Is Freelance for You?

“The escalation of layoffs in clinical research, and the resulting job insecurities, has had a significant effect on the growing numbers of clinical professionals who choose self-employment.” Though Lisa Provan made this statement in an Applied Clinical Trials article published back in 2003, I think it’s safe to say we are experiencing similar trends in downsizing today, and with fewer jobs existing, likely seeing the same increase in self-employment.

Like anything else, choosing to become a freelance professional requires its own balance of give-and-take. “You are your own boss, you have more freedom, and if a client comes back, he comes back just for you. You get more recognition for the work you do,” Anke Verheyen, a freelance clinical trial consultant for seven months now, rattled off a few of the benefits experienced when working for yourself.

But while running your own show may be ideal, the new responsibility of insurance, taxes, and benefits will not fail as additional stressors.

Though Verheyen does not have to be as concerned as others with income because her husband works as a surgeon, she is not blind to the potential struggles of working independently. “I have heard stories of freelancers who are [for example] alone and have to pay rent. In that case I think working as a freelancer can be very distressing.”

On the upside, however, even during these times of economic anomalies, she hasn’t had any trouble finding work and notes that she believes freelance work is actually becoming more common because she is receiving a lot of requests.

Is it for you?
No one can say whether a job as a freelancer will make you happy besides you. But, there are a couple bottom lines that should receive checks before taking the leap.

“Companies who contract with freelancers often do so because of their experience and flexibility. Typical freelancers offer their prospective clients more than seven years of clinical research experience. In addition, freelancers with a broad spectrum of knowledge and specialist skills in specific indications can adapt to new projects in a short time with minimal assistance.” Here, another reference from Provan’s piece sheds light on the importance of experience and specialty skills in a freelancer.

While Verheyen’s experience thus far offers optimism, she holds a Masters in Medical Biochemistry and carries with her 11 years of experience in clinical research—three of which she worked as a CRA, and eight as an International Senior Project Manager for Omnicare Clinical Research and Parexel.

Next up, are you resourceful and organized? If you don’t like having to pay attention to the nitty-gritty details, you may not want to work for yourself. As previously mentioned, independent contractors often have to deal with maintenance of taxes and insurance that are typically handled by the employer.

Also, you will be responsible for finding your own work. Drawing in customers will undoubtedly take a great amount of effort, motivation, and dedication.

Building your network
Taking the first leap may be the hardest part to working as a freelancer. While taking on a new job with a company may be nerve racking, you still have an experienced team surrounding you and resources at your fingertips.

“You work alone, no colleagues, so you have to build a network in case you have questions/problems,” Verheyen noted.

Networking yourself can also be advantageous when it comes to finding work. While Verheyen relies on her recurring clients, she also noted connections to other freelancers and Linkedin as primary resources for finding work.

So, what do you think now, is freelance for you?