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Do you wake up every morning, wishing your day was spent doing what you are passionate about and not feeling like your life was tied to a desk? How often have you received your yearly bonus grudgingly, knowing that you are capable of so much more? Does the job that you have at present fulfill your definition of the word ‘challenge’? Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever your profession may be, it is never too late to become a freelancer. In fact you may find that being your own boss is more of a challenge than actually reporting to one.
Interestingly, the word ‘freelancer’ was first coined by Sir Walter Scott1 and used by him in his classic ‘Ivanhoe’. In the novel however, the term meant a ‘medieval mercenary warrior’. Ernest William Hornung 2 gave the word ‘freelancer’ a new twist by using it to mean ‘something of a poor quality’ in his book ‘The Gift of the Emperor’. However, today the term ‘freelancer’ or a ‘freelance worker’ refers to a person who pursues a profession, without any long-term commitments to any employer.
Freelancers are commonly found in fields, which thrive on creativity such as journalism, copywriting, other forms of writing, computer programming, graphics and website designing etc. It is also not uncommon to find professionals from diverse specializations such as HR, IT, architecture, finance and marketing offer their expertise on an hourly, contractual or per assignment basis. The world wide presence of the Internet has only helped in shrinking the world further, thereby opening up more freelancing opportunities and encouraging the work from home option. In the United States alone, surveys revealed that approximately 7.4 % of the workforce are independent contractors and also that in the past three years, organizations have increased their outsourcing by 22%. All over the world, organizations are no longer averse to having freelancers as part of the team.
Hiring freelancers, from an organizations point of view, is quite beneficial to the employer. Not only is there the option of having a large pool of talent to choose from, but the services of a contractual employee can be hired, without having to put him on the company payroll. In addition, due to the contract agreed upon by both parties, the employer is able to assess the work quality of a freelancer in a better way. This in turn, spells out a huge savings in terms of company benefits and other compensations that a regular employee would be entitled to. Moreover, a freelancer is generally hired when the organization is need of extra hands for a short period for eg, during holiday season, or during company projects.
Working as a freelancer gives one the freedom to make a lot of important choices- the type of assignments to work on, the duration of the assignment and deciding on the work schedule. Moreover, one is at liberty to explore one’s interests and to take up assignments relating to different fields. In addition, one enjoys the benefits of building up a better resume due to the variety of work available, and cultivating a network of contacts. A lot of freelancers find it beneficial to work on different assignments, so that it gives them a well-rounded view of the job role and responsibilities, before eventually deciding where they fit in. With such flexibility at your fingertips, there is no reason to thing twice about a camping trip with the family.
So how does one get started? Firstly, you would have to decide which area of interest to pursue. For example, if you would like to test try a career in writing, then trying your hand at journalism or at writing periodical articles for online magazines and websites could be a good start. It is the IT industry and the written media which offer the most scope for freelancers. The basic skills required to be a freelancer are the ability to communicate well, possess skills pertaining to the area of interest (for example for a writer having strong writing and research skills are vital whereas for a graphic designer having a sound knowledge of various softwares is important) as well as organization skills. With the Internet playing the role of a virtual classroom, one can even ‘attend’ online lectures of one’s choice as well as attend different workshops. Moreover, there are practical lectures held by various experts which deal with skill up gradation or the latest developments in a particular profession. It is often said that the ability to build and maintain contacts is a lifeline for a freelancer. Attending such events, gatherings and trade conferences is a great way for not only meeting with other freelancers but also for building up contacts. Having your own website makes it easier for your contacts to stay in touch with you and adds a sharp professional touch. There are many jobs online where one can sign up, and which also gives employers access to freelancing talent. There are in addition, many websites, which offer support to freelancers through groups, blogs and the like. Building associations with specific organizations you would like to work with is important as most often, a freelancer’s resume is neatly filed away for further use, when the need arises. Establishing relationships with editors, website developers etc are important because distinguishing yourself from the rest is vital to getting an assignment. More importantly, do not overlook the small opportunities that may be in your backyard such as helping a neighbor with writing an article or giving a friend your inputs for developing a website. Lending a helping hand is often the key to getting noticed.
The payment received by freelancers varies from one field to another. Most freelancers do not charge for their first assignment. Generally, it is a contract based assignment which is preferred as it ensures a steady source of income and work for a specified time. Some organizations however, would prefer to pay on an hourly basis for certain jobs, which require a freelancer to work only a few hours a week. If an employer is content with the work done, offers of steady work such as writing for a fortnightly magazine column, or developing graphic content for organizations on a regular basis, are made.
One would agree that freelancing too has its own merits and demerits, like most other jobs. The uncertainty of work, unsteady income, and lack of benefits such as insurance and pension can often be discouraging. However, no other paid job would probably have such a flexible nature, prove a constant challenge, and allow you to pursue other interests, all at the same time. Which is why maybe someday the world may see the death of desk jobs while the freelancer has the last laugh, with the world in is laptop.
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.
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—About our writer:
Sanjana,
A friendly nerd who loves cooking, hogging, travelling, meeting people, day dreaming and watching movies. Can mostly be found with her nose in a book, seated on the couch with her laptop, airing her witty opinions on world problems to her friends or promoting her first published book of poems.
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