With well over 57 million people freelancing in 2019 alone, it’s clear that freelance work is on the rise—and definitely has a certain appeal.

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With the ability to make your own flexible schedule, choose your field, work from anywhere, and be your own boss (along with the intrinsic productivity and motivation you’ll feel) the pros of freelancing are undeniable, and are very attractive to those considering making a switch.

However, as anyone who has freelanced as their full-time gig for long enough will tell you, there’s a number of downsides to the freedom this comes with. Along with unreliable and often-unpredictable schedule of freelance work, there’s the ever-so-important question of payment. Unlike a salaried full-time job, there’s no accounting department to ensure you get paid. In fact, you may have to track down an unresponsive client to make sure you even get your hard-earned payment at all.

With the stability of pay that a traditional 9 to 5 offers, there’s also the reassurance that your job is secure. You wake up each day and know exactly what is expected of you, what your tasks will be for the day, and (mostly) when you will arrive and leave. In uncertain job economies, this job stability alone will ensure a high retainer of employees.

Like with freelancing, a full-time job too comes with its fair share of cons. There’s much less freedom and autonomy in a traditional office environment, along with dreaded “busy work” that every full-time employee has had to wade through one time or another during their career. These often-menial tasks can lead to a feeling of not accomplishing anything of importance, which does nothing to motivate or inspire. Along with limited vacation or work-from-home options, this can feel stifling to those who want to spread their wings a little bit.

The real question to answer is which makes you happier: freelancing or working full-time? No two people are alike, and what draws one person to a 9-5 office environment will be what pushes another toward freelancing. It’s all about determining what makes you happy while doing your job. Considering that the average adult spends 13 years of their total life at work, it’s vital to ensure the work you’re doing is fulfilling and inspiring in some way or another. Finding a position that supports you mentally, physically, and emotionally is important to ensure that you’re happy doing what you (hopefully) love.

Figuring out how to choose between freelancing vs. full-time may sound tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. By carefully weighing the pros and cons of each, you’ll be sure to arrive at a decision that will leave you feeling ready to tackle the next stage in your career, whatever that may be. Reference this visual from Bestow on how to determine which career path is the one for you, including a flowchart that will guide you through making this intimidating decision.

Freelance vs Fulltime Infographic
(credit: Emily Borst, hellobestow.com)

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