Job tips

Out of context: Reply #11

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  • ArmandoEstrada3

    I have been freelancing for over 20 years. I have been lucky that ive been able to maintain a steady flow of income this whole time. But lately, ive gotten grief from close friends about my 'future'. A few of them have moved on from freelance and got full time jobs or joined the union (IATSE). I haven't had a 'real' job since ive started. About 75% of my income comes from coding websites and the rest from video/photography/consulting work.

    So im at a crossroads. Do I continue on my merry way, or consider full time work. My problem is I have no experience working for any one employer. My skillset is all over the place. If I were to create a resume, do I just focus on one thing? Code? Video? Photography? Dunno, feeling a bit lost...

    • You could see full time employment as more of a risk as all of your eggs are in one basket. What if that company goes under or fires you?Chimp
    • If you've been doing this for 20 years, you've no doubt weathered a few recessions. Sounds like you're pretty secure as you are.mort_
    • Kind of just saying what Chip said but in another way.mort_
    • As an ex-freelancer, I really miss the variety of projects and businesses I used to deal with. But I was shit at selling myself so never really made it work.mort_
    • if it still works for you why stop?milfhunter
    • I went FT after a long time freelancing. Then under 2 years later made redundant. Wish I had stayed agile and adaptable as a freelancer.shapesalad
    • In terms of future, try to build out websites products, services that can become income streams. Build up a network of younger folks to filter jobs out to.shapesalad
    • Then you can increase your revenue:time ratio, max out savings accounts, retire earlier.shapesalad
    • eg you become more like a producer/manager, taking a cut from the projects and managing the work from a team of junior freelancers.shapesalad
    • Like a remote studio. So you have less risk, no office, no HR stuff, just retain your freelancers as 'consultants' rather than employees.shapesalad
    • I went FT in a university after freelancing and then failing to run my own studio. That job has now become a part time job that pays the bills and i can pickkingsteven
    • and choose freelance jobs (or like now, I just read, paint and help my friends out with their art) all i needed was a degree to get in to an interviewkingsteven
    • and then i found that being a jack of all trades is often the idea employee outside the design industry and stability/pension etc. works for me more than $$$kingsteven
    • Double down on what you got, especially coding. Development is highly in demand skill. Start side-projects, try to earn passive income from them, retire early.grafician
    • Shape has a good point about contracting younger design slaves to help you out and viewing yourself more as a remote agency.Chimp

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