What To Do When Self-Employment Doesn’t Work

Self-employed individuals in the UK have chosen an independent career for a variety of reasons. Some fell into self-employment rapidly after graduating, as a result of their skill sets – this is especially common for creative and digital jobs. Others were forced to quit their employed position over management issues or other situations. While finally, the most frequent case affects individuals who build an independent career as a consequence of not finding employment via traditional methods. Unfortunately, even though self-employment is becoming increasingly popular, less than 50% of workers are earning a decent living in their independent career. What are your options when self-employment doesn’t seem to pay out?

Do you lack motivation?

Being self-employed means that you’re entirely responsible for your own time. While this can seem like a blessing if you’ve been working in a hectic office, in reality, most self-employed individuals struggle with motivation issues. Indeed, how do you stay motivated when you’re working in an isolated structure? As a result, it can be tricky to make the best decisions for your independent business. Therefore, it’s essential, if you’re going to make a living from your job, to dedicate your efforts into creating a profitable workstation. First of all, you need a space that is committed to working – in other words, the corner of the kitchen table is not suitable for your professional activities –, which is free of distractions. If you can’t stop yourself from checking your social media accounts, introduce a browser control that blocks domains during your working hours.

Can you learn new skills?

Staying relevant when you’re your own boss requires creativity. You need to adapt to a shifting market, and continuously improve your skills. Additionally, you can also learn new skills that can let you develop a new income-generating strategy. Have you considered creating educational material, for instance? Signing up to the Online.Exeter.ac.uk university can provide you with the tips and tools of the teaching industry, which you can apply to develop your niche courses. After all, publishing online courses to educate your audience can be a profitable passive business. Besides, when you teach in your area of expertise, you’re more likely to meet potential clients!

Do you have the right approach?

Do you know that there is more than one kind of independent career? Indeed, freelancers, solopreneurs and self-employed have a different status, as explained on Bidsketch.com. A freelancer tends to be hired on long-term contract by companies but doesn’t benefit from HR advantages. A self-employed professional fixes their own hourly rates, contrary to the freelancer who works at the rates set by the company. Lastly, solopreneurs sell services that they delegate to freelancing counterparts. Each approach offers advantages and inconveniences, but knowing where you stand can affect your market strategy.

Can you go back to your old job?

Finally, you can support your lifestyle with part-time employment, which requires you to justify your self-employed activities in a CV for future employers. It’s crucial to stay positive and highlight the experience you’ve gained to appeal to recruiters.

Being self-employed can be tough. But you can remove obstacles on your path by keeping your eyes open for new opportunities. From learning new skills to adapting your attitude to your market status, sometimes the way to success is paved with subtle transformations.

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