Freelance vs. Full Time
Since many readers come to About.com Freelance Writing as beginners, I often get the question "How do I leave full time work to freelance?" and I've written extensively about the transition to a freelance career.
But, I also occasionally hear "How do you know when it's time to go back to a 9-5 job?" or some variation such as "I found this incredible editor position, should I go for it?"
Today, in my local area, there are at least 2 solid editorial positions open- both quite interesting. So how do I know if it's time to go back to full time editorial work?
- First, I reiterate the reasons I went freelance in the first place. I strongly detested spending only 3-4 hours per day with my children. I was easily bored by the same work on the same subject over and over. I was not interested in making a profit for someone else, which often made me unavailable to better my community through volunteer work.
- I then consider the goals of my business. I write to pay the bills, I write so that I have time to pursue my personal writing goals, I write because I desire free time to make the world a better place, and I write because it's my passion.
- I consider which of these goals a full time career might meet (or not meet). I would definitely be able to contribute more to the family coffers, and I'd be able to ply my trade. But I would be less available to my children, and less available to my volunteer work. I would probably be too tired or too harried to pursue my personal writing goals.
- I then make a final decision: I would not leave freelance for a regular position unless it was in a non-profit or educational capacity, and was part time or flex time.
I've seen a lot of freelance writers return to full time or cube jobs, all citing different reasons or rationalizations on blogs and message boards. We all have different needs to be met. What are yours? What are your end goals, career wise? Why do you want to transition to freelance, or, if you're already a freelancer, what would make you go back?
I believe we all have our reasons for doing what we do and no one should judge another. Many people can’t stay home with their kids and those are the ones I really admire. They work eight or more hours a day to support their families when it’s breaking their heart they can’t be with them as often as they’d like.
Personally, I prefer the freelance world because the work place has so many backstabbers, multiple personalties and people who do what they can to sabotage your hard work.
Oh wait…the Internet has that too.
I admire those same women, too, Paul. When I was home dealing with my kids all summer, I admired them a LOT!
(just kidding, thanks for the comments)
Great post Allena! I worked as a freelance writer a couple of years ago before I became a consultant. I switched back to a normal job (and as a consultant, i can still choose my work hours) as i found it extremely difficult to manage my clients and projects. You dont want to be stuck with the same clients who give you routine stuff to work on or run out of clients – it was hard to find the right balance. Moreover, its hard to work on bigger projects as a freelancer because big companies perceive freelancers as ‘extras’ when they dont have access to people/suppliers with similar skill sets. The way I see it – you need to build your contacts not just to source projects but to network with other writers and share work (you dont wanna end up losing clients coz often they approach you with a priority project when you are already overloaded with work). Having said all this, freelancing rocks!
I also freelance so I can be at home with the family. My wife and I have seven children. We home school the two youngest boys. Today I am teaching them science and Latin.
But I cannot agree with Paul. Working from home or working at an office is a choice.
I can see why you say it’s a choice, Armando. But some people don’t have the infrastructure in place to make the switch.
freelancewrite, I am not sure I follow. By infrastructure, do you mean a computer, a phone, Internet access? Or do you mean a network of contacts?
Hey Armando- I’m Allena and or freelancewrite- depending on what computer I am.
When I said infrastructure, I was thinking more of support structure- scaffolding…Such as a savings account to live off of while you build up clientele, or a spouse who can temporarily carry things.
I suppose there is a choice in working TOWARDS getting these things in place to make the switch.