As a freelancer, who has been at it for almost four years, I think of the move back to full-time with a frequency that’s dependent on many factors. Right now you may be a freelancer, or maybe you are thinking about trying your hand at freelancing, but want to be sure you have a proper exit plan just in case.
Lauren Riley, who once was a freelancer and is now the social media and marketing manger for Bubble Job Board in the UK, wrote 5 Tips for Moving from Freelance to Full-Time Employment for the Business2Community audience. Her top three tips are:
1. Give A Reason for Making the Move
Lauren mentions that recruiters and hiring managers will be curious as to why you want to make the move to full-time work and that you should explain it upfront if you get the opportunity; on a cover letter or in an email.
Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager and think about what concerns they would have in bringing on a freelancer.
Taking this one step further I would recommend having the answer well prepared for when you are interviewing. This move is a major change in your work life and you should be able to articulate it well. From a hiring manager perspective, they need to be sure that if they hire you, you aren’t going to regret the change and leave to go back to freelance in six months.
2. Promote Your Varied Skill Set
As a freelancer, like any small business owner, you likely wear many hats. Have you had to source resources to support you in a project? Have you had to work with tough clients and smooth things over? Have you had to roll up your sleeves and solve a problem on your own? You’ve likely been a project manager, business development lead, human resources and client services all in the span of one day! Those are valuable skills that you may have over someone who hasn’t been freelancing – use it to your advantage!
3. Network
Networking is always a good thing, whether you are employed, freelancing, in between work, whatever your situation is! Use social media, neighbourhood groups and even friends to get the word out that you are available for a permanent role.
As you would with any job application or interview, put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager and think about what concerns they would have in bringing on a freelancer. Above I mention the possibility that you get the itch for freedom and take off leaving the role vacant again. In addition to that, they might be concerned about you being able to work as a team member or team leader? You might have to work extra hard to prove that you are not a lone wolf when it comes to your work! Another challenge I some time come up against is the disbelief (until I take them deeper in to my experiences and projects) that I wasn’t just unemployed and looking for work when I claim to be a freelancer.
If you are still on the fence about which way to go, check out our earlier post, “Should You Go With Freelance Work or a Full-Time Job?” or read Rick Hurst’s account “Freelance to permanent and back again”. Rick is a web developer who has done both and shares some great insights from his journey!