Freelancing With a Full Time Job
How to Freelance While Keeping Your Day Job
Keeping your full time job, while pursuing freelance writing projects on the side, can be a great way to learn the ropes. Here's some ways to manage the demands of both.
For most aspiring freelance writers, the idea of being able to work at their leisure, from home and in their pajamas, is on their long-term goal list. But before you are able to quit your 9 to 5 gig you need to be sure that you can handle the pressure and the financial cutbacks that new freelancers inevitably experience. A good compromise is to freelance part time as a way to supplement your full time income and give you some practical experience. Testing the water is always advisable before jumping in with both feet. Here are some ways to juggle your full time job with a blossoming part time freelance career.
Why You Should Initially Consider Keeping Your Full Time Job
When you make the decision to try your hand at some real-world freelance work, it is best to start slowly. This will help you become acclimated to the types of projects you will be doing, as well as help you determine a strong foundation of freelancing basics. You will learn about what kind of opportunities are available for freelancers, as well as how to handle the business side of writing. Working on a part time basis will allow you build up your portfolio as well as your client base for future work.
In addition to getting your feet wet by working part time, you will also continue to earn your full time salary and retain your employer provided benefits. Ideally, you should save up several months' worth of income before leaving your full time job. This will give you something to fall back on when you jump into the freelance world full time. It will also allow you to purchase private healthcare insurance once you become self-employed as a full time freelancer.
How to Juggle Your Full Time Job and Your Part Time Freelancing Career
Welcome to the world of freelancing! The first skill you will need to become proficient at is juggling multiple tasks at the same time. What better way to prepare yourself than by becoming accustomed to scheduling your time between your two jobs and your leisure time?
First things first. The most important thing you need to do is keep your two jobs separate. As long as you hold your full time job, and it presumably pays the bills, you need to devote your allotted time to that job wholly. No slacking off, daydreaming about writing the next best selling mystery yet. It is never a good idea to do personal tasks, or in this case tasks for your freelancing job, while you are on the clock at your full time job. This is unprofessional and a sure way to burn bridges that you may need in the future.
Once you've put in your eight hours a day at your full time gig, you can concentrate on your budding freelance career. Create a schedule for the days and hours that you will be devoting to your writing projects. This schedule should be firm and you should not deviate from it unless it is absolutely necessary. This will get you into the habit of structuring your time appropriately when you become your own boss. It will also help keep you accountable for getting through all your projects by deadline. Make sure that your spouse, children and friends are aware that you are working at your second job during this job and that you are not to be interrupted. Treat the time you devote to your freelancing as professionally as possible.
After you've been freelancing part time for a while, you will get a good feel for whether this is something you can feasibly do on a full time basis. Can you focus on your work at home? Can you get your assignments done in a timely manner? Can you produce enough work to support your current lifestyle? Can you afford to provide you and your family with quality health care coverage?
Carefully consider all of the things that go into having a full time freelance career before deciding to make the jump. As the old adage goes, always look before you leap and have a thorough understanding of what you are getting into.
