Poor Freelancers

Yes, that’s right I said poor freelancers. Having been in the field of freelance design for over 20 years I have seen just about everything. I am a member of many different freelance web sites now days, unlike the old days where the freelancer had to just hustle his wares door to door. Back in those days I couldn’t sit from my desk and browse thousands of possible freelance jobs over my computer and bid with a simple click of a mouse. No, back in the day I had to do quite a lot of foot work going from business to business, combing nearby and even no so nearby areas to solicit work and clients.

Now, are things easier for freelancers like me with all the new technologies? One would tend to reply “Of course!” but that wouldn’t be true. You see this new age of technology also opened a lot of doors for other people, people who truly harm the freelancers way of life. Yes, I do intend to give you some prime examples.

The Not so FREE Lancer

One of the things I am constantly fighting is my competition. Now this would not be a bad thing if I had fair competition. Instead I am constantly fighting the competition of actual business’s and teams that have nothing to do with freelance at all.

How can a freelancer possibly compete with a business? They can’t! We can’t! That’s why we are freelancers to begin with, we are doing the work that a formal business normally would not get. However, the economy has driven several teams of people and companies to bid on freelance jobs on freelance boards and web sites. Now since these entities have tons of resources at their disposal they are able to take much bigger freelance work for way WAY below the price that would normally be charged for such a project.

This practice means freelancers are forced to charge even less for projects they would charge below market price to begin with. As a freelancer our main weapons are the ability to offer quick turn-around, quality work, and professional services for much less than a formal company would, and we do this all with a personal touch. With the onslaught of new companies invading our turf now the freelancer makes even less then before. (And I hate to break it to you, but to all those who think freelancers are rich and that this is the easy get-rich-quick type of work to do you are sadly mistaken)

I want to be self employed and work when I want to

So, you think “what’s he complaining about…I would love to make my own hours and be able to make money on my terms like that!” the entire time you are reading this? Allow me to enlighten you about the real world of a freelance individual. We don’t actually make our own hours at all. In fact, the hours I work are dictated by not just one boss like any traditional worker of a formal or normal type of employment, but by several bosses. That’s right, I have to base my work hours on what deadlines were given to me by each and every person that has contracted me to work on a project for them.

Now you may be thinking, “Yeah but look at the money you make, and you are in control of what jobs you take”. This is partly true, simply because I do get to choose what jobs I bid on. However, whereas if you are working a regular job you have a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly check you can depend on the freelancer has to hope and pray that the person they are doing work for actually pays them. We have no guarantees, and no legal assistance on our side when we bid on jobs over the web. Sure, many of the sites have put into place some sort of security for this type of protection but let’s face it, when there’s a will there is a way. There are all sorts of ways people can cheat the system, and trust me they do…I am living proof, and I don’t know about you but I much prefer actually getting paid for hours of hard work. Hard work I have done with skills I learned from years of experience and a very expensive college degree.

So what’s this all about anyway?

What’s this rant all about you ask? I would simply like to see more effort on the part of freelance boards and web sites to get rid of fakers and secure that ONLY REAL freelancers are bidding on their listed projects. We have enough to deal with, and hostility in the work environment is not one I wish to deal with anymore than someone working in a traditional place of employment. How would you feel if a co-worker was able to take away large portions of your pay? Afterall, I have bills and a family to take care of just like they do…

If you are a freelancer, or just an individual who cares start complaining about these unfair practices to as many freelance sites as you can that promote this sort of thing.

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