Many people are thinking about freelancing as an alternative to traditional employment as a result of the growth of the gig economy. However, it is highly questionable for those who are already employed if they can pursue freelancing while also working for their company. The solution is complex and depends on a number of variables.
Prior to starting anything else, it’s critical to review your job contract for any provisions that might restrict you from engaging in freelance work. Non-compete clauses in some employment contracts might prevent you from working for a competitor or even engaging in any side jobs that might endanger the employer’s business. Before starting any freelance employment, it is imperative to have legal counsel if your contract contains such a clause.
Important things to know before starting freelance works along with your 9-5 job
Your time and effort commitment to a freelance job is another factor to take into account. It could be difficult to manage your freelance jobs with your economic growth if you have a full-time job. It is imperative to make sure that your freelancing employment does not conflict with your full-time position or degrade the caliber of your output.
Additionally, your independent work shouldn’t conflict only with the goal of your employer or make use of any of their resources. If you working for a marketing firm, for example, you are prohibited from performing similar services for clients of your employer as a freelancer. You are not permitted to use any tools, programs, or contacts owned by your employer for your freelancing work.
Making sure you don’t infringe on any intellectual property rights or confidentiality agreements with your employer is also crucial. Before beginning any freelancing project that requires the creation of intellectual property, such as writing, programming, or designing, it is essential to establish who owns the rights to the work. Additionally, you ought to refrain from revealing any private information or trade secrets that belong to your employer.
Finally, it’s really crucial to take into account the ethical consequences of working freelance while employed. You shouldn’t work on your freelance projects while working for your employer, and you shouldn’t use any insider information or contacts you make while working for them to help your freelance work. It is essential to uphold a high standard of integrity and keep any potential conflicts of interest at bay.
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Should I try freelancing along with my 9-5 Job?
If you still think that your 9-5 job is totally different and you have enough time on the weekend to do something, then sure you can give it a try.
There are some topics that you can choose to start:
Writing content: If you are a competent writer, content writing is a great option. For the creation of articles, blog posts, and other written materials, many businesses and websites use content writers. You can complete the work whenever it suits you because it is flexible.
SMM: Social media management is the process of managing and producing content for a company’s social media profiles. The work can be done from a distance, and the hours are flexible.
Graphics Design: Designing graphics can be a successful freelancing career when you have a close watch for aesthetics. For the creation of logos, brochures, and other marketing materials, many companies hire designers.
Virtual assistance: From a distance, virtual assistants support businesses with their administrative needs. Email replying, appointment setting and managed services on social media are just a few examples of tasks.
Online tutoring: You can provide online tutoring services if you are an expert in a specific area. You can do this at times other than your regular working hours, and you can decide how much to charge.
Photography: If you love taking photographs, you can offer your expertise to companies or people for product shoots or special occasions. Weekends or evenings are suitable times to complete this work.
Transcribing: Transcribing audio or video recordings into written documentation is known as transcription. You could work at your own pace and remotely on this project.
Website design: Creating and designing websites for organizations or private users. You could work on projects outside of your regular working hours and do this remotely.
Translation: If you speak several languages well, you can provide translation services to both corporate and private clients. You can work at your own pace and remotely on this project.
Voice Recording: Recording your voice for advertisements, videos, as well as other media is known as voice-over work. You can work on projects outside of your regular working hours and perform this work remotely.
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Even if it is possible to work as a freelancer while working, it is important to take into account a number of criteria before starting. Before the earliest stages any freelance work, it’s important to look over your employment contract for any restrictions, make sure that it won’t conflict with your day job, avoid competition, and use your employer’s resources, clarify your rights to intellectual property and confidentiality, and uphold ethical standards. By doing this, you can make sure that your freelance work is morally and legally sound and won’t affect your ability to keep your existing job.
