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Are You Suited for Freelancing Part Time?

By: Beth Morrisey MLIS - Updated: 16 Oct 2010 | comments*Discuss
 
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Freelancing part time is not for everyone. It requires great patience, organisation and dedication to work a day job and run a successful freelance business at the same time. Yet some people love the idea of pursuing their dreams with the safety net of a part time job and others want to use freelancing part time as a stepping stone towards giving up the day job and freelancing full time.

If you are still trying to decide if freelancing part time is for you, answer the questionnaire below. Simply answer "yes" or "no" to each questions and you'll discover if you are suited for freelancing part time.

1. Are you an organised person who pays great attention to detail?

2. Do you have exceptional time management skills?

3. Are you comfortable with working on more than one project at any given time?

4. Are you able to cope with schedule changes as they arise?

5. Do you keep extensive records and know where to find information from months or even years past?

6. Would you feel comfortable working out your own tax obligations and National Insurance contributions?

7. Are you able to ask for help when you need it?

8. Are you comfortable with working at night and on weekends when necessary?

9. Do you have a quiet area set aside for a home office?

10. Would you be comfortable describing yourself as having two jobs?

11. Do you have enough savings to cover at least three months worth of your bills?

12. Do you have enough savings to purchase any equipment necessary for freelancing?

Are You Ready?

If you answered "yes" to at least seven of these questions then you may well be suited for freelancing part time. If possible, see if you can use flexi-time at work or otherwise arrange your working week into fewer days so that you can give part time freelance work a try. If you can't, then ask about the possibility of taking leave so that you can try out a freelance schedule, or find out if you can formally cut your hours to part time work and throw yourself into freelancing when you are off.

Remember though, most freelance businesses take a few months to get off the ground so don't feel discouraged if your are not a raging success right away.

If you answered "no" to at least six of these questions then you may not be well suited to freelancing part time. Work on your organisation and time management skills, read up on freelancing and start a savings to hold you over if you do decide to cut down your hours at your day job. Also, sit down and come up with a business plan for your part time freelance work. Understand where you are now, where you'd like to be and how you plan to get there.

By mapping out your actions for the first few months of freelancing you will feel more secure and confident, both of which will increase your chances of success.

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