I know it will depend on the person, I'm just curious as to which work arrangement that you all find to be more rewarding in terms of work-life-balance, pay, job satisfaction, etc. By "Work for yourself" I mean freelancing, independent contracting, building a profitable application, etc.
Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
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Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#2I suspect the majority of people should aim for a full-time job. Working for yourself (excepting certain industries where it’s very much the norm, say plumbing) is an additional skill set that can take quite the time to acquire.
However, if you find yourself with the opportunity you may want to avail yourself; laid off and you can consult for six months while looking for new work? Could be an opportunity. But many who try it eventually go back to salary work because of any number of externalities.
It’s also not a binary decision; when getting hired you can ask for carve outs for side work that doesn’t involve your day job - or you can become a notary public or a real estate agent and just offer your services to friends and family.
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#3option 3: work part time for yourself and part time for others
(sounds like your definition of "work for yourself" is already compatible with this option but mixing or time-slicing both angles in a more conscious way can be very rewarding.)
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#4option 3: work part time for yourself and part time for others (sounds like your definition of "work for yourself" is already compatible with this option but mixing or time-slicing both angles in a more conscious way can be very rewarding.)
Is this really possible? I've heard of this option, but I don't see a lot of demand for part-time workers.
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#5For the most part nobody "should" anything.
In general, if you're entrepreneurial, yeah, work a part time job and build something.
If you're all in in developing professionally for the corporate ladder, go grab a full time job.
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#6option 3: work part time for yourself and part time for others (sounds like your definition of "work for yourself" is already compatible with this option but mixing or time-slicing both angles in a more conscious way can be very rewarding.)
Is this really possible? I've heard of this option, but I don't see a lot of demand for part-time workers.
Yeah, I'm myself one. My job requires from me only 20 hours a week and it's well paid too.
It's uncommon I know, but youd have to look in places like AsyncOK.com or similar.
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is this really possible? I've heard of this option, but I don't see a lot of demand for part-time workers.
Yeah, I'm myself one. My job requires from me only 20 hours a week and it's well paid too. It's uncommon I know, but youd have to look in places like AsyncOK.com or similar.
Okay, thanks for the info. How does job stability compare to having a full-time job? Do you get benefits?
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#8drop out and be a criminal. it's really the most fulfilling option
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#9Different at different times of your life. I'm mid 40's. Have done some work for myself, largely career for other people culminating in c-suite roles.
Now using all that knowledge running on my own startup (and loving it...) which I'd tried to get up and running 10 years ago. The skills gained over the last 10 years absolutely invaluable for launching the startup with much greater success than version 1 :)
Re: Poll: Should you work for yourself or take a full-time job?
#10You are always working for someone—whether you have one big customer, a few medium-size ones, or many tiny ones.
More customers is in some ways more sustainable, because losing a single customer is less of an impact and you are more likely to have a well-oiled up-to-date process for getting new customers.
Perhaps a bigger differentiator is not employment vs. self-employment but whether you can do something you enjoy doing while getting compensated for it and living a balanced life—which is possible in either arrangement.