HOW SOON IS TOO SOON? INTRODUCING FREELANCING @ SCHOOL

The expansion of freelancing in a ‘gig economy’ has gained traction and attention, both online and in the work market, capturing the attention of students of all ages. Children as young as year 8 have shown an inclination towards self-employment, with some older teens calling for a curriculum that best helps their career prospectus in opening doors towards the freelancer market - yet schools seem slow to react and resistant to change.

SURVIVING A FREELANCE CHRISTMAS

Christmas is just around the corner and, for freelancers, it tends to be a busy period or deathly quiet. For the former, December can bring with it some financial anxiety as businesses slow wind down and work drys up. To help keep your spirits up and motivation high, here are a few ways you can get productive and continue to progress this December. 

JUMPING INTO THE DEEP END WITHOUT A LIFEJACKET

Notice the word I use in the title?  I don’t say thrown into the deep end. I say jump. That implies it’s done voluntarily. It’s done with ownership and accountability.  Once you make that leap and enter the water — you have zero excuses. You are either a victim or victor to your own ego.  Nobody threw me in against my will. I threw myself in. I may have well ignored all the advice, all the warning signs…as I know I’m a good swimmer

DOES CHATGPT HELP FREELANCERS LAND MORE JOBS?

Can you believe it's almost been an entire year since ChatGPT launched it's consumer-facing tool? It appears that the initial frenzy has subsided and while some freelancers have warmly welcomed Chat GPT into their routines, others have discovered its boundaries. Job applications, a promising frontier for AI assistance, is a topic we are particularly interested in at Freelancer Club HQ but has it helped or hindered freelancer's applying for jobs? Let's delve into the results and find out.

RISE, FREELANCER - MICHAEL'S STORY

In the bustling creative landscape of London, thousands of individuals aspire to turn their passion into a legitimate career. Although the act of registering a business, creating an online presence, and landing a couple of early-stage clients may be relatively achievable, becoming financially sustainable doing something you love is far more challenging. One such individual currently on this journey is Michael Naylor, a talented photographer who has been working in photography for 5 years, assisting and developing his craft, who is now carving a niche for himself in the world of cinematic portrait photography. 

FREELANCER RELATIONSHIP STATUS: IT'S COMPLICATED

There’s a lot of stats out there about freelancing.  There’s stats about freelancer failure rates that raise concern. According to the IFS, 20% of sole traders don’t make it past their first year, 60% will fail to make it past 5 years, rising to 80% by 12 years. On the flipside, there’s stats about new freelancers quitting their day jobs and earning more money than they could ever possibly imagine over their previous full-time employed salaries. There’s stats aplenty covering every nook and cranny about the ‘plunge into the freelance life.’  Some of it exciting…many of it downright depressing.

RISE, FREELANCER: KAREENA'S STORY

We've know that "a job for life" has long been a thing of the past for the majority of students, however, attitudes towards traditional employment have become so acute, they've caught most universities off guard. Enter Gen Z, with a list of aspirations that includes flexibility, job satisfaction, diversity and control. A longing to work with companies that align with their values and share their beliefs. It's refreshing to see such endeavour but without the required training and support, are we setting students up for failure and disappointment? 

Google+