Leaving secure job for freelance work - UK Social Work
April 1, 2016 3:07 AM Subscribe
Looking for reassurance / opinions on my decision - hoping some people out there have taken a similar step and would like to know how you feel about it on the other side... Have today handed my notice in on my full-time, secure local government job, with pension, paid holidays and sick leave, to work freelance as a social worker. Am I being ridiculous???
I have been doing Social Work jobs for 10yrs, with management posts in amongst that, but now feel I need to have more control over my own time and working practices. If things go well I could make twice or even three times what I earn now over the next year, with more time off. I'll be doing a specific sort of assessment, with high turnover of work. Will be quite repetitive, but I can dictate my own hours and it is simpler, more straightforward and manageable than my normal job. It should stay that way for at least another year or two, then I think I will need to look for something else, although who knows? It could just carry on and work out great. I guess I am doubting my own ability to keep focused and make the best of the opportunity, but have decided to push past those anxieties and fears and try it anyway. Am I bring brave or foolish??? Anyone else made this kind of transition?
I have been doing Social Work jobs for 10yrs, with management posts in amongst that, but now feel I need to have more control over my own time and working practices. If things go well I could make twice or even three times what I earn now over the next year, with more time off. I'll be doing a specific sort of assessment, with high turnover of work. Will be quite repetitive, but I can dictate my own hours and it is simpler, more straightforward and manageable than my normal job. It should stay that way for at least another year or two, then I think I will need to look for something else, although who knows? It could just carry on and work out great. I guess I am doubting my own ability to keep focused and make the best of the opportunity, but have decided to push past those anxieties and fears and try it anyway. Am I bring brave or foolish??? Anyone else made this kind of transition?
Get a financial planner to help you plan how you will register your income. The government recently changed the law about people using limited companies to boost their earnings as freelancers to government agencies.
posted by parmanparman at 6:44 AM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by parmanparman at 6:44 AM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
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Taking more control of your working life is definitely a good thing, and from what you've said I see no downsides. Only thing I would advise is to speak to an Independent Financial Adviser, a good one that comes with personal recommendations, so you've got the appropriate insurance to account for the lack of sick leave, to sort out your own pension, and so on.
And I think in this position it can often feel like an "all or nothing" choice, but that's rarely the case. If this doesn't work out you will undoubtedly have a fall-back position, either to your old job or similar, or something else that becomes apparent while you explore this new opportunity.
Taking risks is something, I believe, we're not genetically programmed to do - so that's you're feeling concerned. That's perfectly natural, just acknowledge the concerns, take a deep breath, and move on. And hopefully they'll be a follow up post on here in six months' time or so to tell us how well you're doing...
And, from a "quite old so been around for a while but don't actually have any qualifications in Psychology" point of view... the fact that you've asked us after resigning, rather than whether you should resign, means you know you're doing the right thing.
posted by DancingYear at 3:54 AM on April 1, 2016 [2 favorites]