Questions to Consider Before Beginning a Freelance Career

If you are one of those people who long for independence, control, and flexibility, a freelancing career may be the perfect choice for you.

Simply put, a person is said to freelance when he/she is self-employed and earns a living by working for different companies and clients on an assignment basis.

Unlike full-time employees, a freelance worker is not on the regular payroll of any company. Rather, they work on a contractual, time-bound basis.

Needless to say, freelancing offers the opportunity to become your boss, set your standards and stay answerable to yourself. Sounds tempting? It sure does!

After all, who doesn’t like to have complete and total authority over what they do and how they do it?

IS FREELANCING THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?

Over the years, more and more professionals are going the freelance way rather than working full-time with one company.

Freelancing tops the charts when it comes to giving you a whole lot of independence and flexibility, not to forget tremendous variety and a high degree of confidence.

Perhaps the commonest form of freelance contractual work popular today is freelance writing.

A freelance writer is a person who works in a Small Office Home Office and offers their content writing expertise to businesses all over the world.

Though working as a freelance contractor sounds excellent, there are some points you must consider in order to judge your suitability for this role.

TOP 4 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE STARTING YOUR FREELANCE JOURNEY

What do you want to do as a Freelancer? | List your core competencies

Ask any aspiring freelancer what they wish to do as a freelance professional, and you will be surprised to know that they don’t have a precise answer.

The first and foremost thing to do is to analyze your core competencies and decide what it is you can do as a freelance contractor.

Do not get swept away by what you might have heard from others. Make a well-informed decision after thinking about questions like

• Can I build a suitable client base through which I can sustain when I am on my own into freelancing?
• Can I find people who will require my specific services?

What is the purpose behind Freelancing? | Why do you want to freelance?

Do you wish to earn some extra income in your free time (in addition to your present, full-time job) or prefer to build a full-fledged career as a freelance consultant/service provider?

Try to answer these simple yet important questions before launching your freelance career. 

Only when you know how much time you will devote to this new found career, you can make substantial plans to take it forward.

What is the scope of the Industry you operate in? | How is the market for freelancers in your specific Industry?

Not every industry offers numerous freelance opportunities. The trick is to do a little research at your end to analyze your job industry.

For, e.g., the Content Writing industry is opening a lot of possibilities for aspiring as well as experienced web writers.

Similarly, the recruitment industry too, provides career choices to Placement Consultants, etc. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that every individual in the industry should freelance!

Your aim should be to pinpoint your own, unique talent and outline how you can differentiate yourself from your competitors.

Can you sustain yourself in freelancing? | Highs and lows are a part of a career as a freelancer

The biggest challenge for a freelancer is to find assured work and ongoing projects all year long.

Freelancing as a career option is unpredictable and unsure unless you have had years of experience – probably the reason most prospective freelancers prefer to begin freelancing while still in full time, assured jobs.

Doing so may be a wise decision as it helps you to test the waters before quitting your present job.

No one can deny that a career as a freelancer can be highly beneficial and satisfying. However, it is crucial for every aspiring freelancer to think things through, analyze, plan and only then make an informed decision.

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Are you a freelancer? Which questions did you consider before going freelance?

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