Is being a freelancer really that appealing?

Freelancers are generally understood to be independent workers who are not confined to an eight-hour workday in an office, with income depending on the quality of work completed.

It's not uncommon to see a freelancer working in some corner of a coffee shop - Photo: QL

It seems like "freedom," so it's gradually becoming a popular choice for many young people. But if you jump into it just because you're attracted by the freedom, you'll quickly realize that being a freelancer isn't as easy as you might think.

There were young people who enthusiastically chose to become freelancers, only to soon quietly find work and return to the routines of shift work or the confines of an office.

In fact, to thrive in the freelance world , one must master the specific elements that this type of work requires. Here are four things you should definitely consider when you want to enter the freelance world.

Income is unstable. If you think freelancers have more free time, that's your first mistake.

In reality, they are busier than salaried employees, simply because they only earn an income when they have work. Therefore, they must compete even more to find jobs; if they were too free, what would they live on?

The pressure to find clients is immense. When competing with countless other freelancers, as well as company employees in the same field, you need strong connections to even have a chance of survival.

The problem is that times have changed; finding a freelancer is no longer as easy as it used to be, and now you have to compete with other freelancers abroad or even with artificial intelligence.

Self-management skills are crucial. As a company employee, you have countless superiors reminding you of deadlines, progress, and directly evaluating the quality of your work. But as a freelancer, you have to manage everything yourself. Therefore, a lack of good management and evaluation skills, or a lack of discipline—as many freelancers have experienced—often leads to stagnation and mediocre work quality. This only increases the pressure on your life until you eventually leave the freelance world altogether.

Loneliness at work. You remember when everyone at the company celebrated your birthday, you remember how you and your team worked brilliantly on a challenging project, you remember the joy of receiving lucky money envelopes with colleagues during holidays... These are things that are almost never experienced in the freelancer world.

Neither insurance nor other basic employee benefits are offered . It's just you and your job in this world. This is what has quickly discouraged countless extroverted, freedom-loving young people from jumping into the freelance world because they "feel like they're a good fit."

Many young people are easily lured by the illusion of freedom that the freelance world creates. But after more than a decade living in this world, my personal experience shows that this type of work is more suited to certain aptitudes than temperaments or interests. So before you think about becoming a freelancer, carefully consider all the factors to avoid missing out on opportunities.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lam-freelancer-hap-dan-that-khong-20250303082507023.htm