Going freelance nowadays is a path many designers and developers take, not only because of job vacancies being on the low side, but also because there are some clear advantages to it. Everyone has the dream of working from home and being their own boss. Working by yourself means you need some special skills, such as being able to work alone, to respect schedules and deadlines and to be able to market yourself better than the others. Freelancing is one of the many jobs that one can do from the comfort of their own home because you get to use your skills to work on your own time.

As a freelancer, you’ll have to learn how to run your own business, which is not a light task or subject. You’ll also have to be constantly learning new things, keeping up with trends, and applying what you’ve learned. As with most professions, especially modern and fast-changing ones, you’ll need devotion, research, adaptability, constant practice and good communication skills in order to satisfy clients and achieve your goals. If you are planning a career move which takes you from a busy office to working at home by yourself, here are some things to consider.

Question about working alone:
Not everyone goes well working alone.  Without having colleagues to bounce ideas off or someone to chat to while grabbing a coffee in the office kitchen, some people may feel isolated and struggle with feelings of loneliness. When you program alone, you don’t need trust. Of course, you most likely trust yourself. All you need as a lonely programmer is problem solving, technical skills and passion to move forward.

Question about motivation:
Motivation is the driving force and intrinsic motivation comes from within. It's an internal striving to be good at something. Extrinsic motivation is about being motivated due to a reward, a prize or recognition and praise. If we are under pressure we are often not capable to reach good results. Pressure means having to fulfill something, having to reach the best results with force.

Question about pleasing with just enough money:
Freelancing for extra money is a bit different from freelancing for a living. Unlike what everyone thinks, freelancing does not fill your bank account too much. The good part is that you have full control of your money. You decide if you charge per hour, per project or if you work for free just because you want to. You also decide how much you charge for maintenance of a previous project or for a client that has been with you for five years. This is all in your hands – and you need to be able to manage your money wisely.

Question about future plans:
When you are asked about what are your long term career goals, consider it as a chance to speak about how you are stable in your professional and personal life, and how you would like to grow your work that you are working for. You need to consider all these things; not only for the sake of having something to think about, but also because you need to run your business accordingly.