When most people think of the job perks of being a freelancer, they typically stick with flexibility, the ability to make more money and being your own boss.
All of these are fantastic, but there are also several job perks of being a freelancer that have nothing to do with money, time or autonomy. Over the last few years I’ve realized how lucky I am to be a freelancer for several reasons, including some of the job perks I outline in this post.
I’m Constantly Learning Something New
I have friends who complain about their jobs because they are bored and feel like they aren’t being challenged. When I worked as a recruiter lack of growth and learning opportunities was one of top reasons people would start looking for a new job.
The reality is that one some level we humans like a challenge, otherwise things become a bit dull. We like to explore new things for the same reason.
That’s why one of the biggest job perks of being a freelancer is the fact that you’re constantly learning something new. From online marketing to learning how to set up a podcast, I’m definitely never bored.
I Get to Pick The Brains of Really Smart People
A lot of my financial education has come as a result of interviewing financial experts for some of the publications and blogs I write for. Some of these guys charge hundreds of dollars an hour for consulting and often times I’m getting nuggets of wisdom for free.
Not only am I getting free advice a lot of the time, I then turn around and make money off of it because I get paid for the articles I write. Essentially, I’ve gotten paid to get my financial life in order.
This was something I actually thought about back when I started freelancing in 2010. I thought that if I had to write about finance that it would force me to learn how to manage my money. I then thought that getting paid for it would just be icing on the already awesome cake. It’s actually one of the reasons I ended up in the personal finance niche to begin with.
If I had to pick one of my favorite job perks of being a freelancer, this would probably be it.
I Can Work from Anywhere
As a freelancer, I don’t just have flexibility with my time, I also have flexibility with my location. As long as I have access to WiFi I can work regardless of whether I’m home or traveling to another country.
I’ve Met Amazing People
Another major job perk of being a freelance writer is that I’ve met some amazing people I’m now honored to call my friends.
While most people think that freelancing is isolating (and let’s be honest, it can be) I’ve actually become friends with people I’ve met in online communities and at networking events.
Not only have they become friends, they are also a major support system as we build our businesses. It’s nice to have people in your life who get you.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot more job perks to freelancing besides doing what you want with your time and the ability to make more money. Honestly, running a freelance business has added more joy to every area of my life and has helped me grow as a person. There’s no better job perk than that.
