7 Things to Consider When Beginning a Freelance Career

7 Things to Consider When Beginning a Freelance Career7 Things to Consider When Beginning a Freelance CareerFor many people, freelancing represents the final frontier of career progression, something theyve been working towards their entire career. Freelancing holds numerous possibilities. Autonomy. Flexibility. Control over the projects you take on. And the ability to chart your own course.Every year, more and more people join this growing sector of the workforce. The gig economy, of which freelancing is a parte, encompasses more 55 million U.S. workers. Thats 35 percent of the American workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and that fraction is expected to reach 43 percent by 2020.Indeed, freelancing is becoming a significant part of our economy, making it an exciting time to become a freelancer. Nonetheless, taking this step can feel like a leap of faith. The uncertainty and steep learning curve freelancing brings requires careful thought and, above all, planning. Here are seven things everyone should consider before becoming a freelancer. 1. Why do you want to become a freelancer?Okay, so this one might seem obvious, but asking yourself why should be the very first thing you do. Everybody has their own motivation for transitioning to a freelance career, and there is no correct answer. But youd be surprised how important your answer is in shaping your trajectory.Do you clash often with your boss or coworkers? Is your commute a nightmare? Are you just not a morning person? So often, people are motivated by the negatives of their current situation freelancing becomes their ticket out. Thats fine, but what if you really stopped to ask yourself what freelancing means to you? Are you not passionate about the work youre doing? Do you have a unique voice or talent that freelancing lets you share with the world?Finding something about freelancing that really stokes a fire within you- something that makes it an aspiration, not just an alernative- can make for a far more rewarding experience.2. What can you offer, and why are you the one to offer it?What services are you going to provide as a freelancer? Are you a copywriter? A graphic designer? A web developer? If youre even considering freelancing, youve probably already given some thought to what youll do, but its incredibly important that you hone in on your niche.Freelancing is extremely competitive in most cases, there is already a multitude of people offering similar services. You need to stand out from the crowd and figure out what you can offer that other people arent. Before you begin, scope out the competition see what services people offer that are in line with yours, and see how you can do it differently.3. Do you have a business plan?You dont necessarily need a formal business plan to start freelancing- although many people do prefer to structure their enterprise as an independent business, opening an LLC and recruiting staff. Regardless, your strategy needs some s tructure. In the excitement of freelancing, it can be easy to forget that there is a business side to this endeavor.The Freelancers Union offers some helpful resources for understanding the business aspect of it, including navigating taxes, structuring contracts, and more.4. Do you have a backup plan?Freelancing, by nature, is turbulent. Your prosperity as a freelancer depends on your workflow and client load, and even the most successful freelancer experiences lulls. If youre well situated- financially and within your network of support- to weather the dry spells, then great. Some people thrive on the feast or famine workflow, drowning in work one moment and having very little to do the next. But its not for everyone.Understanding that there will be highs and lows in your business, it helps to have an idea of what youre going to do if things get too turbulent. What will it mean for you if its difficult to find clients, or the work isnt enough to pay the bills? How much time will yo u give yourself to see how things play out before making another career move?5. How are you going to get clients?Getting clients can be one of the scariest and most exciting parts about freelancing. The idea of choosing who you work with, and the projects you undertake, is empowering. However, in a competitive market, finding new clients requires a lot of legwork and an entrepreneurial spirit.Every freelancer should have a website a place to highlight their services and background. But to actually retain clients, it helps to be proactive in promoting yourself- on social media, in job boards. Word of mouth goes a long way if youre in a smaller industry, and connecting with former colleagues or people who know people in need of your services is a great way to get clients. And, of course, there are so many freelancer networks for you to join, which well get to in a moment.6. Do you have the discipline to be successful as a freelancer?Being your own boss is almost overwhelmingly excitin g. For many, freelancing is synonymous with freelance and flexibility. This is true, to an extent, but the most successful freelancers are those who still approach their work with structure and stability.Freelancing requires you to be a self-starter- to be disciplined. Working in your pajamas is fine, but rolling out of bed seven minutes before a kickoff call with a new client? Not so much. Managing your time, being respectful of deadlines, and focusing on your work when the world is literally your office are all essential to success as a freelancer.7. Are you aware of the resources available? Hint theres a lot of them.The gig economy is here to stay, and the job market is evolving to support freelancers in their endeavors. There is a plethora of online resources available for you to find work, connect with other freelancers, and seek advice on some of the logistics of freelancing (i.e. insurance and taxes).UpWork is one of the largest and most popular job sites for freelancers. Med iabistro, Fiverr, CloudPeeps- theres a lot out there for you to take advantage of. Business News Daily has compiled a list of some of the best sites you should consider.Freelancing is always a challenge, but it doesnt have to be scary. Taking the time to explore your options and reflect on your motivations can help you make an informed decision and lead to a rewarding freelancing career.Follow us onTwitterandInstagram.

