Have you ever thought about working as an independent contractor? How do you know if it’s right for you?
To sort this out, we’ll need to look at the pros and cons—and they’re pretty easy to discern. Here goes.
Pro: You can often set your own hours
This is nice. If you’re editing a large document, for example, you might have several days in which to complete it. During this time, you can create my own schedule, and make appointments or take care of personal matters (such as laundry or paying bills) whenever works best for you. With a 9–5 job, you’ve always got a problem with making appointments with doctors, dentists, or window replacement outfits, since they normally keep the same hours as you.
Con: No guaranteed salary
Yeah, this one can really be a bummer. You might make several hundred dollars in one day or next to nothing in a two-week period. It is so unpredictable.
Con: No benefits
If you’re looking for healthcare, 401K, stock options, or the like, you’d better forget about independent contractor jobs. Take the corporate or union route if these things are important to you.
Pro: Beef up your resume with this kind of experience
This can be huge. If you’re having trouble landing a full-time, permanent position, it may be because you don’t have enough of the right experience. Here’s your chance to get just that.
Pro: Work from anywhere with a computer
Okay, granted—this doesn’t apply to all independent contractor jobs, only those in which you use a computer. Note the need for speed, too, as dial-up won’t cut it if you’re doing this sort of thing professionally.
In sum, this career path is fraught with uncertainty, but it can help you gain good experience—and sometimes a very nice income. It doesn’t have to be your final career path, but rather as an important—and sometimes well-paying—stepping stone. It’s all up to you.
Tag: independent contractor
