Why some freelancers give it up for a regular, full-time job

Freelance Writing Coach

We think freelance writing is a pretty sweet gig—but it’s not for everyone. Some lead successful careers as self-employed people, while others miss the structure of a full-time role. One isn’t inherently better than the other, and deciding which one is right for you can take some trial and error.

Some leave freelance life behind and return to a traditional, full-time job. But why?

Why it’s tempting to consider going back full-time

The demand for quality writers is higher than ever, and some freelancers see a bump in requests from recruiters related to a full-time gig. Other freelancers get great offers with their existing clients because they work closely together and are already embedded within the business. Some of these offers can be enticing.

One thing is indisputable: freelancing is hard work. All of the business admin and sales elements of the job aren’t for everyone, and the financial burdens of freelancing can be too much for some people to handle.

If you don’t have a partner or spouse to support you, or you’re struggling to make ends meet with your freelance career—even though you’re taking all the right steps and making all the right connections—the pull to return to a source of consistent income and healthcare makes a lot of sense. And sometimes, you’re just ready for the next chapter in your career.

If you’ve freelanced for a bit and you’re thinking about going full-time, your background as a freelancer and the body of work you’ve produced can help you ask for a lot more money than you would otherwise. If you’re interested in becoming a full-time employee again, consider the pros and cons first.

The pros of going full-time

There can be a lot of benefits to going back in-house after working as a freelancer for a while. One of the biggest ones is the ability to work with a team again. Freelancing can sometimes create a sense of loneliness because so much of what we do daily is solo work. There are no team retreats, no conferences, and no spontaneous lunches with coworkers. Going full-time would bring a lot of that back into your workday.

If you want to focus only on writing instead of the other elements of running a freelance business, a full-time role will help you do that. It eliminates the constant context-switching between creative work, admin tasks, and different clients.

There’s no shame in saying freelancing isn’t working for you for whatever reason.
Another significant pro of going full-time is healthcare coverage and taxes. Businesses will handle healthcare for you and manage tax payments with each paycheck. Freelancing puts all of that responsibility on your shoulders—and there’s a bigger tax percentage due, too.

The cons of going full-time

One of the biggest reasons people become freelancers is because of the flexibility it provides. You can determine your working hours, what work you choose to take on, and when you need to take a break. If you want a raise, you can raise your rates and find clients that will match them. If you want a raise at a full-time gig, many more steps are involved—and you still might not get it.

By going full-time, you lose some of that authority. You’re working for more than yourself now—you have a team, a manager, and a set of expected responsibilities that come with the job. The flexibility isn’t near what you would have as a freelancer, and your desired work-life balance may be harder to maintain.

If you enjoy the context-switching that comes with freelancing—and you’re pretty good at it—that’s not something you’ll find with full-time work, either.

As a final con to consider: the economy has made it so that working full-time can be just as uncertain and unstable. With layoffs across most industries, relying on a single source of income could be risky. If you lose a freelancing client, on the other hand, it can be easier to bounce back and supplement with new projects or different offerings.

The answer? It depends.
If you’re trying to find out whether or not a full-time role is a potential fit, ask yourself (and the hiring manager) these questions:

What would working full-time look like for me?
What would I need to make financially for it to make sense?
What kind of flexibility would I need?
What kind of projects would I be doing?
Will I get the work-life balance I crave?
What are my non-negotiables and priorities?
What would the expectations be for me and my work?

Remember: Going full-time in-house is not a failure in the realm of freelancing. Deciding to stay freelance is great if that’s what’s best for you; choosing to become an employee is great, too. Make sure it’s your decision, not any external idea of what you “should” be doing.

You must be clear about what you’re trying to accomplish and what’s best for your personality type. It’s worth doing the work to get clarity around what you want out of your career and your life.
What do you want out of your 40-hour work week? What are your goals? What do you want to be able to accomplish outside of work? Let those details guide you.

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