Is freelancing for you?
LET'S TAKE a little test. Do you abhor six-day weeks (and that mad Monday most of all)? Is stress or pressure your most faithful companion (or your only)? Do you feel burned out, tired, overworked and have just about had it with everything and everybody? Do you want a job that allows you to work according to your whims and fancies? If the answer to all these questions is yes, then we have a one-word mantra that could be of help - freelancing. Whether you are just a drop in the vast sea of unemployed youth or have been felled by the plague of downsizing or are just fed up with your present job, freelancing could be your ticket to a better life.
These considerations should help you make that choice:
Take stock of your skills - Some lines of work are more suited to freelancing than others. If you've held creative job profiles in the past, like that of designers, writers, etc., freelancing could be a cakewalk for you. But freelance jobs are not confined to creative fields alone. Freelancers can be consultants, draftsmen, architects, educationalists, speculators, brokers, etc. Only administrative and managerial jobs don't fit a freelancer's profile.
Check your Network - Most freelancers will swear by the contacts they have. More than half of their clients are from their pre-freelancing era. Even if previous customers and co-workers do not become clients themselves, they'll probably recommend you to other people. Word-of-mouth advertising is the lifeline of freelancers. Consider your Finances - If you've been holidaying in Europe, wearing Channel and toting around in Milan's latest line, the opportunity cost of giving up a regular 9 to 5 may be too leviathan for you to handle. However, if you do believe you have what it takes to make it through the hard times, hold your breath and take a dive.
Character Traits - The three magic words here are Invariability, Fortitude and Answerability. If you're turning your hobby into a profession, take care to be consistent in pursuing it. Perseverance is an essential ingredient for success. Since most freelancers are not directly accountable to anyone, they change their pursuits frequently. Although it is not advisable to stick to one field indefinitely, it is important to give it time to show results. Patience really does pay off.
So if you're consistent, patient and responsible, freelancing is for you.
Social Skills - It's all about who you know. Freelancers have to be fairly good at making contacts, retaining them, and getting the most out of them. At the inception stage, regardless of your job profile in the past, you'll have to do some serious PR work for yourself. If you're comfortable with that, you've won half the freelancer's battle.
Having adequate knowledge of the Industry - It's important to know the ins and outs of the industry you want to operate in. If you've been in that line of work as a regular employee, you have an edge. But if you want to start working in an industry you're not familiar with, it's important to do your homework before making a decision.
Dealing with no colleagues - Unless you're an exception, you probably like to socialise with your office buddies every once in a while. But freelancing is a lonely path to take, and most people find dealing with lack of camaraderie difficult to deal with.
Before making a decision, take all these factors into consideration. Freelancing is not everybody's cup of tea. It has its own set of problems. But if you fit the profile, jump right into it.
BUSHRA HAMEDUDDIN
bushra.hyd@cnkonline.com
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