the results of a career test to make your decision - but if it
points to a freelance life while other things also suggest this path is right
for you, then it’s a pretty obvious indicator!
#2 Dabble in some freelance work
on the side
The amazing thing about freelancing is that
you can do it whenever you like. There’s flexibility here which means you can
keep working your normal job while trying some freelance work. Try offering your
services and finding some clients in your spare time. It doesn’t even have to
be paid work - you can do some voluntary stuff for friends/family.
The point is; this helps you experience life
as a freelancer. If you discover that you’re having more fun doing this than
working your actual job, it’s time to have some big discussions internally.
Maybe it’s time to quit your 9-5 and start an online business that solely
focuses on freelance work.
#3 Assess your current career
potential
This is a difficult thing to do, but you need
to look at your current career (if you have one) and see its true potential.
To put it another way: how far will your job
take you?
Are you currently on a ladder where
progression is easy and you’ll keep on climbing? This can be the case with a
lot of jobs, meaning the potential is high. In theory, the harder you work, the
more money you’ll earn and the more
opportunities you’ll be presented with. For people in this situation,
freelancing may not be the greatest idea. You’ve already got room to grow, and
you may be better off carrying on down this path and seeing where it leads you.
On the other side of the spectrum, you have
people in careers with no progression. You can’t seem to see a way to move up
the ladder - or there’s a clear stopping point. Many of you reading this have
already reached this stopping point. You saw a lot of initial progression with
your job, but it reached a point where it’s almost impossible to move ahead.
Here, freelancing can be a fantastic way of breaking through this invisible
barrier. You’re not forced to follow a career path and can explore endless
possibilities.
The only thing limiting your progress as a freelancer is the
amount of work you’re willing to do. As long as you keep a steady stream of
clients coming through the door, you’ll max out your potential.
#4 Consider your happiness
Are you happy? No, seriously. Are you truly
happy doing what you do? Do you enjoy waking up and having a set schedule every
day? Are you someone who loves going to work and bonding with coworkers?
If you love what you’re currently doing, why risk freelancing? It might be a
good idea in the future, but you’re happy right now.
Of course, the opposite is true for anyone
that’s not happy. If you don’t like your job or you hate the lack of
flexibility, give freelancing a try. It could be exactly what you’ve been
looking for your whole life.
Freelance work has many pros and cons, which
is why some people suit the lifestyle more than others. If you’re looking for a
change of pace or want to push your career further than ever before, maybe it’s
worth trying some freelance work and seeing where it takes you.
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