Freelancing vs. Office: 21 Key Questions That Will Help You Choose

If you’re reading this you’re in for a ride. You’re here to get your facts straightened out and I’ve got your back. This blog will help you explore all your options be it Freelance or an Office job. Read the blog till the end before choosing your career path. 

This Comprehensive Blog will be your compass in this journey. I won’t complex everything for you or bore you with the jargon, rather I’ll lay it all out for you. 

Ask yourself these 21 Key Questions honestly and attentively & you just might crack the code for Freelance Vs. Office. 

So shall we continue?

Time to face the Dilemma: Freelancing Vs. Office Job

In today’s modern and ever-changing times, the shifts in the Global Markets and revolution in the Digital World have caused a normal person to be at a crossroads. 

Rise in new trends, potential opportunities and technological advancements bring forth both: perks and drawbacks. Naturally, that has left you and many others like you wondering what is best and how to choose a career path.

To help you navigate through this, here is a list of 21 tailored questions that you should answer before choosing a career path. Let’s dive in!

Question 1: What is your Work Environment preference?

Office Job: If you’re a person who prefers a structured, and stable work environment then an office job is perfect for you. If you choose an office job you’ll be forced to work every day from the office without any flexibility. 
Freelancing: If you’re a person who prefers to have flexible work hours and an unstructured routine, then freelancing is for you. Freelancers can choose to work from home, from a cafe or any place on the Globe, even while travelling.

Question 2: What are your thoughts about Job Security?

Office Job: If you’re a person who prefers Job Security, then this is the job for you. This job style offers you a stable income. This is a plus point for people who don’t have a safety net and have a family to support. 

For example: If your salary is 40k then every month you’ll get this amount. Payments in this job style are stable. 

Freelancing: If you’re a person who can easily deal with uncertainty then this is the job for you. Freelancers usually struggle with finding clients, getting timely payments and getting work done on tight deadlines. This work style works better for people who don’t have family support and are okay without any Job Security.

For example: 1 month you might earn 40k, the 2nd month you might earn 70k, 3rd month you might earn 10k. Payments in this job style aren’t fixed or stable.

Question 3: How do you deal with Authority Figures?

Office Job: If you lean towards an office job, you’ll find your authority figures to be your Boss, Head Managers, and even Team Leaders. 

Freelancing: Choosing this job style, your authority figure would be your Client. It’s only a myth that Freelancers have no bosses. In reality, they have to be their own bosses, responsible for being accountable, punctual, and performing various roles, including editing, proofreading, marketing, and management. In short, they answer to multiple bosses in the form of multiple clients. 

Question 4: How important is Social Interaction to you?

Office Job: If you’re an extrovert who likes meeting new people, going out, and having face-to-face interactions daily, then this might be it for you.

Freelancing: If you’re an introvert who’d rather stay inside, meet new people but from a distance and want a casual online interaction, then this job is the one.

Question 5: Commuting or Travelling? Which one do you prefer?

Office Job: This job mandates one to commute every day, as working on-site is usually a requirement for this job.

Freelancing: This job allows you to travel at your discretion. You can do the work and travel the world. In freelancing the term “Digital Nomad” is used to describe such individuals who embrace the freedom to work from anywhere while exploring new places, cultures, and experiences.

Question 6: How important is Work-Life Balance to you?

Office Job: In an office job you’ll be working for a specified time period i.e. 9-5 and then you’ll be off. This job style is preferable among people who like to have a balance between their work and life. 

Freelancing: Freelancing is a job that has no specified working hours. Which is to say that you won’t be able to maintain a work-life balance. As the clients that you might have could live in different time zones, and ask you to get on a call at any time. You’ll be working on client acquisition, your skill polishing, doing projects and much more. This tends to disrupt one’s work-life balance.

Question 7: Are you a Tech-savvy person?

Office Job: In an office job you’re only required a level of tech-savviness that matches the demands of your specific role. 

Freelancing: This job style requires you to be a little more tech-savvy. Because as a Freelancer you’re your own editor, writer, negotiator, marketer, content creator, accountant, designer and so much more. This requires you to have more than basic know-how of technology, latest trends, skills, platforms and much more. 

To answer this, consider your level of comfort with all things digital and your willingness to adapt. 

Question 8: What are your Salary requirements?

Office Job: As an Office employee you will get paid in salary. A fixed amount every month + bonuses a few times in a year.

Freelancing: As a Freelancer, you’ll be paid per project, per task, per retainers, and in royalties sometimes. This amount will not be fixed as each client’s task description might vary which in turn will affect the payment. 

Question 9: Benefits and Perks? How do you deal with them?

Office Job: You get bonuses, promotions, health care, paid time off, maternity/paternity leave, time for vacation and a Retirement package. These benefits offer you financial stability making this option an attractive one for people who value stability.

Freelancing: In freelancing, client benefits are rare, but you might get tipped for work well done. As a freelancer, you need to consider these aspects independently and determine how to fit these perks and benefits into your overall compensation package.

Question 10: Tax Restriction in your country?

