Don’t Hate Me Because I’m a Freelancer
Posted October 23, 2011 in Managing Clients, Marketing
The freelancing lifestyle, while flexible, involves a lot of hard work.
But despite all that hard work freelancers get a bad rap sometimes.
So much so, that some freelancers have actually stopped using the word “freelance” to describe themselves because they believe that it has negative connotations. Instead they use terms like consultant, independent professional, and creative entrepreneur.
In this post, I’ll take a look at five common misperceptions about freelancers, explain why they are wrong, and take a look at the reasons why the misperceptions persist.
Five Misperceptions About Freelancers
Some of the negative (but mostly untrue) statements about freelancers include:
- Freelancers aren’t reliable. The truth is that most freelancers are very conscientious about getting their work done. Since their professional reputation depends on the satisfaction of their clients most freelancers can’t afford to be anything but reliable. Sadly, though, there are a few bad apples in the freelancing world that give the rest of us a bad name. This misperception persists because clients who have bad experiences are usually more vocal than those who have good ones.
- Freelancing is just another term for unemployed. Most freelancers work from home. Some freelancers keep unconventional hours. To a casual observer such as a neighbor or family member, it may appear that the freelancer isn’t really working because they are always at home. However, many freelancers spend more time “at work” than someone who is conventionally employed.
- People become freelancers because they aren’t qualified for any other kind of work. Another myth about freelancers is that people become freelancers because no one will hire them. According to this myth, they are either untrained or too difficult to get along with. Actually, though, most freelancers are freelancers by choice. Many choose to leave traditional employment and strike out on their own for a variety of reasons including greater flexibility and higher earning potential.
- Freelancers are lazy. This is similar to misperception number two. Those who believe this misperception think that the time that freelancers spend online is playing. This may be fueled because many freelancers have an active social media presence. To someone who only uses social media for fun a freelancer who is “always” on Facebook or Twitter may appear to be playing, when actually they are using these tools to network and contact clients.
- Freelancers always pad their estimates. According to this myth, most freelancers quote a price that is far too high for the amount of work that needs to be done. Lowballing clients in particular embrace this misperception because it helps them justify their actions in trying to get the price down. However, the actual truth is that most freelancers underestimate the cost of doing projects and wind up spending far more time working than they get paid for.
If you’ve been affected by any of these negative perceptions about freelancers, you may wonder if there’s anything that you can do about it.
What’s a Good Freelancer to Do?
So, none of those stereotypes apply to you. (At least, I hope they don’t.) They don’t apply to me either–that’s because, by and large, they are misperceptions.
What’s a good freelancer to do?
While you may not be able to totally combat the stereotypes (there will always be someone out there spreading them), there are some positive steps you can take to make sure that you aren’t lumped in with the “bad freelancers.”
Here are some of those steps:
- Make sure that you always behave in a professional manner. Be the reliable freelancer. Meet your deadlines.
- Keep your clients happy. Really listen to what they need and then deliver. Get good references from your satisfied clients.
- Don’t sit silently by when you hear someone spreading one of these negative stereotypes about freelancers. Speak up and explain that freelancing really is a good job and that most of us are professionals.
- Last, but not least, don’t panic. While some freelancers may fit these stereotypes, you know that you don’t. That means that you’re already ahead of the competition in this regard.
Your Turn
Do you think that the term “freelancer” has become negative? Have you encountered any of these negative stereotypes? Do you call yourself a freelancer, or do you call yourself something else.
Share your answers in the comments.
Image by A.M. Kuchling
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- Open Thread: What Do You Love/Hate About Your Home Office?
About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 20 years of professional business writing experience. If you liked this post, then you may also enjoy Laura’s blog about her freelance writing experiences, WritingThoughts. Laura is also on Google+.
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28 Comments
chandru
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 amexcellent write-up.
actually i have had a period of communication lapses, missed deadlines etc.. still, i think freelancers who r far professional and better at work do face that tag of ‘ah! freelancer?!’ many times – esp amidst relatives, neighbors and ppl like that.
Malice
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:27 amI sincerely never met someone who thought that freelancers are lazy. They actually appreciate them for being like that!
