Which one should you choose: freelance or full time job? (pros and cons)

Freelance or Full time job?

For a long time, the only career path that seemed logical to a lot of people was getting a standard full-time job and working at one place long-term. Every career seemed to consist of a few usual steps: you achieve either a higher level of education or some sort of training that helps you learn one particular skill, and then land yourself a job. However, over the past years, some new tendencies appeared in the world. Nowadays, job seekers have different goals when it comes to employment and career possibilities.

Even though, some people believe that freelancing lets you make your own rules and have total freedom, there is still a large number or people to prefer the stability and other perks of a full time job. So, in order to decide which option is the best for a particular person, one needs to compare what each choice has to offer.

Freelancing

• The most obvious advantage of freelance jobs is the fact that you have more control in general. You can set your own hours, take the time-off whenever you need to, work as many hours as you like as long as you meet the deadlines, and you can even save time if there’s no need to head to the office and go through traffic everyday.
• When you’re self employed, you can also set your priorities differently. Freelancing lets you choose and plan your assignments and tasks in a way that benefits you personally. Self-employed workers can choose their workflow and take on the clients or tasks that they prefer or feel qualified enough to complete. This way, freelance jobs let you set your own hours, as well, which means that you can spend more time with family, pay more attention to other commitments outside the work, or simply have a more fulfilling social life.
• If you’re not a good team player or just rather work alone, a freelance job can give you the opportunity to be your own boss without having to engage in workplace relationships or adjust to other people's’ desires and opinions. It also doesn’t mean that you must take care of every little detail yourself: freelancers are still often considered to be consultants. It means that even though you do the job by yourself, you still get some instructions and directions from a client, which is why you’ll be able to achieve great results even when working alone.
• Freelancing can be a great option for students who want to earn some money without having to skip lectures or fall behind on studies. Such job might help a student gain some experience and broaden their knowledge, as well.
• One of the disadvantages of freelancing, which often concerns and scares away job seekers, is that this type of employment does not guarantee any benefits and you have to take care of such things as health insurance or pension plans yourself.
• Another obvious drawback is that freelance jobs can be unexpected, insecure, unstable and difficult to manage for some people. There are many aspects that make such career path very complex and dynamic. You have to look for clients, be able to sell yourself and your services in order to keep up a steady workflow. This also means that sometimes there might be longer period of times where you won’t have any work and it might be difficult for you to plan your spending and expenses.
• As a freelance worker, you won’t have anybody there to motivate you and keep you going. Working alone and making a progress at the same time can be a huge task. You have to be able to face your weaknesses, learn from your mistakes, handle difficult clients who don’t always pay on time and take care of other problems that a boss or a manager would usually deal with.

Full-time job

• When you think about the advantages of salaried employment, the first thing that comes into your mind are the benefits you get access to: health insurance sick leaves, paid vacation and all the similar matters are taken care of by your employer.
• If you’re a person who does not like to think about work outside the workplace, full-time employment can often offer you just that. Full-time jobs are generally very structured, with its particular tasks and assignments that ought to be done in a specific period of time, without you having to worry about them outside the work hours. Whereas the freelancers have to constantly be aware of their workflow and deadlines.
• A full-time job can first of all be defined as a secure and stable option for those who don’t fancy surprises and unexpected challenges in life. As an employee at a company, you can rely on a regular paycheck, which lets you plan your spendings, your vacation and other expenses freely. Working at one place for a long period of time can also possibly open up opportunities for advancement or promotion since you will be viewed as a reliable and valued colleague. However, even if you lose the job you might be offered some time to find a new job or get a compensation, which is also a bonus.
• People who choose one job for life (or at least a long period of time) can also make friends for life. As you work with the same people every single day, you inevitably become a part of community and build closer relationships with certain people. Some organizations even create events that are meant for employees, or plan trips for them. Larger companies might also have on-site gyms, comfortable break rooms, snacks, offer child care and other extras. Feeling like you belong to a certains community can be a great motivating force and even improve your lifestyle.
• More often than not, the downside of working at a company is that you have to be very committed to the work hours and rules at a specific workplace. This means that such job can be very inflexible and you will probably be tied to a strict daily schedule and will need to adhere to particular working hours. Due to this, you might have to give up on certain leisure time activities, make time for family, friends and hobbies, perhaps even work during holidays.
• In full-time job you won’t have as much control of what you do and how you do it. Especially when you’re just starting a new job, you’ll need to pay attention to certain company rules and complete the tasks exactly as you were told to. Sometimes these assignments can be very complicated and frustrating, yet you won’t be able to skip any steps or take on easier tasks. You will also be obliged to show up on time and won’t be allowed to leave unexpectedly or without a solid reason.
• The same day to day routine, repeated tasks and the people you see everyday might make your life either boring or stagnant. Such circumstances might stop you from improving yourself and your skills, keep you from wanting to go further in life. You might start to notice that you get comfortable with the job and the tasks you get, you avoid challenges and new opportunities in order to just keep the job. Staying at the same place for a long time can also make it very difficult for you to explore new careers or even get a job: your CV might be lacking more diverse experiences and the job search itself might become a nightmare as you get comfortable working at one company.

All in all, both of these employment types present each person with a variety of benefits and challenges which require some serious thinking. You need to take such things as your lifestyle, your priorities and even your character traits into consideration in order to make a very thoughtful decision. So, think about your choices carefully and don’t be afraid to make career changes. If you find it hard to get back into job hunting, take a look at the job offers on Jobin.