What is freelancing?

 Basic knowledge of freelance

"Freelance", which is attracting attention as a new way of working, does not belong to a specific company, but works as an individual by contracting with the company for each case. Simply put, it means "self-employed" and "owner". I am the president and the staff. Since you can decide the work content yourself, you can work like a "anything shop" where you can do anything broadly, or you can work like a craftsman who does only specialized work. Instead of being able to decide everything yourself, it's also a way of working that takes on all responsibility.

What is freelance?

It is said that the etymology of freelance was a term that refers to "freelance" that does not belong to the army. I contract with my employer to fight, and when the work is done, it flows to another place. Just because the content of work has diversified, it can be said that the way of living is still as it was at that time. What kind of work you receive and how much you do will be up to you. You can negotiate pay and work conditions in detail, and you can decline if conditions are not met. And above all, you can receive compensation for your labor, such as specialized knowledge and skills, according to your skills. It can be said that one of the attractions is that the reward is transferred directly to yourself, unlike the company employee. The more you work, the more you earn, and you can even take weekdays as vacation depending on your schedule. As long as you don't bother the client, you can say that the appeal of freelancers depends on when and how much you work.

Freelancers

Because it's a completely different way of working than a company employee, depending on the nature of the person, the orientation of the person is unclear. There are quite a few cases where people who were unable to work well at the company began to work as soon as they became freelance. Then, what kind of person is specifically suitable?

[High self-management ability]

As a private business, freelancers must manage all their work, from ordering to delivery. If you don't have a good plan and you can't get the work done by the deadline, it's a matter of trust. Of course, it depends on the type of job, but I can't just finish one job. It is also important to have the ability to manage tasks that can handle multiple projects at the same time. Basically, physical condition management is also part of my job. As a freelance, there are of course no co-workers who will work for you if you get sick. Overall, freelance requires “self-management ability”. To put it simply, it can be said that "types who can finish their summer vacation homework by the last day" are more suitable.

[Good on/off switching]

Freelance is a way of working that doesn't get caught up in time or calendar, so in an extreme sense, you have the freedom to work 365 days a year or have 365 days off. You can work 24 hours a day, or you can choose to work 3 hours a day. To say so far, it's too extreme, but you can decide what is called "working time" by yourself. That's why if you can't switch between your private and work hours, you'll end up in a work mode forever or a lazy life all the time. When I was working at a company, I was able to switch between private work and location from the time I came to work until I left the company. Some freelancers rent a workplace away from home or use coworking spaces or shared offices as workplaces. Finding your own on/off switch and keeping a good balance between work and life is the key to longevity.

[High communication ability]

It seems that many people have the impression that "because I work alone, I need less interaction with other people," but the reality is quite the opposite. Freelancers must do their own business and negotiate for themselves. It is very important to have detailed communication such as listening to the client's request and adjusting the conditions. It can be said that the type that wants to interact with various people and try to work without being caught in a position is suitable. On the contrary, it is also recommended for those who want to interact with clients over time and build trust. The person who wants to switch the environment according to their work content, such as "I would not mind communication such as meetings, but I want to work in a quiet place where no one else is involved" is because the way to interact with business partners is up to me. Freelancers may be easier to work than staff.