Anyone freelancing instead of going back to permanent work?

[timtam78]

I'm not going back to my previous job as they rejected my part time request. So I'm giving freelance a go (alongside setting up a little sideline business too). Luckily my nursery I'm planing to send Max is quite flexible and will let me give short notice for extra days. I need this with freelance as in my industry it can be a bit spontaneous and unpredictable.

Just wondered if anyone else is freelancing and how is it working out for you?

 

[Dotty_woman]

I'm not but wish you all the best. Have you had problems finding freelance work when working part time? What is it that you do? xxx

 

[tinkerbell13]

I'm interested in people thoughts / advice on this also timtam as I'm considering freelance work rather than perm employment. What is it you do/thinking of doing?

 

[timtam78]

Hi ladies, Thanks Dotty woman Tinkerbell13, what do you do?

I'm a web designer. It's the worst industry to be in when you're a mum to be honest with all the expected overtime etc. I've not officially started yet as maternity wasn't due to end till end March but I have been doing one job from home during the evenings. Otherwise yeh I can see some issues finding part time freelance, but my nursery allow me to give short notice for extra days so if an agency offered me a week of work I could take it, but I wouldn't want to be doing that constantly as it defeats the object of not wanting to go full time. I have freelanced a few times where they've only wanted me for a couple of days here and there and my friend has just got a part time freelance contract so they do exist, even if rare. I'm trying to sell some clocks I've started to make too... would love to do that all the time but wouldn't bring in a huge amount of money

 

[Dotty_woman]

I'm a Database Administrator and work 4 days. Violet goes to nursery 2 days and my mum looks after her 2 days and I have Wednesdays off. My OH is a freelance software developer and is taking some time off after a three year stint. I've worked from home before whilst trying to look after a baby at the same time and it was pretty hard to avoid distractions and breaking off to spend time with my son meant the day was a long one. I hope you manage to get it to work for you xxx

 

[flisstebbs]

Good luck Tammy, sounds like a good plan. I could never cope with 5 days now.

I don't know how I'd be now, but I used to be crap at locuming as I'd just overfill my diary all the time scared I wasn't going to get anymore work that month, so ended up working crazy hours! For me the security of my 3 days (albeit stupid and very long days where I don't see Jess at all) is perfect.

I guess as well it depends how flexible Max is. Jess is much happier in her little predictable routine of days, and knows its alternate days at nursery/with me then the weekend.

 

[timtam78]

That's one thing I've started to worry about Fliss, whether inconsistency might be a bad thing for Max. :-/ I can't imagine not really seeing Max regularly for days, but I get that consistency could be better. I guess I've got to try it out and just see how it goes. Will be on the look out for a part time permanent role in the background I think anyway, I think they are very rare, but one may appear at some point, never know! I'd rather work in house now and move away from agency side as it's a bit less demanding usually.

I went to chat with an old boss about freelance at his agency today, made me feel a bit low really. He's lovely and will try his best to get me some work but I got the feeling that because I'd have to leave at 5pm to commute and fetch Max from nursery I probably wouldn't be a preference as most people in this industry work later like 6 or 7 so not great around a family. Got a bit upset when I got home that I'm going to find it really difficult to get work

 

[flisstebbs]

That is tough. I'm very lucky in that on my work days, the nursery pick ups fall to Rich to do as I have to work 11-12 hour days, no choice really. It is so hard to juggle this stuff and when you have to go and pick them up when they're poorly and the nursery call you, its hell, but you work it out. Jess was so poorly on and off through nov and dec, she got used to being up at my surgery and playing with the receptionists/nurses/other docs while I frantically tried to finish my surgery off . It all tests the awful feelings of "I'm a terrible mummy" again, but then I think this is offset by the positivity of being a strong female role model?

 

[timtam78]

Thanks for your reply Fliss. I don't know how i'd handle the poorly episodes. I'd have no choice but to say I couldn't work and if I repeatedly did that to the same agencies they wouldn't have me back I'd imagine. My oh works from home a lot these days so could fetch Max from nursery sometimes but it's Ad hoc when he goes in so it wouldn't be guaranteed. I've just got to try my best and see how it goes. Got to try get the remote working jobs if I can. Yep being a good strong female role model can't be a bad thing can it! ...but I just want a good balance of both. My mum was a stay at home mum with me and I think it was fantastic having her around and to a degree I want that for Max too, but I also want something that 'I do' to enjoy and retain my independence so I hope this works out for me as design agency culture just doesn't fit around family easily x