Who among us did not dream of becoming a free artist? Throw an alarm clock, stop going to the office and start doing something you love? Still, the lack of "classical" work (costume, lunch break and two hours a day for personal life) can greatly ease our everyday life. But to realize a dream, it is important to understand: what is work at home and how to organize it? ..
This is exactly what the labor exchange will never offer you - work at home can only be your personal discovery. To the idea of freelancing, everyone comes in his own way. In the most common case, you are fatally bored with the work of "Uncle". Another option is characteristic of women living in large megacities, who have to spend 2-4 hours a day on the road from home to office and back. Then you will inevitably think: is it not foolish to kill so much time in public transport and standing in traffic jams and can this be somehow avoided?
Conflict with superiors can also become a "catalyst" for the transition to freelancing. " Before becoming a freelance photographer, I worked in an advertising agency. My duties were to include only shooting advertising posters for clients, but my cunning young boss did not care about this fact , - Daria shares 30 years. - She used me without hindrance - sent me to shoot corporate parties and press conferences, to do portraits of top managers of client companies for their personal needs. As a result, during the daytime I was constantly on the road, and in the evenings I was processing photos in the office and rarely finished before nine in the evening. But I was lucky: my work was noticed by several editors of a large edition, who soon began to pile up orders for me to shoot. At first I dedicated these weekends to weekends, soon there were so many orders that I could quit my main job and even begin to choose what I'm interested in taking pictures, and from which order it is better to refuse. "
Or maybe you are not working because you do not have the opportunity to spend 8-10 hours a day at the office - you need to take and take the child from the kindergarten, feed him lunch and then go with him for a walk? In this case, freelancing can become a golden mean: working in a free mode will bring you money, will not let you forget your professional skills and leave enough free time for household chores.
FIRST OF ALL
In this age of high technology, no one prevents you from earning money in free flight. The main thing is to understand what you can offer potential buyers of your services, and competently approach to organizing your own work.
"To begin with, you have to choose an occupation that can bring income in the absence of office work. There can be several options. Firstly, you can take orders for the main profession in your free time (unless, of course, this is contrary to your employment contract) and, having earned a good reputation among many potential customers, quit and engage exclusively in freelancing, "advises career counselor Elena Leonova .
For example, you will develop the design of companies' websites that can not afford to contact a specialized agency, keep accounts of small firms, translate texts at home (many translation agencies work just like that, their employees appear only on the day of their salary at the office). In addition, you can try to become an independent consultant in the area in which you have worked so far. But keep in mind that consultants are only sought-after and well-known on the market professionals with an impeccable reputation.
And finally, the source of income can be your hobby, if you manage to organize the trade of the fruits of your labor. "Perhaps you like to knit, and all the friends confirm that you have a talent when asked to tie them another sweater or stole? If you do something well, do not hesitate to offer your work for sale, - Elena Leonova is sure. - It is not necessary to start taking money from close friends, but to put your work on the Internet and put the price tags on them is even worth it. "Hand-mass" is more popular than ever before, and there is always a buyer for quality unusual things. " The same applies to decorative pillows with the author's embroidery, made-up decorations, frames for photographs, curtains, blankets and toys. Try to sell your products on the job. Thus, you, without risk, check your strengths and see how popular your crafts are.
ACTION PLAN
Despite the apparent ease and availability of freelancing, there is no need to hurry to leave. To begin with, you need to save money - the necessary "foundation", on which you can rely, while you build relationships with customers, build your schedule and deal with new working realities. You must have enough savings for at least two months of a comfortable life. "Use the" accumulative period "to train in finding orders and communicating with customers, - advises Elena Leonova. "Gradually, you can switch to part-time employment at your main place of work, but do not quit until you receive so many free-lance orders that evenings that are free of work will not be enough for them."
TAI-MANAGEMENT
Of course, working at home or in a free schedule outside the home, you no longer have to bounce in the morning on the bed from the alarm clock and rush into the office. The corporate schedule will cease to exist for you, but there will be a need to organize your own time. "Beforehand, determine how many hours a day you want to give to work and at what time of the day are you more comfortable doing it? As practice shows, the optimal time, which is usually given to "home" work, is from two to five hours a day. And how do you distribute other things - cooking dinner, cleaning, walking and playing sports? In a word, make your own schedule convenient for you and try to stick to it, "advises Elena Leonova.
UNDERWATER ROCKS
Your family will surely perceive your new status as free from the lady's office as light and cloudless, despite the fact that you will still work. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that all household chores will have to be done to you, even if the husband used to be not against vacuuming the carpets and seemed to be used to taking out the garbage - this is his, not your, duty. "With a spouse and children it's better to immediately agree: your work-earnings are a serious matter, requiring your time and effort. This is the same job as in an office or a government office. Ask not to distract you in the "working" time, - continues Elena Leonova. "And sooner or later, the family will understand that they must respect your choice!"
At first, other options are likely: fees can be delayed, clients will refuse your services at the last moment, and work will take 12-14 hours a day until you "untwist". But the ability to do only the work that you want (wherever and whenever you want) is, no doubt, worth it.
PLUSES AND MINUSES OF WORK AT HOME
Benefits:
• You will decide how much to work and when to rest.
• You can finally find application to your unique knowledge, skills and abilities.
• No boss will stand by your soul.
• You do not have to spend time and money on the road from home to office and back.
• You can work on several projects at the same time, so as not to get bored.
Disadvantages:
• Your income is likely to be unstable, and therefore it will not be easy to plan the budget.
• No one will provide you with free medical insurance, paid leave and sick leave.
• Have to be ready for a non-standardized working day.
• Sometimes you will need to bother calling customers to finally get paid for the work done.
STUDYING THE LAW
In order for the tax service to have no questions, it makes sense for a freelancer to obtain an official certificate of an entrepreneur and conclude an agreement with an audit company for the maintenance of accounting and tax records (or armed with appropriate directories and keep track of all documents independently). To become an individual entrepreneur, you need to fill in an application with the tax inspectorate, pay a state fee (400 rubles), get a tax ID, open a bank account and get a seal. When registering, do not forget to choose a simplified taxation system (the tax in this case will be 6% of your profit). Thus, you will not lose your official experience, will be able to receive loans from the bank and accruals to your pension account, just like an ordinary office worker.
OPINION EXPERT:
Maria Kashina, psychologist
Not all people are created for work at home. Many of us require additional motivation in the form of a strict boss and a clear schedule. I know quite a few examples when leaving for freelance ended in inactivity. And therefore, before making such an important decision, you need to ask yourself a few questions and honestly answer them. Will I be able to organize my own work day? Is it easy for me to communicate with clients? Are I ready to earn less? Aiming at success, communication skills, a high degree of self-organization, the ability to quickly switch and relax - these are the key personal characteristics of a potential freelancer. If you can hardly get yourself cleaned on a day off, have long abandoned your hobbies and all the weekend prefer to lie at home on the couch - most likely freelancing is not for you. Nothing wrong with that. You can always find a suitable job at the labor exchange - work at home is not the last option in the world. We are all different and are not at all obliged to succeed only alone or exclusively in the team.