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 If
you do not want to do a full time job or if you are looking for
variety in your work profile, freelancing is an option to
consider.
Freelancing has several benefits. There are people who do not wish
to do the conventional '9 to 5' jobs. These jobs are perceived as
monotonous and people do not like the routine that's often
associated with such jobs. When you freelance, you can choose to
take up a variety of work assignments. One can explore and try
different things. Why limit yourself to doing the same thing for
years? As a freelancer, you can have a much wider range of tasks.
You can meet different people and experience different kinds of
situations. If you do not enjoy something, you can move on. An
important advantage of freelancing is that one doesn't have to be
tied down to one organisation. As a freelancer said, “My talent
and skills should be available for all organisations, not just
one.” As a freelancer, you can choose to offer your skills to any
organisation(s) you like for any duration of time. Or you can
start off as an independent professional, not affiliated to any
particular company. |
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Freelancing offers you flexibility and freedom
to work on your own terms and at your own pace. You choose your
own work conditions and work profile. You do not have to answer to
someone else, or change your preferred style of work to fit organisational needs. You are your own boss. This can be very
empowering. Another important
benefit of freelancing is the control it gives you over your time.
You can take up work assignments based on your own convenience and
preference. You can take a break whenever required and start again
whenever you wish to do so. This also allows you to give time for
other activities and interests. Family responsibilities can be
handled and so several women who wish to work but at the same time
need to look after their families, choose to freelance. Working
from home is also possible as a freelancer.The basic factor is
that when you freelance, you do not have to be bound by any fixed
structure. You can therefore fully express your creativity.
Freelancing allows you to grow as a person. Conventional jobs can
be a bit limiting- freelancing allows you to move beyond such
limitations. |
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Freelancing does
have its cons. There is no fixed flow of income and hence, no
financial security, which doing a fixed job assures. Also, there
is no pension or such facilities. Income varies from assignment to
assignment depending on the organisation that you work for and the
kind of service you offer. Only when you establish your status as
a well-known freelancer can you set your own price. That is not to
say that freelancers don't earn much. Freelancers do earn well and
there are several 'high-pay' freelancing assignments that one can
take up. However the income varies and is not stable. |
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Also, there is
unpredictable flow of work. There may be times when you are busy
with several assignments, but at other times you may find it
difficult to get work. There is no 'job security'. One has to
actively keep a look out for work opportunities. It can also be
slightly difficult to find vacancies for freelancers. So you may
have to create opportunities for yourself, especially if the kind
of work you wish to do is novel and unconventional. Freelancing
does not fit in with traditional ideas of occupations and work and
so, one may have to face opposition from family and friends at
least initially when one is starting out as a freelancer. But
then, opposition is normal when one is doing anything different
from the norm, so this has to be taken in one's stride. |
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Thus,
freelancing is a very interesting career option, but at the same
time it is very challenging. To be a good freelancer one needs to
first and foremost have good networking skills. These are helpful
to find work opportunities. One also needs to be patient and
persistant and not get disheartened if there are times when
finding work is difficult. Self-confidence and belief in oneself
and one's abilities is of the utmost importance. Willingness to
work hard and actively seek work should be the norm. Besides this,
one should ideally keep oneself updated on the latest trends in a
chosen field and keep looking out for more information. This is
because thorough knowledge of the field and a wide repertoire of
field specifics, as well as unrelated but diverse skills adds to
your value as a freelancer. Creativity and ability to think out of
the box are valuable skills. One has to be able to modify work
style to cater to the needs of different tasks. Freelancing is not
for those who prefer to have a structure of work laid out for
them. A certain degree of independence and willingness to make
one's own decisions is essential. Also, having a good support
system and financial back-up can really
help |
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.Freelancing is a
growing field. The opportunities for freelancers as well as the
acceptance for freelancing as a viable career option are
increasing. It is interesting and can allow you to explore,
experiment and truly enjoy your work. So do consider freelancing
as an option- it can be very fulfilling andsatisfying.
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Jagruti Wandrekar |
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