I am not a freelancer and this may be an ignorant statement but I would assume that it takes a while to build up enough clients to make a good living at it and that, if you drop it, it may not be so easy to get back into it.

I have gone from doing my own thing, back to corporate america, to back to doing my own thing and back to Corporate America. The times in my life with the best memories are where I was free and independent.

Good luck, it sounds like it’s a great company with some great benefits.

Now I am a single mom and sacrifice alot to be able to homeschool, but my boys are my career now. When they are grown I will focus on another career, but for now this is exactly where I feel God wants me.

Homeschooling is not for everyone, but it certainly is not less than “real school.”

That being said, Sandy you have to pray about God’s will for you. Also talk with your husband and a trusted elder in the church. But I think you answered your question when you said, when you lose freelance work, more seems to come your way. If God desires you to be home and homeschooling He will keep making a way for it to happen.
This is proof positive in my life as He makes a way for me when it seems it just can’t happen.

I hope all goes well.

-Becky

If you don’t really really really want that job, because it’s a job you want to do, and not because of any implied “security” and the benefits, stick with freelancing. There is somebody else out there who not only can do the job, but who wants it, that job, and is already in the corporate world.

Don’t take a job just because it’s offered, and certainly understand that unless the corporate job offers a contract (which I’m sure it does not), you could be out at any time (most people are hired “at will” meaning you can be let go for any reason at any time, in some cases, without the benefit of unemployment–and since you’ve been freelancing all these years, you’d have to work years in this or another corporate gig before you’d probably even qualify for unemployment.

Yea, it’s tough being a freelancer, but spend your energy on keeping up your skills, developing new ones, being invaluable to current, past clients and allocating time each month just to get your name out there and see what’s happening in the marketplace. You have to be working on getting additional clients even when you’re under contract.

Freelancing is about contacts, selling yourself and knowing where to even find work and potential clients. If you’ve done that well for 10 years, you should be able to continue unless you’re in a field that is dying out. Always think ahead to other services you could offer and NEVER have just one client. EVER. No matter how great. We and some of our colleagues thought we were doing great by working for a few clients with long-term contracts. But what happens is, you never really do any networking (your too busy working) and then, companies change–staff changes, product changes, project changes–and you can find yourself with no new opps no matter how good your work. The hardest thing about being on your own is finding work. Time-consuming, tough and ongoing. It’s why people like photographers and others (who can afford it) have agents! Would that we all could.

Something else to keep in mind, in today’s environment, many people hiring are very leery of people who have been “freelancing.” Especially if you’ve done it long term. For whatever reason, many companies hold stereotypes of “independent contractors” and shy away from hiring them as staff. Many erroneous beliefs including that anyone who works for themselves can’t “get along” with others and be on a team. What a hoot. Most freelancers are so skilled at getting along with anyone and everyone at their various clients, that they put most staffers to shame because most staffers are too busy playing politics and games with each other than focusing on the work.

So if you feel as if you really want to transition to a job in the corporate world, start thinking about current and future clients and see if you can ease in via them. You never know.

And to those in the corporate world who think heaven would be the “freedom” of freelance work–know that most of you could not hack it because it’s constantly living with the unknown (will you get paid on time? Will a client leave the compay you’re working for–and end the project? And other equally bleak scenarios), tough to deal with all the business stuff (contracts, lawyers, etc.) AND doing the work.

If you really want to work and you are working for a company that lets you do the job you were actually hired for, don’t worry about greener pastures. No matter where you are, there’s stuff.

You are doing well for your family where you are; your children have a home there and friends; your husband has a very good job that is providing for you all quite well. Rather than uproot all of that on a whim, open your own retirement account (perhaps through sharebuilder) and take the contract. A full year of guaranteed work gives you alot of time to find future projects. Your kids can stay in the home they know, and your husband can keep his current job.

There are so many drawbacks to working for someone else, that if you can keep going successfully as you have been, then think very strongly before you ever give it up! Because once your stuck playing by someone else’s rules for everything: dress codes; lunch and break times; approved sick and vacation time useage; specific work hours of the day…you will be longing for your freedom to come back!