4 Times Its OK to Be a Workaholic - The Muse

4 Times Its OK to Be a Workaholic - The Muse4 Times Its OK to Be a WorkaholicYou need to get out of the office every now and then. You have to take a break. Youre going to burn out. Stop checking your email every two minutes. You need better work-life balance.Any (or all) of these sound familiar? If youre one of those people who tends to throw your whole self into your job, theyre all phrases youve heard time and time again to warn you against the dangers of becoming a complete workaholic. And, for the fruchtwein part, its valuable and well-meaning advice. Your career is a big part of your life, but it shouldnt be your whole life.Allowing your work to consume far too much of your time is a slippery slope. Before you know it, youre blurry-eyed and exhausted in front of your computer screen at 3AM unable to remember if you even ate dinner. Believe me, Ive been there.So, I wont even try to convince you that being obsessed is a positive thing. It can have dire effects on your personal li fe- not to mention your sanity and your overall outlook.However, every now and then, we all find ourselves in those special circumstances and situations when we simply cant tear ourselves away from our desks. And you know what? I dont think you need to beat yourself up over that. So, here are four times when its perfectly OK for you to be a workaholic. 1. When Youre Under a Tight DeadlineYour boss handed you a project with a ridiculously short deadline. So short, in fact, that you shouldve probably chalked it up as completely unrealistic right from the get-go. But, not you. You enthusiastically agreed to take on the assignment, and now youre committed to sticking with that calendar.Needless to say, that compressed time frame will require you to burn the midnight oil and do whatever you can to get this thing done not only well- but on schedule. Luckily, since the deadline is short, you can rest assured that this ridiculous work routine is only temporary. When you finally get that pro ject completed and handed over? Well, take a personal day and recharge. Youve earned it. 2. When Youre Preparing for Some Time OffEverybodys familiar with that mad dash to get all of your work done and your inbox cleaned out before heading out on a vacation. Its sort of funny, really- we all turn into workaholics in order to take some time off. But, it happens to the best of us. No matter how early you start planning, youll inevitably end up with an assortment of different things to cross of your to-do list in that final week before your break from the office. So, go ahead. Stay late and tackle as much as humanly possible. That way, youll be able to leave for an extended period without feeling guilty and distracted. Even better? That relaxing vacation will seem even sweeter. 3. When You Have a Huge, Important ProjectThat huge sales presentation youre certain will make or break your entire career. That anxiety-inducing meeting with your boss and the board. We all have those big, inti midating projects that we want to do our absolute best on.But, as you already know, your best work typically doesnt happen in a matter of minutes. Instead, it takes long hours, commitment, and your fair share of blood, sweat, and tears. Alright, maybe thats a tad bit dramatic, but you understand where Im going with this. When youre tasked with a major, significant assignment, youre more than entitled to give it your all and do your absolute best- even if that means a few late nights in the office. In the end, there really is a difference between working hard at something and being a complete workaholic. What exactly is that difference? Well, that brings me right into my next point. 4. When Theres an End Goal in SightMy husband is one of the hardest working people I know. Hes studying to be an actuary, which involves a series of torturously difficult professional exams- each of which require at least 300 study hours. So, not only does he work his full-time job as a corporate actuaria l analyst, but also hits the books for hours on end on top of that. When exam time is approaching, hell study three or four hours after work as well as all day on Saturday and Sunday.Yes, you could definitely characterize him as a total workaholic. But, the key here is that theres an end in sight. He has two more exams until he receives his professional designation.So, when youre working toward some huge accomplishment- be it a promotion, a specific certification, finishing that daunting project, or another important achievement- youre allowed to spend a little too much time on your career. Those milestones require hard work and dedication, and you shouldnt simply brush them off because you dont want to be labeled as work-obsessed. However, I do think that this is an area where you need to tread lightly. If you set your end goal as being CEO in 25+ years, that means youll spend your entire life glued to your desk, and nobody wants that. But, if that light at the end of the tunnel is fast approaching and you just need to make that one final strong push to reach it, then- by all means- work to your hearts desire. The reward will be well worth it. In most cases, Id warn you against the dangers of becoming a workaholic. And, even now, Id recommend doing your very best to avoid becoming so attached to your desk that it literally feels like your third arm.However, we all experience those circumstances that require us to crank out a few more hours at work than wed like to. And, thats OK. Theres no shame in working hard- as long as you can recognize when its time to step away and take a break. So, yes, you have my permission to transform into a workaholic every now and then. As they always say, Everything in moderation.

The Ultimate Job Search Playlist

The Ultimate Job Search PlaylistThe Ultimate Job Search Playlist4maximize your job search.Here are 10 motivational tunes compiled by the team here at Eye of the Tiger SurvivorFirework Katy PerryGood Vibrations Marky MarkThese Are Days 10,000 ManiacsDreams The CranberriesDaylight Matt KimPush It to the Limit Paul EngemannGroove Is in the Heart Deee-LiteHappy Pharrell WilliamsDont Stop Believin JourneyListen to our job search playlist here Readers, what songs are a part of your ultimate job search playlist? Does music help motivate you while searching? Let us know in the comments below