Getting a Job vs. Self Employment

Getting a job is never much fun — the process of finding a job, getting an interview, and acclimating to a new environment can turn your head to jelly. As a recent college graduate, the choice to get a job in the industry was a simple one. Even though I had started and formed my own company while in school, something felt out of place. I had an interview this morning, and one of the questions that was asked was “Why would you choose to work for someone else instead of freelancing?”. I had to stop to think about this for a moment, it was a really good question.

Why would I choose to work for someone else? I guess it kind of boils down to the separation of work and personal life. Being self-employed, you are entirely responsible for generating your own income. This can lead to a kind of workaholism, a never ending immersion in work-life that extends and penetrates every facet of your personal life. I’ve found that being self-employed at home dissolves the natural barrier you have when you work for someone else. As a freelancer, you are your business. Your mind is continually flushed with thoughts on how to advance your talents, the state of your personal portfolio, etc. Going to work at an office away from your home gives you a nice tangible line between your work and home life. As soon as the work day ends, you can punch out, go home and be done with it.

I can hear what you’re saying now, “So why don’t you open an office for your freelance?”. To tell you the truth, a steady salary, benefits, and a hard line between personal and work life sounds just a little sweeter. Even if I had my own office, a troop of my own employees, and a pension plan, I don’t think I could stop myself from the constant worry associated with owning a business.