How to Freelance With A Full Time Job – Get Stuff Done

To freelance with full time job is no easy feat but it can be the solution you might be looking for. Maybe you have a full-time job you can’t let go of but still want to explore greener pastures. Or maybe, you are not yet ready to lose the security of a monthly salary? Whatever the reason may be, know that it is possible to freelance with full time job.

This will definitely take a lot of effort but doing freelance jobs can be fulfilling. It’s not just about the actual work that you do for a client. But it also has to do with your independence, being free to get your own clients and select jobs that will bear your name and not a company that you work for.

Why Get a Freelance Job When You Have a Full Time Job?

You already have a full time job, so why do you need to freelance? Or why would you even want that? There are actually many reasons why more and more people are doing freelance with full time jobs. Below are some of the reasons for this, you might want to check out something that will resonate with you:

1. Extra income

The very first thing that draws in the working population to do freelance jobs is the extra income. Sometimes, the salary at work is not just enough. Or maybe, you are looking to splurge on something really pricey and you don’t want to get stuck in debt. You can always get extra income by doing freelance jobs. It’s one of the reasons why freelancers like the lifestyle, it’s because there is no limit to how much you can earn per month as opposed to being an employee with a fixed rate.

2. Learn new skills

It’s very common to be bored at a desk job. Maybe you aren’t mentally stimulated enough in your corporate job and you do the same thing every single day. You don’t want to leave because of the financial security, but at what cost? If you like challenges then freelancing is the way to go. Not only will you learn new things but you’ll get paid for it, too.

It’s not like taking classes or reading books where you can also learn. When you do freelance jobs, it is the actual application of what you are taught. What’s more, you get to interact with other people. This isn’t just learning a new technique on how to draw or how to code. You also develop soft skills such as time management, communication skills, problem-solving, and more.

There are even people who have dipped into different industries. For example, maybe you work as an accountant full time but you are interested in learning how to write. Maybe you can try working as a freelance writer, starting small with making captions for social media posts. Freelancing can definitely be fun but don’t forget that it is also a job, too.

3. Do passion projects

Maybe you’ve always wanted to do art and it’s more than just a hobby. You can start doing passion projects through freelancing. It’s something that you can look forward to while you are waiting for your 9 to 5 job to end. Passion projects can keep you feeling alive and can even boost your morale for your full time job.

This can also be the chance for you to start your own business while still having the security of a full time job. There are many artists that have full time jobs and then find freelancing jobs to keep in touch with their creativity. This is a good setup as a freelance job allows you to pick which clients you can work with. You don’t have to burn yourself out just to make ends meet—you can work at your own pace and time.

4. Experience the freelancer lifestyle

It’s reported that freelancers are becoming more educated and skilled, why is that? For some, freelancing was just a way to make ends meet or to have a job after being laid off. But freelancers, especially the younger set, are striving to break free from the traditional company culture. If you want to see what it’s like to be a freelancer, doing freelance with full-time job is a good step.

You’ll be able to see the differences between having to report to your boss versus working with a client. Maybe you work in an office, then you’ll be able to experience what it’s like to work from anywhere. Trying out freelancing can even help you turn to make it a full-time career. Sometimes you have to dip your toes first before taking the plunge.

5. Backup plan

You might be getting scared at the office, people are being laid off left and right. It’s good to always have a backup plan. And that backup plan is freelancing. Just imagine working for a company for a decade and not knowing anything else but only how to work for that said company. You need to expand your horizons and see what else is out there.

If ever the time comes that you are also let go from the company you work for, if you have a freelance job, you know you’ll be fine. You can get more clients or ask your current clients to give you more work. It’s easier than having to start from scratch.

Tips on How to Freelance with Full-Time Job

Again, doing freelance work with a full-time job isn’t a piece of cake but it is doable. You’ll need a lot of energy and patience on your part. To help you out, below are some tips you can use to start juggling jobs:

• Check your employee contract

First things first, are you even allowed to do freelance jobs? Make sure to check your contract from your full-time job so you don’t have any problems in the future. This is especially needed if you plan to do freelance work that is in the same industry as your full-time job. There might be a non-compete clause and you might end up breaking your contract.

However, if you have a full-time job that is nowhere near the freelance work you are going to do, you might be safer. But, you still need to check your contract as you might be legally obligated to only focus on the company you work for.

• Use freelance software or tools

When you become a freelancer you will be juggling a lot. It’s not just the workload but also the admin stuff that you never have to deal with at your corporate job. Luckily, there are now freelancer tools that you can use to make your life easier. You can automate your freelancing business with Kosmo.

This online tool pretty much covers everything a freelancer may need. You can start off by listing your clients, your projects, and your tasks. This tool even has templates for proposals, contracts, and invoices. Even better, you can send the invoice to your client through Kosmo—your payment method is also linked (like PayPal or Stripe).

Using Kosmo can help you separate your full-time job from your freelance job, too. This software has an excellent dashboard where you will be reminded of your deadlines, clients who have yet to pay, your goal earnings for the month, and so on.

• Take scheduling seriously

If you want to juggle jobs, you have to learn how to juggle. It doesn’t matter what form of time tracking or method you use (Pomodoro, time blocking, etc.) what is important is that it works for you. Create a schedule or routine that you can stick with because it’ll be useless if you just make checklists you can’t even tick.

When you make your schedule, you have to separate your full-time work from freelance. You are not supposed to do your freelance job during office hours. It’s important to work around your fixed schedule on your full-time job, so you do freelancing early in the morning or at night.

You have to be strict with yourself when it comes to following your schedule or you might end up missing your deadlines and getting burnt out in the process. Also, when scheduling, you have to understand that you can’t take a workload that isn’t meant for you. For example, you can’t really accept rush freelance jobs or those that require workday hours.

• Make time for breaks

It’s a mistake to use your lunchtime break to do freelance jobs. Making time for breaks is highly needed if you plan on juggling multiple jobs. Doing freelance with a full-time job is an easy way to get burnt out, especially if you don’t know when to take a rest. You have to do this because if you are operating on a low battery, it’s not going to end well for you.

A work-life balance is a must and more importantly, it is possible even if you have a full-time job and a freelance job. Every minute counts so you need to do mindful breaks. What is that? This means you can’t simply scroll on social media when you get tired. What you need is a break that is actually helpful like stretching, drinking tea, meditating, going for a walk, eating a healthy snack, or taking a power nap.

• Find your freelance community

Throughout this journey, you will need a lot of support. It’s fairly common for a freelancer to work on their own but this doesn’t mean you have to be alone. Finding a freelance community can offer so many benefits, this includes getting tips on how to survive a freelance with full-time job experience. Communities can even open up new doors for you where you can get access to long-term or high-paying clients, excellent partnerships, unique gigs, and more.

Maybe there comes a time when you just have so much workload but you can’t bear to let go of the client. You can access a fellow freelancer from your community to help you out. And when the same ordeal happens to them, maybe it’ll be your chance to help them out, too.

Conclusion

Being a freelancer is challenging enough as it is, how much more when you have a full-time job to go with your freelancing responsibilities? However, a freelance with a full-time job setup can actually work for some people. It’s really something you need to try to find out if it is for you. Just be careful with burnout, if this happens you might need to commit to either a full-time job or a full-time freelancing career.

Post written by:

kosmo on February 27, 2023