Freelancing has been around for centuries and is still going strong. People enjoy the freedom of being their boss and not having to answer to anyone but themselves. But with this privilege also comes responsibility, which many people are not aware of before freelancing. This blog post will go over some of the most common myths about freelancing that you should know before starting your career as a freelance worker.
Let’s take a look at these myths.
Myth 1: You Won’t Have A Mentor Or Boss
Myth number one about freelancing is that you won’t have a mentor or boss. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, especially if you are looking for freelance jobs online. There are plenty of “jobs” to choose from on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, so there’s no shortage of employment opportunities out there.
Plus, there are plenty of freelance communities online where you can find other freelancers to have a mentor-mentee relationship with. There are many mentors and bosses out there who can work within a freelance capacity without being employed by them.
Myth 2: You Will Not Have Any Job Security
Freelancers have more job security than traditional employees because they are self-employed and can pick their clients instead of being assigned to a project by the company. The freelancer will have to work a lot harder than if they were employed because they are the ones that need to find their next project and convince the client.
Freelancers may not earn as much as an employee would, but this is offset by no longer paying for insurance or retirement contributions.
Myth 3: Freelancing Is Not A “Real” Business
Freelancers make the majority of their income from a variety of clients and can have multiple streams. Freelancing is not only about work but also investments for retirement or side businesses like consulting. According to freelance platform Elance, freelancers are paid an average annual salary of USD 47k per year, with 63% working on more than one project at a time.
For many people who choose this path as a career choice, there’s room for growth in skills and experience, leading to higher pay rates while building connections in different industries. Freelancers can control how much they earn by determining which projects they want to apply for and managing their workload accordingly.
Myth 4: Freelancing Is More Unpleasant Than A Regular Workday
This is a common misconception about freelancing. One of the many benefits of working remotely for yourself is that you have control over your hours and work when convenient for YOU, not when it’s suitable for someone else. You’re in charge! Freelancers don’t typically feel trapped or pressured to stay late at their desks because they can come up with a conscientious schedule on their own before jumping into freelance life.
They set terms with clients based on what works best for them and then stick with those agreed-upon boundaries, so there isn’t any confusion down the line. This leads me back to my first point: one of the most important aspects of being successful as a freelancer is taking time to take care of yourself.
Myth 5: You Need To Chip Away At Projects You Like
It would be best if you chipped away at projects you like. This is true, but it’s not the whole story. Freelancers can take two different approaches with this myth – finding work they love and then building a business around them or starting by taking any gigs available to build up their portfolio of skill sets before deciding on what niche they want to focus on (or both).
The first way will allow for greater creative freedom, while the latter may be more lucrative over time if done correctly as you’ll have a wide range of clients rather than being restricted solely to one industry or type of project. Whichever option suits your personality best should be chosen as there’s no correct answer.
Myth 6: You Can Work At Whatever Point You Need
Freelancers are often told that they can work at any time of day or night. This may not always be the case, as some tasks need to happen during certain hours. Freelancers should make sure to check with their company before making such assumptions about working times. Freelancers make the majority of their income from a variety of clients and can have multiple streams.
The Bottom Line
These are the most common myths about freelancing. You should be aware of them before starting your career as a freelancer to know what you’re getting into and how they might affect you in the future. Freelancing has been around for centuries and is still going strong. With this privilege also comes a responsibility that many people don’t realize they have until they’ve started their freelance careers.
