Working as a freelancer has grown in popularity and transformed the modern, dynamic job market. Instead of working as a regular employee, you can provide your skills, services, or expertise on a project or contract basis on a professional arrangement. Freelancing is a great option if you despise a 9-6 job and always dreamed of being your own boss.
What Are The Pros?
There are so many advantages when it comes to freelancing. If you don’t know what is the advantage of freelancing, here is a list:
1. Bye 9-6!
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There is nothing wrong with working 9-6. However, if you are someone who hates it and wants to set your guidelines and design your work schedules, freelancing is a good option. You can enjoy an amazing amount of freedom as a freelancer in terms of what you can do and how. You are free to create schedules based on what works best for you. The best part is you get to work from home!
2. Hey Boss!
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The best part about freelancing is you are in charge. You report to no one, be your own boss and work at your own pace. You won’t need to ask for vacation days off or take sick leaves whenever you feel overwhelmed or unfit for work. This will help you create a perfect work-life balance.
3. Ka-Ching!
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In traditional jobs, you can make great income, but your income is limited to what your employers think you should earn. When freelancing, you wouldn’t have to work until you burn out just to get a promotion or bonuses. Your earning is unlimited as you can set your price range, choose the clients you want, and decide how you want your business to grow.
4. Flexibility!
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As mentioned earlier, you won’t have to work 9-6 anymore. All you have to do is take enough projects and work at your own pace. If you prefer the traditional 9-6 time, you can still choose to set that as your working hours even while freelancing. Remember, you are your boss here. You can create your own schedule to work!
What Are The Cons?
Well, when there is a Yin, there is always a Yang. When there is an advantage, there will always be an equal disadvantage to it. Here are a few cons when it comes to freelancing:
1. Job Security
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Naturally, leaving the 9-6 world behind means that you can no longer take advantage of the job security it provides. While downsizing can result in firing or layoffs for anyone, when it comes to freelancing, you may not always get many projects for you to pay the bills and survive in a month. Do note that it may be harder for you to save in KWSP for your retirement funds in the future.
2. Isolation
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If you are someone who loves to work in the office, then this could be tough on you. The only person you will interact with is your client, and you probably won’t even meet them or talk beyond the project topic. You may deal with stress even while freelancing but you won’t have your work bestie to spill the tea with during your break time.
3. Inconsistency
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It can be difficult for you to find enough work to cover your expenses, particularly if you’re just starting as a freelancer. It takes time, persistence, and commitment to establish your name and gain clients’ trust in your preferred field. Hence, it is probably not recommended to leave your secured job without gaining all these first.
4. Overload Responsibilities
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In your office, you and your team members may share the workload. However, when you receive a heavy load project for your freelancing, it can be tough to manage all by yourself. You need to learn how to multitask and do all the work on time before the deadline.
Freelancing isn’t all bad if you are smart and patient enough to manage everything and overcome the obstacles. All you have to do is adapt to this routine and make your way to gain responsibility. Remember to be persistent and give 100% commitment to a project. Happy freelancing!
