While most people’s goal is to attain a full-time position, there are plenty of freelance or part-time opportunities as well. There are many times when a company needs additional help for a short time or for a single project, providing a temporary opportunity for now, but can evolve into long-term employment. This can provide recent graduates a good opportunity to gain experience while looking for a full-time position and can help them network with others. It can also provide an additional source of income for those who already have a full-time position and have some spare time. Freelance positions exist for just about any position one can imagine: web development, programming, graphic design, technical support, technicians, and much more providing opportunity for people with a wide variety of skill sets.
For those who are recent graduates these opportunities are a great way to get one’s feet wet, gaining professional experience in one’s field of choice. It also allows one to try several different types of positions if they are unsure of what career path they want to choose. Many times companies may have a specific project or deployment they may hire some extra help for just to complete that project. However, if the employer is impressed with the job one does, it could lead to future temporary work or a full-time position. From the employer’s standpoint, freelance or contract employees are like one big interview and can test one’s abilities. If one proves themselves valuable, they could be prime candidates when a full-time position opens up. It also provides an opportunity to networking with other professionals and build relationship that could provide more job opportunities, perhaps even a full time job. Project-based work can be found on many places online such Elance, Guru and Craigslist, although caution should be exercised when searching the later.
Consulting is a great opportunity for the entrepreneurial type, where one would find clients to do work for and work for them oneself. An example of consulting work is doing tech work such as setting up a wireless network for someone in their home or business. This does take a little more effort in developing a reputation and marketing oneself to build a client base and would require some paperwork for tax reasons. However, consulting can provide a great extra source of income in ones spare time, as appointments can be schedule around one’s existing schedule. Consulting can also can be another way for recent graduates to make some money on the side while gaining experience in their field. If one builds up a good client base, it could even become a full-time business one can live off of! In the future, I plan to write more about consulting and tips for building a successful consulting business.
While these two opportunities may not be the ideal career path for some, it can be very lucrative. Freelancing and consulting provide one with interim source of income and experience that can help one in their ultimate goal of landing a full-time job.
About the Author
Mike Gdovin has been blogging about technology since 2006 on his blog, Gdovin.net. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Media from Kutztown University with a minor in Journalism, Public Relations and Business. In addition to blogging about technology, Mike is a video producer, technology consultant and social media expert.
