How To Quit Your Job And Freelance
How do you know when it is time to go freelance? If the annoyances of working for someone else and being constantly micromanaged are getting to you, it may be the perfect time for you to consider quitting your job and starting to work as a freelancer. While it can be scary to leave a 40 hour a week job that has things health insurance and an assured income, the rewards of freelancing can make up for it. Making your own schedule, doing things to your own specifications and being your own boss are things that some people only dream of doing.
However, if you are considering quitting your job to go freelance, there are just a few things to keep in mind.
1. Learn from others. Before you start think about what you want to do. Are you a writer, or an illustrator? Do you have a lot of skill when it comes to web design or coding? What would you like to do while freelancing? When you have an idea of what you’d like to do, try talking to other people in the field. Ask them what mistakes they made when they were starting out and how to avoid them.
2. Review health care options. Another concern is health care, which can be problematic for some people. Look into health insurance that is available through your spouse or look into purchasing health insurance from a private sector. Depending on what state you live in, you might be able to secure insurance that is meant specifically for freelancers.
3. When you go to quit your job, do it on the best terms possible. One thing you will learn when freelancing is that it is important to make connections and network, and you won’t do that by burning your bridges behind you. Give plenty of notice and be polite as to why you are leaving. You never know when you might need a good reference or when an old co-worker or former employer will help you out in the future.
4. After you’ve quit, try to hit the ground running. Set yourself a schedule of when you will work and then stick to it. Your own diligence is one of your most important resources, especially at the beginning.
5. Over-deliver. When you start getting clients, show them why they went with a freelancer instead of a larger company. Be personable, friendly and above all efficient. As a freelancer, you can show them a degree of service and attention that is impossible for bigger corporations. Word of mouth is one of the top ways that you’ll get business, so make sure that they’re only saying good things about you.
Freelancing can be a big step from working a normal job, but the rewards can change your life. As your own boss, there are many things that are possible, and if you are stifled under the authority of others or getting buried under bureaucratic red tape, freelancing might be just the thing you need.
Think about freelancing today and find out if it is for you!
Eden Paul is a CPA and small business owner who enjoys helping others follow their dreams by using resources like GoFreelance For more information and ideas on how to start working for yourself, visit http://www.freelanceworkreview.com
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