Contents
Working on a project that will be finished soon. Being busy for only a few months of the year and not having a clear plan for the future. Contract work gives a sense of freedom, but can also be frightening with its inconstancy.
Some time ago, 31-year-old Marina got a job in a small company: “At first they promised me that they would soon be transferred to the state, but two years have passed, and I am still at a temporary job. Every six months they renew my contract with me and they tell me: “We like the way you work, but we don’t have the opportunity to hire you.” Because of this, I can’t even rent an apartment, and I have to live with my parents.”
Pass the tests
- Is it time to change jobs?
- What is your main talent at work?
It is obvious that such work does not cause delight in Marina, but 25-year-old Irina is quite satisfied with her current position: “At first it was a part-time job. Now it’s a choice. Of course, there are downsides to contract work: I don’t have a steady income, I’m only paid for what I’ve done. Nevertheless, I like that I can not work for three months in a row, last year I went to India, now I plan to learn to draw … Tomorrow? Somehow I don’t think about it. I know that I will always find a job for myself. It is more important for me to live, develop, be myself.
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- “Success Brings Happiness”: Why Doesn’t This Formula Work?
Double interpretation
Everyone experiences the absence of a permanent job in their own way, the attitude towards freelancing (remote work, flexible schedule), as a rule, is the opposite. Some people think it is dangerous, others see it as a chance, first of all for themselves, and only then for their careers. The opportunity to create your own life and professional path, to be less dependent on limits and obligations, to put yourself and your interests at the center … This approach is more typical for young people who refuse to live according to the “work first” principle that dominated the minds of previous generations. According to sociologist Letizia Carrera, “flexibility is very dual in nature: it is both a resource and a danger at the same time. Depending on the level of qualification, age, work experience, family attitudes, some evaluate freelancing as a resource, others as a danger.
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- What role does informal communication play before an interview?
The Importance of Family Experience
Of course, a lot depends on how they treated work in the family. For example, a child whose parents inextricably linked a permanent place of work with the concept of a prosperous life and economic stability will be wary of situations where work is not something solid and durable. If the parents of the child were entrepreneurs or worked in a free schedule, he will have more knowledge and ideas about “flexible” work. However, sometimes it turns out exactly the opposite: due to the fact that in childhood the child’s parents were in constant search of work, he will not want to repeat their experience. Or he will want more freedom, if all his childhood he watched constantly working parents. “My father retired after 35 years at the same company,” says 31-year-old Maxim. “Every day is the same, every month the same conversations with my mother, the ritual discussion of salaries … I don’t want this, I need a different life.” However, the most important thing to take away from the “family” experience is how this experience can be recycled. “Parental example is one of the fundamental ingredients, and yet children gradually learn to take responsibility for building and defining their own place in the world,” explains psychologist Anna Zanardi. “They learn to interpret flexibility and autonomy as a kind of space for freedom and self-expression. They also learn to manage the anxiety that can arise when a person is looking for a job.”
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- Four stories of burnout (from the practice of a psychologist)
The future has come
Work today is undergoing major changes. Companies require flexibility from their employees, many employees themselves are not averse to working at least half of the working week at home (so as not to waste time on the road). Career as something predetermined, established, long-term oriented is a thing of the past. It is obvious that today young people first of all need to learn how to conduct a dialogue with firms and companies, be able to advertise themselves, adapt to a variety of, sometimes even harsh, circumstances. On the other hand, flexibility is a precious trait that can help even if you already have a permanent job.
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- Every profession has its risks and its protections.
Freelance problems
And yet, despite all the benefits of working remotely, some freelancers feel uncomfortable. They even feel guilty because others have everything in place and systematized, and they cannot even guarantee themselves a constant income. They may worry that they have not lived up to the expectations of their parents, that there have been setbacks and failures in their lives. “The unjustified expectations of parents are not really a problem for children,” says Anna Zanardi. Everyone can and should follow their own path to become themselves. And the duty of parents is to help along the way. When mothers and fathers press children with their own expectations and desires, children have the right to be free from their influence. Becoming an adult also means learning to overcome the guilt that grips us when we move away from the models of life suggested by our parents.
And yet, regardless of what you choose – freelancing or permanent work in the state, the main thing is to have a competitive advantage. It is they who will help to play with instability, considering it as a happy opportunity, and always remain in demand in the labor market.
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- Why is a creative boss better?
change point of view
Not sure what to choose: permanent job or freelancing? Psychologist Anna Zanardi offers a few questions that can take a fresh look at the situation.
Do I really want to get a permanent job? Why?
- Because I’m afraid to be without money for a few months… Of course, we work to make money, but more importantly, we work to express ourselves and give meaning to our existence. Therefore, when evaluating the choice you have, first of all think about what you would like to do, do not think only about the material side of the issue.
- Because I don’t want to keep thinking about what to do when the next contract expires. If you focus only on tomorrow, you can miss today. Concentrating on the “here and now”, we give the best that we have, and thus create all the conditions for finding something else, new and beautiful, at the end of the current contract.
- Because the “freelance” jobs that they offer me are far below my capabilities. It is one thing what we will be able to realize, and quite another to treat each experience gained as a treasure. Any job is a bridge to something bigger and better.
- Because my parents are disappointed with my choice. Life belongs to us. We are very grateful to our parents for everything they have done for us, but we live to bring meaning to our own lives.
- Because with a permanent job, I can earn more. controversial argument. In fact, you need to carefully consider each offer in order to understand where you can earn more.
- Because I don’t know what to do when I’m out of a job. But you can also be fired from your permanent job! To earn respect, whether freelancing or full-time, you just have to…work hard.