Legal and Tax implications might differ in your country for both freelancing and Office jobs.

Question 11: Do you consider yourself a self-starter?

Office Job: If you’re in an office setting, your Heads, Managers, and Bosses might help and support you with regular mentoring, weekly workshops and training programs. Offer you performance reviews, share with you, office resources, and create a conducive environment. All this helps you by setting clear boundaries for you. 

Freelancing: In freelancing there ain’t no one to push you, train you, give you feedback, share resources, or keep you accountable. Freelancers keep themselves accountable, punctual, trained, find new resources for themselves and work & push themselves daily. They need to get their work done even if the environment ain’t conducive. It’s a constant struggle.

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Question 12: Do you have any Financial Considerations?

Office Job: People usually prefer this job style when they have a few factors to think of. Such as daily payments, commuting costs, family expenses, cost of living and a few other things. People who have to consider these things usually opt for this job style.

Freelancing: If you’re a person who has a safety net (saved cash) and you’re okay with dealing with uncertainty; then this job is for you. Here you can take a few risks as well. You choose this job style if you have enough savings to buy yourself the resources you’ll need to start freelancing. i.e. A digital camera, a laptop, web hosting, some tool membership and much more. 

Question 13: Are you a Risk taker?

Office Job: As an office employee you are not supposed to take any risk, as everything is decided by your bosses

Freelancing: Whereas in freelancing you’re your own boss and the risk-taking falls on your shoulders. You risk your time, work with new clients, trust clients to send their payments and so much more. Basically starting off a freelancing career without anyone to help or motivate you throughout your journey is a huge risk all on its own.

Question 14: Slow Payment Schedule work for you?

Office Job: As an office employee you get a fixed salary at a fixed date of the month, so your payment schedule is always prompt. People usually prefer this option to have stable payments. 

Freelancing: As a freelancer sometimes your clients pay you slowly and sometimes they run behind their payment schedules. Which is to say that if you’re okay with a slow payment schedule this is a great option.

Question 15: What do you prefer? Skills or Degree?

Office Job: Here having a degree is a necessity due to specialized qualifications for specific roles, it is worth highlighting that a degree can take years to earn.

Freelancing: Here, having a skill is a necessity. It is important to mention that skills can only take a short time period to learn, i.e. a few months. Having a can degree in this setting can definitely be beneficial, but what truly matters is having expertise in your skills. This will help you succeed. 

Question 16: Are you good at Communication?

Office Job: In this job, basic communication skills are a requirement, as one should know how to communicate with their seniors. Here only your work product matters.

Freelancing: In this job style you need to be excellent at communication as you’re the sole worker. You need to find clients, market your skills, communicate with clients, share project updates, and get them to like you & your work product so they hire you again. So acing at communication skills is essential. 

Question 17: Do you have Geography concerns?

Office Job: In this job type, geography might be a concern for a few as you could be asked to relocate and a job requirement or a promotion. If you’re okay with relocating, this might be the job for you.

Freelancing: In this job style you won’t be asked to relocate or change your geography but if you want to, you can always relocate.  

Question 18: Is Niching down a main concern for you?

Office Job: In a traditional office setting, niching down can definitely be a main concern for you. As it will help you achieve specified roles and lead to career advancements. This will also help you to look for jobs in the market that are less saturated than the other jobs. Niching down will help you reach your long-term career goals.

Freelancing: Niching down is one of the major concerns for freelancers more often than not. This helps you be an Authority in your niche, building trust with your clients, alongside helping you stand out in a competitive market. This allows you to ask for higher pay rates. 

Having your skill niched down to a sub-level helps you create a better strategy for yourself, and get laser-focused on your target audience and ICP (Ideal Client Profile). So having a niche in this job style helps you strategically plan for your long-term career goals. 

Question 19: What is the Economic Trend like in your country?

Office Job: For those inclined towards this job style, staying informed about the latest market trends, business developments, cost of living, salary levels, and AI on the horizon is crucial. These Economic trends can impact job stability and career opportunities in your country.

Freelancing: Whereas in a freelance job setting the same economic trends need to be considered. But you also need to consider that with the rise of technology and AI, new jobs might soon flood the markets. As the cost of living and managing a business is increasing, people might be more perceptive towards hiring online help (freelancers).

Question 20: Do you have Qualifications or Skills?

Office Job: Qualifications will help you grow in the style of this job

Freelancing: meanwhile, skills will help you succeed in this job style.

Question 21: What does Career Advancement look like for you?

Office Job: Promotion in the job, Salary increment, Relocation, Power position, Entrepreneurial goals? What is your preferred goal in this job style? 

Freelancing: Freedom, Flexible working hours, Increased Compensation package, Recognition, Authority in Niche? What is your preferred goal in this job style?

Conclusion

Now, in the end, the choice between Freelancing vs. Office jobs depends on you. You should ask yourself these 21 questions before choosing a career path. Let the answers you wrote for the 21 questions above; guide you. Take your time and evaluate your options and make an informed decision. Your career path awaits!