Freelancing: dream job or hell on the Earth?

Do you ever think about leaving the office which is a boring, and uncomfortable chair which makes your back cry for help? No? Well, I bet you are thinking about it now. Do not worry, I'm not here to remind you of all the "delights" of office work, I'm here to offer an alternative. Yes, it’s freelancing. I knew you may guest it by a title, you clever bastard.

Now I know that you know what freelancer is, so I offer not to waste time and go straight for reasons why it’s a cool opportunity:

1 . You can work when you want to. Are you an owl? You can work at night. Wanna rest on Tuesday? The week has another day to work. I know it sounds like a dream. But isn't it a great chance to adjust work to live, not life to work?

But it’s worth considering that if you work for a client company, you still have to adjust from time to time to the established schedule, for example, if a meeting or other organizational events are planned. A small price for the output on Tuesday.

2. You can work from home or wherever you want. Another penny in the piggy bank of freelance work benefits. You can work in a coffee shop, library, on another continent, or just not get out of bed. 

But typically, professional freelancers have a kind of a home office. The only fly in this barrel of honey may be the fact that at home it is much more challenging to tune in to work. But everything is purely individual. Maybe your favorite teddy bear will encourage you to make the work faster for cuddling in the evening.

3. You can be your own boss. Yes, you will say that even if you do not have a permanent direct boss, then the customer acts as such, and to some extent it is. You have to do work following its requirements, often on time and your profit depends on the project, but even this is another huge plus that I would like to highlight as a separate advantage.

4. You can choose the projects you want to do. Most office workers do not have to sort out, and they work on what their bosses have selected for them, but since you are your own boss… You are free to choose what you like to work on. Quick advice, choose something that brings you not only profit but also pleasure from the process.

But not always the dream projects are waiting for you, and you still need to pay the bills. But despite the project object, you may still choose the people to collaborate with.

5. No dress code. Yes, modern IT and other companies are quite loyal to the employees' appearance, but they certainly will not allow you to work in pajamas or underwear. So this is still an advantage of freelance.

6. The chance to incorporate your hobby into a profitable job. This is one of the most amazing advantages, given that you have the opportunity to combine business with pleasure, turning a hobby into a living. 

I always remember the Joker's advice from Christopher Nolan's “The Dark Knight” film: “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” So, if you have a hobby and are good at it… go for it! Oh, but do not become a serial killer or anything. 

But not everything is so rosy in the freelancing, as it might seem at first glance. Personally, I know people who traded freelance for work in the office. Why? There are also several reasons for this:

1. No insurance;
2. Lack of confidence in tomorrow;
3. You have to be highly disciplined and self-motivated;
4. You must be constantly looking for clients;
5. You may forget what weekend and rest is;
6. You have to be good at more than just one thing;
7. You may not have a job for a long time.

But you know what I think? Freelancer is a way of life, not just a job and not everyone is ready for such a lifestyle. Even if at first glance it seems very tempting.

If you don’t know if it’s worth leaving your office for freelance, try looking for clients and determine how much your skills correspond to the market. 

By the way, many people use freelance as an additional type of income, so this option should not be ruled out either. Write down the pros and cons for yourself, before making any decision, and if you are sure that freelance is ‘your thing’ I can only wish you luck in your endeavors!