What Do Freelancers Like and Dislike About Their Job?
In the recent past, many people have resorted to freelance jobs. This is done through individual marketing, work-for-hire-sites and other online contracting companies. This work has it benefits and downsides too.
My major appreciation for freelance is the freedom to work from home and at my own time. This has been especially beneficial to me since I can further my studies, look after my household especially my little kid and pursue other interests and business on the side. Most tasks require just a few hours a day to complete, leaving me with the option of working either during the day or during the night.
In the current tough economic times when it is hard to find a job or working hours have been reduced leaving people with no source of income; freelance work offers a ray hope. Unlike a regular job with a specific job, freelancing on work-for-hire-sites give one a variety of contracts to choose from. This enables one to apply themselves on different tasks requiring different skills. Freelancing also offers those with regular jobs and opportunity to make extra income on the sides.
However, the downsides to freelancing may outweigh the benefits. To begin with, freelancing offers no job security. Sometimes one goes for a long period without work or doing very minimal work; like during the summer. Due to the number of job seekers in the market, competition for the few available jobs is very high and for this reason, contractors have to lower their rates to get a job. This results into offering one’s skills at low rates. In the end one can barely pay bills by working online.
Depending on the company, sometimes contractors are not paid for the jobs they have done. While some do not have escrow to ensure workers are dully paid, other companies fail to pay contractors for excuses that have no basis. This is usually very disheartening when one puts all effort into a job only to end up being disappointed.
While a normal day-job offers one \verifiable experience and references, Outsourced worked is mostly just a passing wind. This makes it hard when looking for jobs and one has ‘no work’ experience, never mind how long one has been a freelancer. Freelance also has no measurable growth. One cannot demonstrate career growth and consistency.
In many cases, employers use freelancing as an opportunity to find cheap work. This translates into low offers with most employers seeking to get the services at the lowest rate possible, not considering minimum wage or economic status. Most jobs offered do not have fees commensurate with the task and skill.
Even though freelancing jobs offer a good opportunity to make an income, the sites should be regulated, ensuring contractors earn their dues and jobs should be tagged with a minimum fee to keep off those seeking cheap or free work.