Your Guide to Freelancing

So you’ve decided to become a freelancer? Congratulations! Freelancing is one of the most rewarding career moves anyone will ever make. Most would say that freelancing is parallel to self-employment: it is flexible, enjoyable and gratifying. As with any other employment scenario, freelancing has its obvious perks and drawbacks. But to most individuals who have gone through this big shift in their careers, going back to their usual employment rut is no longer an option.

What is Freelancing?

Freelancing means different things to different people. For every job, there are your pros and cons. However, when freelancing comes to mind, most will agree that the freedom freelancing gives is the greatest part of this job. What makes up freelancing? Or better yet, the right question to ask, who is fit to be a freelancer? Many are called but few are chosen in the freelancing game. The next time you consider freelancing, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Has collaboration been an issue with you?
2. Do you get bored easily?
3. Do new challenges appeal to you?
4. Can you multitask by handling different projects all at the same time?
5. Can you keep up with an erratic work schedule?
6. Are you a risk-taker?

To most freelancers, the phrase ‘feast or famine’ very much encapsulates the freelancing lifestyle. There will be days when you’ll have tons of projects; you could barely schedule all of them. Then there are days where work is so meager, that will make you anxious as well. In any case, it’s a very exciting career choice. Freelancing is not for the faint of heart. You might work for hours and days straight, while leaving you with tons of vacation time --- if you so permit it. Everything is all up to you. You choose your projects, your work schedule, and your clients --- but when opportunity knocks, it knocks only once. If you feel that you don’t have the patience for working long hours without the overtime pay, or if you tire easily, then this isn’t the career for you. Your health and work tolerance will come into play in freelancing. Endurance, a strong work ethic and over-all good health are important factors when you start working as a freelancer.

Freelancing: Self-employment and Self-fulfillment

Freelancers, also known as Independent Contractors, prefer the lifestyle and sense of control that go with their chosen career. Most would say that getting into the freelancing lifestyle is a gamble, and when one decides to enter the contractor game, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Why is this so?

First off, you never have to answer to anyone; second, you get to directly interact with the decision maker responsible for outsourcing your expertise - the client. And finally, bureaucracy, very common in the corporate set-up, is eliminated. No longer will the freelancer report to any authority figure. Like being self-employed, the decisions you make affects your business and reputation --- and this includes the business product - You. To be a freelancer, you must be dedicated to perfection. This means that whatever output you give to the client it should be of the highest standards. As freelancing removes the layers of authority figures who micromanage you, you are given full responsibility for your work. Since freelancing is close to running a small business, you better get acquainted with requirements in business licensing, basic tax regulations, accounting and bookkeeping, and more. Though you can always hire professionals to do this, it’s better if you get the basics so that you, too, can make informed decisions.

Freelancer.co.uk is a UK based freelancers’ portal. If you are looking for freelance projects or freelance jobs, visit www.freelancer.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.c3careerarticles.com

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