TheAL
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:15 amI’ve met my fair share of individuals who looked down on freelancers. The “freelancers are people who can’t get real jobs” attitude is more common than I thought. I even read somewhere that employers, in addition to thinking it means someone is a loose canon who could quit at any moment, see freelancing on a resume as being the same as being unemployed. In fact, most “resume Dos and Don’ts” that I have read suggest leaving it off of your resume entirely. Not an issue for anyone planning to remain a freelancer indefinitely, but you never know.
Lowell
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:48 amI do freelance jobs from home, working full time, in a variety of areas. There was this one time when my neighbors finally asked me – “what do you do for a living?”. After filling them in they told me some of the other neighbors wondered why I was always around… never in a suit or dress clothes – always in shorts and sandals during the spring and summer. Yet we drove decent vehicles and lived in a decent middle class neighborhood. My neighbors told me that others wondered if I was a bum and my wife made all the money. Or perhaps a drug dealer.. (they said jokingly). Thanks for the post… great stuff!
Pamela Hazelton
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:52 pmI was once denied a contract because I didn’t have a brick & mortar office outside the home. I told the company I’d be happy to rent an office if they wouldn’t mind me tripling my estimate. They didn’t find it funny or acceptable. Oh, well…
dojo
October 23rd, 2011 at 2:53 pmIn my country people are not that flexible or used to self-employment, but we’re getting there. Many of my friends see me as the ‘hobo’ who doesn’t have a regular job, but change their opinion once they realize I make 2-4 times more money than they do, while working from my own home.
I don’t really care about how others perceive me, I run my own ‘gig’ and it’s great.
Lowell
October 23rd, 2011 at 4:59 pmDojo… that is exactly right… and too funny. Freelance work can be feast or famine for sure – but if a person plays their cards right it can result in making more money with more free time.
Maria
October 23rd, 2011 at 5:15 pmI love you because you’re a freelancer.
Catena Creations
October 23rd, 2011 at 5:44 pmI don’t use the term “freelancer” very often. I prefer to say that I own my own business. It puts me on a more even keel with the other business types that I meet with.
I agree with what you say about padding estimates. So many people think that when you give them an estimate, you’re going to meet it exactly. I have to document my time very carefully in order to justify the work I’ve done.
Laura Spencer
October 23rd, 2011 at 5:53 pmGreat discussion!
I can see that many freelancers have faced negativity and been looked down. Hearing the stories is a great way to build each other up and encourage each other…
TheAL–Of course, if you’ve been a full-time freelancer for a while, then leaving it off your resume greats a huge gap. I can’t imagine that as being better than listing your freelancing.
Lowell, I’m sorry you faced those prejudices. Fortunately, freelancing is becoming more common–so I expect that eventually these attitudes will decrease.
Pamela Hazelton–I love that you had the confidence to ask them if you could triple your fees so that you could meet their unreasonable demand that you have a brick and mortar office. Great way to make a point!
dojo, In general, I think freelancers are less driven by what others think of them than most.
Catena Creations–Yes, companies are so afraid that they are going to be overcharged. Yet, more often freelancers undercharge for their services when you really take into account everything that they do.
A.Dalcourt
October 23rd, 2011 at 8:41 pmLately I’ve been avoiding using the word freelancer for the reasons stated above. I noticed when I explained to people that I do freelance branding and design, that they tend to see it as more of a hobby than a business. It attracted the wrong sort of client. You know, the kind who think that they’re doing you a favor by ‘giving’ you a project to work on.
Kevin Costain
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 pmInteresting blog article! Certainly a universal problem in many industries (and apparently countries). I do wonder at times what the appropriate label should use. Really, is it self-employed? (I’ve written about how hard that is: http://url.cwl.cc/evdxb ). When I speak to folks, I’m often labelled as a Consultant and occasionally as an entrepreneur. Those suit me well, and even the word consultant might actually roll of the tongue better than “Self Employed”.
Something I have encountered allot though, is a great deal of misperceptions about how or what I do (and I’m sure others have seen this). I wrote about much of this idea on my blog – http://url.cwl.cc/fbzow – but here are a few quotes I’ve had to face over the years:
“You love you’re work more than you love me”
“When you’re doing things on the computer – all you do is play”
“Nothing good happens on the Internet”
The thing is, perhaps those that are freelancers/consultants are to blame for some of this misperception too. We also need to educate people that this life is not a romantic one. That the struggle with oneself can also be worthy of the same kind of respect the boos/politics type of struggle is. Indeed, not everyone can do this kind of work – and not everyone seems to know this.
