Transitioning to freelancing is often most easily achieved when one also has a part-time job. A steady job for two-three days a week will give you the security of a reliable income with the time to get your freelancing career under way. Here are some of the benefits of working part-time when you begin freelancing:
• The security of a steady pay check
Working part-time will lessen the financial risks of transitioning to full-time freelancing. You’ll hopefully be less stressed and be able to build up your business at your own pace. Because you will only be working part-time your salary probably won’t be enough to live luxuriously but it should ensure the basics are taken care of.
• You are reminded weekly why you want to become a freelancer
Many of us choose to freelance precisely because we don’t like working for someone else. When you still have to go in to work a couple of times a week, you’ll have that added incentive to succeed at freelancing so that you can finally quit your job.
• You have enough time
While working full-time means you have very little time left for freelancing, a part-time job will leave you ample time to give it plenty of energy and focus. If you freelance every week for three weekdays and one day on the weekend, you will be freelancing close to a full-time week, but will still have the security of a job.
• Once you have a healthy stable of clients you can easily quit the part-time job and make a smooth transition
Because you have more time to freelance, you will build up a larger and steadier client base. You’ll quickly get into a rhythm of work and will become comfortable with your new lifestyle. This means that the transition to freelancing full-time will be smooth.
• You may be able to get guidance
If your part-time job is in the same field as your freelance work and you have a good relationship with your colleagues, you may be able to ask for guidance and advice from your boss and peers. Having someone to talk to about work is extremely useful, and chances are any problems you encounter with the business of freelancing are fairly common ones.
Compared to working full-time and freelancing on the side, part-time work has very few disadvantages. There will still be a few days a week when you are not available for meetings or work and this unavailability and distraction can cause problems, but generally they should be relatively minor. In many ways you can think of your part-time job as one specific – and very demanding - freelance client. Here are some of the few disadvantages:
• You can get too comfortable
Freelancers who work part-time can avoid most of the time pressure of the full-time worker, and the cash flow pressure of the full-time freelancer. This can be beneficial, but there is the danger that without those pressures one can become complacent and lose the drive to build a freelance business. If you do choose to work part-time, then ensure you have the determination to focus on your freelancing career, otherwise you may find yourself putting off beginning your freelancing career in earnest for the foreseeable future.
• Your part-time job may drain you
Chances are your part-time work will not be the job of your dreams. That’s fine as it is intended to be temporary stop-gap, but do ensure you have some means to keep the enthusiasm and energy flowing after you finish work. If you find your part-time work is effecting you negatively (due to co-workers, your boss or your work) then you will need to be extra diligent to keep the dream alive and remember why you want to freelance in the first place.
That being said, if you can get part-time work to transition to full-time freelance, our advice is take it – especially if it is in the industry you intend to freelance in. You can get a feel for freelancing and build up a client with minimum risk and a smooth transition.
• The security of a steady pay check
Working part-time will lessen the financial risks of transitioning to full-time freelancing. You’ll hopefully be less stressed and be able to build up your business at your own pace. Because you will only be working part-time your salary probably won’t be enough to live luxuriously but it should ensure the basics are taken care of.
• You are reminded weekly why you want to become a freelancer
Many of us choose to freelance precisely because we don’t like working for someone else. When you still have to go in to work a couple of times a week, you’ll have that added incentive to succeed at freelancing so that you can finally quit your job.
• You have enough time
While working full-time means you have very little time left for freelancing, a part-time job will leave you ample time to give it plenty of energy and focus. If you freelance every week for three weekdays and one day on the weekend, you will be freelancing close to a full-time week, but will still have the security of a job.
• Once you have a healthy stable of clients you can easily quit the part-time job and make a smooth transition
Because you have more time to freelance, you will build up a larger and steadier client base. You’ll quickly get into a rhythm of work and will become comfortable with your new lifestyle. This means that the transition to freelancing full-time will be smooth.
• You may be able to get guidance
If your part-time job is in the same field as your freelance work and you have a good relationship with your colleagues, you may be able to ask for guidance and advice from your boss and peers. Having someone to talk to about work is extremely useful, and chances are any problems you encounter with the business of freelancing are fairly common ones.
Compared to working full-time and freelancing on the side, part-time work has very few disadvantages. There will still be a few days a week when you are not available for meetings or work and this unavailability and distraction can cause problems, but generally they should be relatively minor. In many ways you can think of your part-time job as one specific – and very demanding - freelance client. Here are some of the few disadvantages:
• You can get too comfortable
Freelancers who work part-time can avoid most of the time pressure of the full-time worker, and the cash flow pressure of the full-time freelancer. This can be beneficial, but there is the danger that without those pressures one can become complacent and lose the drive to build a freelance business. If you do choose to work part-time, then ensure you have the determination to focus on your freelancing career, otherwise you may find yourself putting off beginning your freelancing career in earnest for the foreseeable future.
• Your part-time job may drain you
Chances are your part-time work will not be the job of your dreams. That’s fine as it is intended to be temporary stop-gap, but do ensure you have some means to keep the enthusiasm and energy flowing after you finish work. If you find your part-time work is effecting you negatively (due to co-workers, your boss or your work) then you will need to be extra diligent to keep the dream alive and remember why you want to freelance in the first place.
That being said, if you can get part-time work to transition to full-time freelance, our advice is take it – especially if it is in the industry you intend to freelance in. You can get a feel for freelancing and build up a client with minimum risk and a smooth transition.
