On your career path, you’re bound to come across forks in the road that will force you to examine not just what you want to do for a livelihood, but also the work-life balance you want to accomplish. Are you searching for standard office positions that run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.? Or might working as a freelancer in your profession better suit your needs?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, this can be an extremely tough decision to make. Unfortunately, many workers are experiencing job loss as a result of layoffs, and freelancers are finding fewer contracts to take on as the economy slows. This implies that, with the changing work market, there are more factors to consider while making this decision.
We’ve produced a helpful guide with insights on which work structure would be appropriate for you, based on your lifestyle, to make this process as straightforward and easy to manage as possible.
A freelancer is self-employed and must be self-sufficient as opposed to working in a structured and supervised workplace. This implies they will work autonomously, establish their hours, and select their income in the form of an hourly or project-based fee. The independence that this sort of employment may provide is appealing to many people.
The main disadvantage of this form of job is the absence of organization, which may be costly for many people. For some, the regularity of a full-time job is vital, and it may help keep individuals productive. Others discover that, while their skill set in their industry is great, company management isn’t their strong suit, and they would prefer to focus on the work they are doing rather than spend additional time getting clients. Finally, as a freelancer, you are responsible for any task-relevant information in your work.
Sales, project management, and financial management abilities are essential for people working as freelancers. After all, you will be running your micro-business. For the greatest outcomes, utilize helpful technologies and applications, such as a time-tracking system, which allows you to monitor the job you’re performing for billing purposes. You should also look into digital finance platforms, which can help you do things like creating a budget for your business, track expenses, and even receive payment in advance.
Depending on the business you want to work in, you may discover that the number of potential gigs is dropping as a result of COVID-19. While freelancing provides you with the advantage of being able to work from home in many circumstances, company expenditure has declined in recent months. As a result, if you want to go into freelance work right now, the best choice is to focus on designing your company model and generating leads that might lead to future work when the business picks up again.
For Full-Time Employees
Full-time employment represents a more conventional approach to a career. What it lacks in flexibility, it compensates for in structure and stability. This might be especially tempting for people who believe that having a steady source of money gives them the most comfort and lessens worry. In addition, as opposed to going it alone in the freelancing market, you have managers to work with that can help you through your tasks when necessary. Finally, having a team to give feedback and assistance may be an invaluable tool for many people.
This may be quite useful for many people who prefer a hands-off approach to management and a more predictable career path. Full-time employees devote their time to work rather than determining rates or managing projects and time. Management handles the rest. This allows them to devote more time to their full-time jobs rather than management.
If you want to work full-time, you must be prepared to go through the recruiting process. This includes practicing your interview skills, updating your résumé, and preparing to describe your talents and how they apply to the position. You must be able to market your talents and abilities in the same way that a freelancer must be able to sell their business. The ability to operate in a team, follow leadership, and function in a professional atmosphere with others is another desirable skill set for full-time employees.
It is also critical to be aware of the changing work market that is unfolding as a result of the current health crisis. As the economy slows, several companies have suspended their hiring efforts entirely. Furthermore, it is important to mention that all non-essential personnel are temporarily on leave until further notice.
This implies that your job search may be hampered by fewer positions, and those that are available may require you to have home office equipment before applying to a remote workforce. In addition, you should be prepared to do any interviews over the phone or by video call rather than in person.
In the end, no one can tell you which of these job routes is ideal for you. You must make the selection based on your personality type and skill set. Keep in mind that this choice is not final. Some people believe that combining the two gives them the best of both worlds and two income streams. At the same time, if you’re in a job and discover that converting to freelance is good for you, there’s no harm in doing so.
We hope this blog was helpful to you.
