Thanks to globalization and the growth in telecommunications, freelancing has become more popular; it is mentioned in magazines and in many internet articles but what is it really about?
A freelancer, or independent professional, is a person who offers services to one or several companies without having to make a long-term commitment with any of them.
Unlike a traditional worker, for freelancers, a company is seen as a client rather than a boss or employer.
Below you will find a short list of the pros and cons of being a freelancer:
PROS
Flexibility: Being a freelancer gives you control. You’ll be able to sleep in, work from home and make your own deadlines.
Better work-life balance: You decide how much time you dedicate to work, which gives you more opportunities to be with your friends and family.
Forget the crowds: Since you control your own schedule you can say goodbye to rush hour traffic, plus you can travel anywhere you want, whenever you want, including off season.
CONS
Goodbye benefits: Working for a company comes with many advantages like health insurance, sick leave and certain bonuses; freelancing has none of that, which means you must plan and manage your resources carefully so you can be ready in case of an emergency.
Uncertainty: A traditional job ensures a constant flow of income, but as an independent professional this is not the case; thus, it is always a good idea to carefully track your expenses and plan ahead so you can stay afloat even when things aren’t going so well.
Loneliness and distractions: Working from home is great but after a while it can become a bit lonely, and loneliness often leads to distraction and lack of productivity. A solution to this problem might be to try coworking; learn all about it by clicking here.