Lauren
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:58 pmMy mother-in-law is especially prone toward thinking of “Misconception #2″ as a “truth.” She constantly asks me when I’m going to get a “real” job (even though I’m currently earning more working from home than she does at her “real” job!). Well, “the proof’s in the pudding” as the old saying goes – So long as we freelancers keep getting positive results, it doesn’t really matter what other people say. Plus, I doubt my mother-in-law will be complaining about the “real”-ness of my job after she gets her Christmas gift this year! ;)
Great post as usual, Laura! Keep up the great work and keep on stickin’ up for us stay-at-home workers!
allena
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:17 pmOne thing I’ve noticed since the recession is that so many unemployed people call themselves freelancers in order to not be saddled with the label. Does anyone think this reflects badly on those of us who choose and have chosen this position for years and years?
Lowell
October 24th, 2011 at 12:16 amI actually say that I am self employed. And I do consider myself to be a business owner as well.. I guess the point I was making was that working for yourself brings alot of freedom at times, but with that freedom comes the perception from people you don’t have to work too hard for your money. People forget the amount of work that goes into building a freelance career that allows you to quit your day job. I love being my own boss and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Web designing Melbourne
October 24th, 2011 at 4:36 amThe misperception I often come across is that “Freelancers aren’t reliable”.. you have to try hard to convince them the truth…
Laura Spencer
October 24th, 2011 at 9:46 amA.Dalcourt–Yes, you definitely don’t want THAT kind of favor…
Kevin Costain, Thanks for sharing your experiences and your links!
Lauren–I think family members sometimes have an especially difficult time understanding what we do. :)
allena. I think that is true. I think that there are folks calling themselves freelancers to avoid their real status. They certainly aren’t doing those of us who earn our living this way any favors.
This has been a great discussion! I look forward to seeing more comments…
WritingItRightForYou
October 24th, 2011 at 8:52 pmJust like @Catena, I use the term “freelancer” a lot in many articles and posts I write, and I am very proud to be a professional freelancer with a global clientele who works out of a home office. However, I describe myself professionally as a “small business owner”, because that is exactly what I am!
Many of the people I meet actually wish they could do what I do and be as successful at it as I am.
All of my clients know I work from my home office; many of them do, too!
Morgan & Me Creative
October 25th, 2011 at 2:12 pmNot sure about about areas but our culture here, where it’s strangely very competitive and traditional ie. if you don’t have to go to an office to work, that means you ain’t working…kind of mentality, most freelancers are frowned about. Curiously, most of the ones we met are either very highly skilled in what they do or as the article says, more work much longer and harder hours than the typical employed man. Not too sure if the belief will ever shake loose but until then, on experience, I personally have more faith in freelancers than those who choose full time employment.
Daquan Wright
October 25th, 2011 at 3:55 pmFreelancers always pad their estimates. According to this myth, most freelancers quote a price that is far too high for the amount of work that needs to be done. Lowballing clients in particular embrace this misperception because it helps them justify their actions in trying to get the price down. However, the actual truth is that most freelancers underestimate the cost of doing projects and wind up spending far more time working than they get paid for.
This is so true, no matter what field you’re in, projects typically always take longer to complete (unless you have years of experience).
As for real jobs…freelancing is more real than any other type. You have to do more to remain competitive, instead of someone feeding you a constant supply of work. You have to be aggressive and engaging to keep it up. It’s so much I can’t even attempt to write all that is involved, but anyone who knows even a little of what it takes to succeed as a freelancer realizes the dedicated required to make it work.
Lynn
October 27th, 2011 at 12:51 pmI’ve been fortunate enough to encounter a lot of people who are actually envious of freelancers, though there are a handful who think that just because I’m one means that I’m not doing any real work.
As for being unreliable, I’m sad to say that I’ve teamed up on a project with a couple of people who just bolted without a word. :(
Sonja
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:06 amWe need to just stop using the terms “freelance,” “freelancer,” and “freelancing” and start thinking of ourselves as a businesses.
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