Article Snapshot

The work day is different for every role and position, but none more so than freelancing in Australia. It’s different for everyone who takes this position: some might do it randomly while being employed full time, others dedicate resources for full-time freelancing, whilst more engage in consulting instead of freelancing. Full-time freelancing is particularly different from casual freelancing while employed full-time, but no more than how consultants differ from freelancers. Consultants provide advice in a specific field, whilst freelancers provide services.   

The freedom to choose

Consultants and freelancers alike are afforded a greater choice when it comes to what they want to do for work, with the projects laid out for them and having them pick or apply.  Freelancers tend to apply to this project logic the best, and a freelance career typically is demonstrated by several projects a freelance pro wants to take on, all lined up one after the other. The projects freelancers work on may be large, but they also could end up being smaller section of the larger piece, and once it’s done, they move on to something else.  Consultants on the other hand might tackle the larger project, and indeed the rest of the company. Their expertise in specific areas is what makes them crucial to the success, rather than focusing on components of a project. Despite these differences, they’re both a part of the full-time freelancing mentality, and both given the opportunity to pick their work. This freedom -- this employment liberation -- is what makes full-time freelancing so attractive, and it doesn’t stop there.

Mobility in spades

Organisations may just now be discovering the joys of mobility and employment freedom to take the workload anywhere they want, but full-time freelancing professionals and consultants have long known that mobility is their perpetual friend. While some full-time freelancers will have to make their way to the office, many can work from where they want, with a home office being the ideal place for freelance pros, though any location is a good one. Casual freelancers will usually work from home, or opt to get things done during the lunch break at work.  These days, mobility is literally everywhere, and it’s not unusual for freelancers in Australia to bill their time and get work done in the local coffee shop, also known as their “coffice”. Independent consultants may travel to the office more regularly, though both have more freedom than your traditional nine-to-fiver.  

The ad-hoc nature of full-time freelancing

While the freedom is liberating both in choice and mobility, consultants and freelancers in Australia both must deal with one of the larger issues affecting their level of employment: the stints are often short. Project consultancy and freelancing arrangements tend to be just that: arrangements for the duration of a project, and that means constantly preparing jobs one after the other to ensure a stable financial income.  As such, the ad-hoc nature of the full-time freelancing world isn’t for everyone, especially those looking for the security and safety net that full-time employment delivers. However if you like the idea of freedom, flexibility, and a challenge, you would do well to consider a jump in freelancing Australia, even if you start as a casual, as it just might change the way you experience your regular day-to-day.

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