subject: Career Change After Redundancy: Is Part-time Or Freelance Work A Good Option? [print this page] More and more jobseekers around the country are looking for different ways to find new employment. Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of employees and self-employed people working part-time increased by 25,000 to 1.07 million between January and March this year. Analysts have suggested this might be because those looking for work are seeing their situation as an opportunity for a career change and seeking out freelance, part-time or shift work.
In the context of an increasingly competitive labour market, many in the UK have had to change their spending habits and look for alternative sources of income, beyond claiming Jobseekers allowance. Freelancing or working part-time can be a good way to keep motivated and avoid a gap on your CV. As is often the case, though, there are pros and cons to this approach. It can take a strong mindset and a certain determination and discipline to make freelancing work successfully or to manage the financial limitations of a part-time role. A thorough career assessment will help you to know if this is the route for you.
The advantages of self-employment
By opting for freelance employment, you can become your own boss. Its possible to make decisions such as how often and when to work. This flexibility can be ideal for those who are trying to juggle work with the demands of family life. There are also financial benefits. If you win a big contract the profits will go to you as an individual, instead of to the shareholders of a big company. You reap your own rewards.
Working part-time can also be a useful stop gap measure, ensuring you stay motivated and in the black until a full-time opportunity arises. If you manage your time well, you should be able to strike a good balance between earning money and career planning as you hunt for a more permanent role.
Whether you opt for part-time or freelance work, both options can potentially provide useful skills and experience, as well as helping to avoid any unwanted gaps on your CV. Such skills and initiative may prove to be just what a future employer is looking for if and when you decide to go back to a full time role.
Ways of Managing Irregular Work
There is significant scope for freelance work in a wide range of fields, ranging from design and marketing to accountancy. As with any job, however, there are drawbacks. One of the bigger disadvantages is the instability: from irregular contracts, to delayed payments and long hours. When freelancing, there are no official office hours and the pressure can be high when deadlines need to be met. You are wholly reliant on yourself, but the satisfaction of success as a result can be deeply rewarding. Working part-time, you may find that budgeting becomes an issue when your income drops often substantially. Although prudence might be called for, there will always be a reason to continue the job hunt if you would prefer something more permanent.
Your local Jobcentre Plus and online resources are good places to start if you are seeking redundancy advice, or would like to speak with an expert about working part-time or freelance. From CV assessment to interview techniques and advice, you will find everything you need to gain a competitive advantage on the job market. There are also business intelligence tools, which will allow you to keep on top of the business sectors, which is key when working in a new industry.
Redundancy is never easy, but there are ways of making the best of a bad situation. Indeed, freelance and part-time opportunities can lead to finding a more rewarding career path and work-life balance.
