As an IT person, I’ve been pretty familiar with the ebb and flow of available work. Positions come and go as soon as the deadlines are met, and it’s not unusual to only work three month long contracts in this industry. Especially in Orlando (with so many schools spitting out “knowledgeable web designers” per minute per mile), it’s competitive to find an on-site position.

Earlier this year, I found myself once again dusting off the ol’ resume and hitting the job market. After not having any luck with traditional job ads, I decided to give freelancing a try. Not only do I have all the tools and skills to be able to work offsite from home, but I also enjoy the freedom I have with my schedule. With an objective-based work method, I can eat Fruit Loops by the handful out of the box, cuddle with my ridiculous googly-eye chihuahua, watch episodes of my favorite tv shows, and have cat tea parties… at any time of the day… AS LONG AS I MEET MY DEADLINES. If a task takes an hour instead of eight, I don’t feel like I’m twirling my thumbs waiting for something to do. I can move on to another client’s work, or just entertain myself by hosting a cat parade down the hallway until I get additional client feedback. Sure, I still don’t get paid for sitting in a cube, but I know how many hours at my hourly rate I need per month to have a happy, non-destitute life. (For the record, it’s 40. Yes, 40.)

I’ve been fortunate to have found steady freelance work from the get-go. Just as I was embarking on my cubeless adventure, a wonderful previous employer of mine randomly inquired if I was available for some work on the side. Since then, I have continued to create graphics on projects for him while also doing work for two new clients. Of course, this boon could be only temporary, so I am saving all my pennies for the inevitable rainy day.

For those who are looking to switch, I whole-heatedly recommend the book, “My So-Called Freelancing Life“. It’s absolutely fantastic– it details the pros and cons of escaping the cubicle, all the while giving you a wealth of easy to understand information.

I’ll be making more posts about tools and applications I’ve adopted to make freelancing more manageable.