A little over one year ago, I made the decision to leave my freelance hustle and accept a job offer. I started freelancing because I wasn’t happy with any agency I had worked for. Being underpaid, overworked and having limited responsibilities were my biggest pain points. Then, after building a successful client base as a freelancer, something interesting happened; companies started reaching out to me with (great) job offers. Here are the five reasons why I decided to quit the freelance life:
An opportunity that was in a vertical I’d never worked in came calling. Why did they want someone with no experience in their industry you might ask? The team was looking for someone with luxury lifestyle experience to bring to their historically archaic industry. I value the idea of continuing to learn, and appreciated that this position was not only in a different vertical, it gave me the opportunity to collaborate with another employee on email campaigns, the direction of the website and all marketing materials.
As a PR professional with only two years of experience, I found it a challenge to convince prospective clients that I was capable of managing their account. The role I accepted offered me complete ownership and control of the company’s social media and public relations efforts. This position was a great boost to my resume, proving that I could handle the executive-level responsibility. I worked with a six-figure marketing budget, ran my work day and reported directly to the CEO.
The team understood and loved that I was entrepreneurial, young and hungry. When I interviewed at this company and met everyone, I felt that this was truly a team I would work well with, and also enjoy socializing with after work.
As a freelancer, there were weeks where I made no money, and weeks when I felt I was killing it. The ups and downs of freelance work meant that I wasn’t saving at all, much less for retirement. The idea of earning a consistent paycheck with a bonus structure was incredibly appealing, not to mention quality health coverage.
You eat what you kill as a freelancer and it’s a nonstop hustle. I found it impossible to turn off work and simply enjoy myself. I would be at the club pitching people at the table about why they should hire me. I would attend networking events almost every night to keep my prospective client funnel full. With a regular 9 to 5 job, it’s easier to move away from work concerns during the evening. A full-time job also helped me with boundaries – responding to late night or weekend emails wasn’t expected – which was something I had always done as a freelancer. After months of always being on, being able to put a period on my work day was a major perk.
When I reentered the 9 to 5 grind, I didn’t forget why I left. Instead, I told myself, “if you find the culture turning into the culture that you left, don’t be afraid to voice your concerns.” I already knew that I could make it on my own, so what did I have to lose?
About Sabrina Wottreng
Sabrina Wottreng is a Chicago-based publicist. Whether her clients are looking to learn how to be their own publicist or are in need of a PR arm for their company, Sabrina Wottreng Public Relations has products and services for their needs. In her spare time, Sabrina takes classes at The Second City and can be found riding her Ducati Monster.
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