Untethered: The Perks of Having A Freelance Career
Around 59 million Americans dabbled in freelance work in the last 12 months, making it a 36% increase since 2019, according to Upwork. If you’ve been focused on branching out, the concept of freelancing is something that you’ve probably already thought about. With so many people making the leap, it’s worth pondering why it’s so appealing. So, what are the perks of having a freelance career?
Multiple Income Streams
In the past year, around 25% of American adults lost their source of income or knew someone that lost theirs, according to the Pew Research Center. Traditional jobs typically produce a single income stream, so the sudden loss of that was catastrophic for thousands of households across the US. Freelancers usually have several projects at a time, which means multiple income streams. So even if a single client doesn’t pan out, freelancers aren’t at an absolute loss. Having multiple sources of income naturally paves the way to a better quality of living.
More Opportunities Ahead
One major concern for those thinking of making the freelancer job is the availability of jobs. Well, the job market is on the cusp of a permanent change with a spotlight on the digital workforce. A survey by LinkedIn found that 80% of small businesses are going to keep hiring freelancers in the future. Small businesses are looking for freelancers to help relieve some of the tasks that would normally be handled in-house like accounting, art and design, and even client reception. What this means is that even beginners in the freelancing career can look forward to more job opportunities ahead.
Better Productivity
Freelancers work remotely and are known to be more productive than their in-office counterparts. Around 95% of a FlexJobs survey found that remote workers and freelancers say that their productivity has been higher. This is because freelancing and remote work enables you to work from anywhere and at any given time. You are no longer bogged down by the need to commute or worry about where to get work lunches, as you can work from the safety and security of your home. So if you are someone that values keeping up your productivity, being a freelancer just might be a field that can help you thrive.
Better Mental Health
Being a freelancer isn’t just good for your finances, it’s also good for your mental health. A freelancer has more control over who their clients are, what hours they keep, and what rates they want to charge. This freedom and control over one’s professional life gives a significant boost to one’s mental health. As a freelancer, you have the choice to walk away from toxic jobs or clients and create a safer space for your psyche as you move forward. It also provides you a solid chance of obtaining a better work/life balance. Instead of having to spend hours on a commute, you can get your job done in your home and spend time with family and loved ones immediately afterward.
A More Active Portfolio
As freelancers take on multiple clients and have several projects, this means that they have more work product to vouch for their skills. The very best freelancers have an organized portfolio of clients and work that they have done. Traditional workplaces usually have a set skill or job definition attached to a position. As a freelancer, you’ll have a more active portfolio that can entice you more clients and even develop long-term ones. If you so choose, you can also use that portfolio to land yourself a traditional job in the future.
A Diverse and Up-To-Date Set of Skills
Freelancers have the unique opportunity to wear several hats at the same time. Since they’re primarily working for themselves, they handle administrative tasks like bookkeeping and even headhunting if they need to outsource certain tasks. This makes the skills that freelancers have extremely diverse. Since freelancers are always active, they’re often at the forefront of new trends that give them up-to-date skill sets. For example, freelance writers need to update their understanding of SEO and reader engagement to stay current. So as a freelancer, not only will you have a wide array of skills that companies look for, but you’ll also keep your skills current and highly in demand.
The freelancer market isn’t going away any time soon it’s smart to get to know it. While being a freelancer comes with a lot of perks, it’s also wise to cover your bases and check out any negatives that exist in the field. That way, when you make the leap into freelancing, you’ll be fully aware of what to avoid.
