Hello,

 

I was just wondering if there's anyone who quit their full time design job to go freelance then decided to go back to a 9 to 5. What were your reasons? I expect job secuirty and a steady wage will be the biggest reasons, but I might be suprised.

I did it the other way around lol

 

I quit my job and started otu as a freelancer, at first it was hard findign your own clients and gettign a stady income, but 5 years in and steady client base with regular work flow, i'd never want to go back to a 9-5 job again

I'm really tempted to go back to working 9-5 right now... Not had any income since December, thought I'd be alright but I got stung with my tax bill in January... since then I've been doing my shopping at LIDL, don't go out at the weekends any more and my cars been off the road since September

 

If any decent developer jobs crop up near me then I'm probably gonna take one.

Hello,

 

I was just wondering if there's anyone who quit their full time design job to go freelance then decided to go back to a 9 to 5. What were your reasons? I expect job secuirty and a steady wage will be the biggest reasons, but I might be suprised.

 

I'll be trying to get organised and go back to full 9 to 5 over the next few months. Freelancing really took it out of me. Trying to be the best at everything really took it's toll. It's definitely not impossible, but a hard gig when there is little to no one to turn to apart from the same 4 walls when you are struggling in a new City.

 

Freelancing in a City with people around you is the only imo until you become established.

 

These things take time.

I'm really tempted to go back to working 9-5 right now... Not had any income since December, thought I'd be alright but I got stung with my tax bill in January... since then I've been doing my shopping at LIDL, don't go out at the weekends any more and my cars been off the road since September

 

If any decent developer jobs crop up near me then I'm probably gonna take one.

 

Maybe we'll find a shop that's look for a designer and a developer... Then we can go mad together lol

I'm really tempted to go back to working 9-5 right now... Not had any income since December, thought I'd be alright but I got stung with my tax bill in January... since then I've been doing my shopping at LIDL, don't go out at the weekends any more and my cars been off the road since September

 

If any decent developer jobs crop up near me then I'm probably gonna take one.

 

Have you considered contracting? You can probably pull in £250 a day.

since then I've been doing my shopping at LIDL

I feel for you pal!!

I'd do contract work if I could find it but theres not much of it going around here. A couple of agencies have my CV but never heard anything from either of them.

I know a few agencies in London who i could bunk in with if things get tight but since leaving London due to ill health and redundancy, freelancing is my way of keeping me off of the incapacity benefit.

 

I like working for myself, i even possibly take a perverse enjoyment in doing my paper work , i can't travel anymore so for me going freelance really was a one way street.

I started off with the 9-5, then I freelanced on the side to boost my portfolio, then I went fulltime freelance, now I'm doing both again

 

Difference now is that I'm being more selective of projects. Working a 9-5 can take it out of you, but if you manage your time well enough, it is more than possible to juggle a few freelance projects on the side. Best of both worlds I guess. The sociability and stability of a 9-5, the ability to say no to crappy want-it-all-for-less clients and the freedom to work on interesting projects.

 

Freelancing tip. Unless you're absolutely amazing or have a vast existing network, it's not about being the best web designer, it's all about being the best salesman!