I'm actually realising that I'm much happier working as a freelancer and being my own boss rather than stuck in an office so many hours working for someone else.
I'm trying now to find a part-time job elsewhere so I have a steady income each month and then finding new freelance clients, in order for me to leave this job. I feel exhausted and drained there at the moment as opposed to feel energised and happy as I should feel!
I'm talking now with two possible freelance clients, and will talk with an agency I was working before and see if they want to work with me again, and see how it goes.
Lupita, post: 23631, member: 9 a écrit : Good advice there from glebe. Some client companies, and specifically the people representing them in HR/management, just don't 'get' freelancers or independent workers. The freelancer's 'process' (payment or day-to-day business or otherwise), approach and mindset are treated somewhat aloofly, mainly because they don't understand it and, in your case it seems, they don't want to understand it! In other words, and from reading your post, it strikes me that there's a lack of respect from the end-user in terms of how they treat/regard you.
It's all a bit of shame.
But as you identify in your account of what's happened, you made a few 'blobs' that haven't helped your situation. So follow glebe's tips ('avoid flashpoints until you've a way out'; 'get your head down and be professional' and 'get a Plan B in place'), and also check your contract. Consult this document in relation to bringing clients along with you ('gifting' clients - explored here a bit) and to be aware, in advance, of the ways the business/end-user might try to get rid of you. I think based on what you said, notably how they've responded to you of late, knowing the ins and outs of termination clauses incl any notice periods, may hold you in good stead.
Finally, and I appreciate the following advice isn't easy to follow at the drop of a hat, but start to try to look at your situation less emotionally -- take it less personally even if you deem it to be personal! Disconnecting from it slightly so you're not overrun with numerous feelings should help you clearly and concisely grasp the facts and gain an insight into how the business (note; 'the business' -- not person 'x') is looking at things too. You'll always agree with your side more, but seeing both sides of the coin will surely be helpful, not least because you may be able to foresee their next move!
Best of luck and please let us know the latest when you next steal a sec.:)
I'm writing this post because I need advice, I'm sure some freelancers out here can relate to my situation and advise me.
I have been freelancing for quite some time and actually really enjoyed it, had a few clients, they were happy with my work, being my own boss, could do my own schedule and was perfect. But since me and my husband were starting to struggle financially (I was working 3 days per week on the days my daughter was at the nursery), I've had to go back into full-time employment.
I've started in a full-time job in the beginning of this month and I'm getting nuts at the moment. I've never been tailored to office 9-5 type of work and now I really suck at it. I've been out of office politics for a long time and was always very informal with my clients, so I'm struggling to adjust and I just made 2 mistakes that annoyed the owner of the company (the person I report to).
First I asked him last week if I could work from home one day of the week and he was annoyed by my question and said no, the other thing was a bit more serious. I was supposed to have an induction on my first day/week of work, which I didn't because they have been postponing it since. It was supposed for them to tell me about the company rules and terms on the induction. Because I didn't have the induction, they didn't mention to me that their pay schedule goes from the 21st on one month until the 20th of the next, so since I've started working on the 10th, I will only receive from the 10th until the 21st... The owner only told me this last Friday in a chat around the coffee machine...
I was shocked really, since I was expecting to receive until the end of the month. If I knew this I would have keep a former freelance client of mine until the end of this month...
So, and because I brought another freelance client of mine with me to this company, I asked the owner if I could invoice them myself this month so I'll not be on the red line... Yes, I was naive asking this question, but the owner was always so approachable and informal to me that I thought I could ask him. Well, he was shocked with my request, sent an email Cc the HR department stating I cannot do that, invoicing myself, that the client is not mine now, but of his company (which is true),etc, etc. Even the fact I told him this is not a general request to go every month and only specific to this situation, he didn't understand it.
Ok, I was naive and made a mistake by asking this, but I was really desperate (and still am). I wasn't trying to harm him or his company in any way or take advantage since I could not have brought the client with me in the first place. I was just desperate since I have the rent to pay, my daughter's nursery, etc (which I know is not his responsibility).
So, he changed radically his behaviour towards me, like I'm some kind of criminal, and he's being very cold at the moment. I feel so sad with this and demotivated too. I'm having a hard time adjusting to a full-time role and I miss so much being a freelancer and working for myself, I never had ANY problem with clients!
I've had a former client contacting me in order to do more work and I could bring him into this company (which by the way is a start-up) but I guess I'll not do it. If I lose this job I'll lose him as a client too.
I cannot afford at the moment to go back to be a freelance, and I'm wondering if I should look for a new job elsewhere since it seems my relationship with the owner here is ruined. Also, my boyfriend works for another company the owner has and I don't want for this to backlash on him. And that happened a little yesterday when the owner blamed my boyfriend for not telling me about the pay dates, when that was his responsibility on the induction (that I didn't have).
Can you please advise me? Can't think of anywhere else to ask this. Thanks in advance!
The childcare costs will be much higher since my daughter is now going 5 days per week instead of 3. She will also be entitled to free 15hours per week in January next year. But even so, I'll make more money from this full-time job than from freelancing (£400 difference in favour of the full-time job). If I'm able to keep at least 2 of my freelance clients which I have monthly steady work, I'll make even more money. And money is a big issue at the moment for me and my husband.
Well, what I'm planning to do is starting the full-time job whilst keeping all of my freelance clients, at least for the first month. I want to see if I enjoy working full-time and also if I like the company, the people and the way they work. I don't want to leave all my freelance clients now, put all eggs in one basket and then risk losing everything.
The thing for me is that I've only had 3 days per week to work so I didn't have the time to throw myself more deeply or to dedicate to marketing/networking. And now I'm struggling a lot with going to work full-time since I have been working as a freelance for so long and I love the freedom/flexibility that it gives me, I relate much more to that rather than being stuck in an office with politics and etc.
Do you think it's a good idea to test the waters first at this job before leaving my freelance clients?
I've been freelancing for over a year now (online marketing and copywriting), at the beginning I was unemployed and an opportunity came out to work as a freelance, which was good because it meant flexibility and time to spend with my 2 year old daughter (she's 3 days at the nursery and 2 days at home with me).
Since I've started I won another client but have been struggling financially since the first client started to give half the work I used to have last year.
Due to the financial issues, me and my husband decided for me to search for a full-time job (my husband has a full-time job at the moment). I went to a job interview this week and they offered me the job. Now I have mixed feelings and I'm just not sure what to do. At the beginning of this week I also win a new freelance client, that is a marketing agency. I'm working in their agency marketing as a try out but have the possibility to work for their clients in the future if they like my work.
So it seems I have all this happening at the same time which doesn't help me decide. I'm happy because it is a good full-time opportunity and the salary is good. We would both have stability and stop the financial issues. But that also means giving up all 3 clients I have at the moment and the opportunity and flexibility to be with my daughter (she would have to start 5 days at the nursery). I love the freedom of working as a freelance but don't really like the instability of it.
When I started freelancing it was supposed to be something temporary until I find a full-time job, but I ended working as a freelance for so long I kinda start relating and enjoying it.Going to a full-time job again also scares me a lot, with having to be there 9-5 and will all the office politics and stuff like that.
I've also thought about not giving up my 3 freelance clients on the first month starting on this job so I can give it a try, but I'm not sure I can work full-time in a company whilst continuing to freelance?
Well, thank you very much for reading, as you can see I'm really confused but I guess I'm not the first freelancer to be in this kind of dilemma. Anyone can give me some good advice?
