While you still have a job, why
not start a parallel career by freelancing and aim towards the end goal of
being your own boss (which is what changing career the Parallel Career Way is
all about)? Don't wait until you face a midlife crisis or after you lost or
quit your job.
Today, literally millions of people all over the world
have established highly-successful careers as freelancers. Many of these
work-from-home professionals have found that freelancing offers a dream
lifestyle - flexible working hours, free from bosses, total control,
independence and 'good money'.
As a freelancer you act as an expert or
specialist in your field on a project/contract basis. You're an independent
contractor or some call you a Free Agent. You're not on anyone's payroll.
You're self-employed. Your remuneration for each project/contract is based on a
fee.
The type of projects available for freelancers are as many as
there are job functions in the traditional workplace. These include auditing,
copywriting, research, text translation, creative and commercial writing,
quality assurance, forensic accounting, website design and maintenance, medical
law, graphical work, software development, technical writing, data entry,
research, training and motivation, engineering design, raising equity funds and
venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, international law,
etc. etc.
First…You'll Have to Be Sure…
But because you're still working for someone else, there're pros and
cons in freelancing as a parallel career. Your current job will surely provide
you with some 'Assets' BUT at the same time you've to be sure that there's no
conflict of interest with your employer.
* Is the freelance project
for a client who is your employer's competitor?
* Is the nature of the
project such that to undertake it, you'll have to disclose some of your
employer's proprietary secrets? (These secrets could be sources of supplies,
technological know-how, formulas/recipes, product costing calculations, or any
information that gives your employer's company a competitive advantage in its
industry/market).
Re-read your employment contract thoroughly, and if
still in doubt, consult a lawyer. Paying fees for such legal advice is money
well spent.
The Good Thing Today… The
good thing about freelance project opportunities today is that most likely
you'll be undertaking project work for a company too far away to have any
conflict with your local employer. Or the scope of your project does not
'threaten' your employer at all.
For example, you live in Los Angeles
and work for a medium-size accounting software company twenty miles from your
home. It's very unlikely that there's a conflict of interest if you were to
take on a programming project for a company in Italy to develop an inventory
management program. BUT there'll be a potential conflict if you undertake a
freelance project to develop an accounting software for a company not too far
from LA (say in San Diego) because this new accounting program may 'eat' into
your present employer's product market share.
Another example: You are
the head of your company's quality assurance team. You've a good working
knowledge of the International Standards ISO9001. There is no conflict of
interest if you were to take on a freelancing project to write the quality
manual for another company nearby as long as that company is not your
employer's competitor.
Is There Demand for Freelancing
Professionals? Yes.. Aye...Si...Ya! There are many reasons
why companies need the expertise of a freelancer:
1.
There is a sudden burst in business activity and the company's existing
workforce cannot cope.
2. The company has a one-off
project (example: a takeover of another company or production of a massive
catalogue).
3. Deadlines must be met.
4. The company needs specialised skills not available
within the company.
5. The management cannot justify
the long-term expense of employing a full-time person
What
Qualifications Do You Need? What qualifications DON'T you
need? Generally, you don't need to have any special license, insurance, a
company, an office or employees.
But you DO need to be sure that you
will be able to do the project. Afterall, this is what you'll be paid for.
Knowing your 'Assets and Skillset' will give you a good feel of whether you can
do the project.
You'll need to put together a profile or portfolio
that is more convincing than a resume. It needs to be more like a marketing
presentation. Remember there are others out there who can do the project as
well.
Keep in mind that there will be opportunities to secure future
projects with the same company. So it's worthwhile doing it right for the first
project.
The Parallel Career Way To be a
full-time freelancer, the biggest challenge is finding enough work to justify
giving up your full-time job. How can you be sure that you will have enough
work to pay all your bills?
The Parallel Career Way makes it less
stressful and risky because you start developing your freelancing career while
you still have a job. And thanks to the Internet, things are now much easier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Infopreneur, Writer, Engineer
and Consultant. Former company high-flyer - shares tips, ideas and information
on how to change career the Parallel Career Way at:
http://www.parallelcareer.com
