In the career world, things have changed, and the change is advancing at a high rate. Many people are increasingly choosing to go freelance, and it is becoming more likely for them to work in numerous roles and industries throughout the course of their professional life.
Freelancing is a
great side hustle that, if pursued diligently, has the potential to take over
your 9-5 job. That said though, freelancing for starters isn't only about
sitting and making your own schedule. There is a downside to freelancing that
you have to be aware of before embarking on a full-time freelance career.
According to
Prospects, experts in graduate careers, freelancing is a form of
self-employment where freelancers lend their skills and talents to a number of
clients on a flexible basis. The Cambridge Dictionary further defines a way of
working that is based on people having temporary jobs or doing separate pieces
of work, each paid separately, rather than working for an employer.
According to a
report by Mercy Corps, the Kenyan digital gig economy as of 2020 had employed
nearly 36,573 freelancers. The gig economy is projected to expand even further
at a 33% annual pace over the next 5 years, with the overall size of the gig
economy hitting Ksh39.6 billion and hiring 93,875 gig workers by 2023 in
Kenya.
However, all that
glitters is not always gold and if you are new to the freelancing world, you
will almost certainly come across some of the negative aspects of freelancing
at some point so here's what you need to know.
1. Periods of No Work
It takes great
effort and time to establish a consistent flow of business, and even if you do,
there is no assurance that it will remain. Whether you are a freelance writer,
programmer, or designer, your work will always have highs and lows; one day
you're turning down recurring job offers, and the next you are contacting old
clients asking them to give you work.
There might not be a
way to "fix" this specific freelancing challenge. It is just
the nature of freelancing. However, keep in mind that even the veteran
and more experienced freelancers go through dry periods. Embrace the
uncertainty of freelancing, and try not to be alarmed if work slows for some
period.
One of the best
things you can do is to prepare financially and emotionally for such periods,
by saving as much as you can during your busier seasons, to cushion you when
you have low income.
2. Getting Clients
Another challenging
obstacle for any prospective freelancer is finding their first client. Nothing
is more difficult than trying to persuade a client who has not interacted with
your work before to grant you a contract/project.
That could be even
worse if the clients you are propositioning had a terrible experience with a
previous novice. They might make biased assumptions and end up not being
interested in offering you work. However, you should come prepared for this
kind of judgement with clear, convincing evidence that you are up to the
task.
3. Dealing With Being Underpaid
Many companies and
businesses often (regrettably) believe that they can reduce their expenditure
by underpaying freelancers for their work rather than hiring full-time
employees.
This frustrates
freelancers a lot. When it comes to freelancing, you should truly get
paid well for the services you are offering. It's reasonable to get frustrated
when firms try to pay you less than you're worth.
Although some
companies will always hunt for the cheapest alternative, you can reduce your
aggravation by clearly displaying your prices on your page and only responding
to job listings that lie within your approved pay range.
It is even more
important that you do your research to know exactly what are the fair rates for
the kind of services you are offering and at your skill level.
This puts you in a
strong negotiation position rather than going in blind - probably being happy
by what someone has offered you just because they ‘took a chance on you’ when
in reality you could have been paid much more had you come armed with
research.
4. Dealing With Late or No Payment At All
It's already
annoying to be given less than you are worth for your products or services, but
what's even more frustrating is having to deal with clients who pay late, or
don't want to pay at all.
Some clients may pay
late due to various circumstances such as funding delays but others may simply
ghost you when it's time for your payment hoping that you will get weary of
asking for your money and give up.
Sadly, it is not
always possible to stop clients from ignoring your invoices. However, you can
shield yourself by keeping detailed records of your previous payments,
including a late fee in your contracts or scope of work, and reminding your
clients about a delayed invoice on a regular basis.
It is even more
important to have formal contracts signed with your clients to make sure that
you are protected and their obligations to you, including the specifics of
compensation, are all on paper.
If you are taking
your freelancing career seriously, it is recommended that you consult a lawyer
to draft a contract for you or review the contract drawn by your client.
5. Having To Be A Jack Of All Trades
If you are thinking
that freelancers have it easy, think twice. The majority of freelancers’ time
is spent doing multiple tasks all in one. While freelancing, you need to handle
everything on your own, from looking for clients to interacting with them,
following them up for payments, managing your money, and so on.
You are both the
owner as well as the employee. If you don't plan your time properly, you may
find yourself spending far too much time focusing on one thing and failing to
deliver or missing deadlines as a result.
6. Freelancing Can Get Lonely
While freelancing
allows you the freedom to work by yourself and be your own boss, it may also be
a solitary experience. People are social beings and life can get difficult when
you aren't surrounded by like-minded individuals with whom to exchange
information, or teammates with whom you can converse.
To help cope with
this, take on work that you enjoy doing the most, join as co-working space,
physically meet your clients or schedule online meetings with them where you
can talk and exchange ideas, and also create a team with your fellow
freelancers.
WRAPPING UP
Starting out on your
own to develop the freelance career and life you have ever wanted can be
terrifying. Congrats on having the fortitude to make that choice. You
need to realize that you have a long journey ahead, so you have to make sure
that the initial choices you make are proper.
Freelancing isn't a walk in the park and there are days you'll want to give up. But ensure that you remain focused. It won't hurt to take some time off every now and then to recharge and get back on your feet. Keep developing your skills and make use of the numerous tools available to help you with your work.
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