Why I, A College Student, Don’t Plan on Joining the Corporate World

Deciding to commit to a freelance career

I was born in 2001, right after the turn of the century. While I may not be able to give you a detailed description of the economic crises having affected the world to this date, I can give you an insight into the crises that are yet to occur.

An incoming grand shift to the economy is planned to take place around the start of 2030, with an increase in the number of automated jobs. This would imply a reduction in the amount of vacancies available for people — a reality which I, along with millions of others on the lookout for jobs will face.

As much as I would like to prepare for a safe transition into the employment sector, I know that my chances of securing a job are as high as my chances of being laid off. I do not want to plan for an uncertain future, and neither should you.

A Shifting Economy

The world is increasingly turning from physical to virtual. Naturally, employment, which accumulates for a large amount of our lifestyle is beginning to shift towards the online sphere. Now, you might be thinking: I already know this. Why mention it?

I mention it because behind the screens of our laptops, tablets and smartphones lay the keys to the underworld economy — an economy that is on the verge of coinciding with the economy of traditional employment. 34% of the US workforce are currently freelance workers — a figure that only keeps growing. Many people have stopped chasing the traditional route of earning money.

With online employment on the surge, work has increasingly been a treasure — find for individuals contributing to the economic sector directly. A number of companies themselves have begun to opt for remote-work rather than on-site, with workers never stepping foot into an office. If this isn’t a sign of change in the economy’s focus, I don’t know what is.

Automation is Already Here

Machines are well on their way to replacing a number of traditional jobs. Supermarket checkout lanes have mostly been scrapped by self-checkouts, companies are beginning to experiment with robots as receptionists, and soon most administrative positions are estimated to be largely filled in by artificial intelligence.

I am not suggesting that machines taking over jobs is a negative thing, since it frees us up to think about alternative means of making a living — means which involve us working jobs that are unique to our skills.

Entering the Freelancing World

When most people think of freelancing, what they picture is a hub for people who want to take charge of when and where they work, which is partly true. But there is much more to consider when deciding to be self-employed.

Joining the freelance workforce entails more than wanting to work from the comfort of your couch. When signing up for websites like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer, you’re creating a work portfolio that will be viewed by a number of individuals seeking the skills you own that they could not find in the traditional workspace.

More online jobs equate to more people demanding services catered for the online market — in other words, producing content for websites and social media. Endless websites nowadays call for endless content.

Multiple Clients

As a freelance worker, you are still working for and providing a service to others. The only difference is that you are in control of what service you provide.

I’ve had the privilege to work for a number of clients whose needs were slightly different. They bring me the problem — I the solution. Even when I am given a task for which I may not be best suited, I aim to develop my skills and add my newly acquired experience to my portfolio.

Holding More Than One Position

Ever since I can remember, my dad would tell me about his adventures during his time working for 20+ jobs, all from which he gained immense experience. Most of them were short-lived, as he was eventually found to be redundant or dismissed because of his employer’s closure. After every redundancy, he was obliged to fly from one job vacancy to another.

When a company is no longer profitable in its market of focus, it will shut down, leaving its workers entitled to no more than their last share of income, if any. But when you work as a freelancer, you are your own boss. If your particular market no longer serves you, you instinctively enter another one. You don’t fire yourself — you rehire yourself.

To say that traditional jobs provide more security than freelance work is therefore questionable, as your position in both sectors is vastly different. When you’re the director, producer, marketing strategist, financial advisor, and every other position required to sustain a business all at the same time, you grow a thick skin for re-purposing yourself.

Taking Life Into Your Own Hands

As any individual, one of my concerns is the future. If I work a job, I want to ensure that my contribution is being recorded and my efforts are making up for when I am no longer able to work.

With a growing ageing population and less people working, pensioners in the next 30 years are set to face a reduced income. In other words, they will receive less benefits than what they are entitled to.

But what if we could control our future finances by working multiple jobs, on our own terms, so that we can save sufficient funds that will replace the need for pensions? Besides that, freelance platforms don’t have a recommended age of retirement.

The Takeaway

As much as I have praised the notion of becoming a freelancer, I am not stating that a traditional job only comes with its challenges. A well-earned full-time job in any sector can be rewarding, especially when your efforts are being met sufficiently.

But with an incoming economic recession, increasing automation, and especially the ongoing pandemic, employment faces a setback as never seen before. With new obstacles come new ways of dealing with them, and one of them is proving to be a switch from the office to the very space of your device.

Whether you have worked in the traditional workspace for a long time, or are just beginning to shape your career, it is important to keep in mind the reality of letting go of your job as a result of a situation that is outside of your hands. A reality which members of the current generation, including myself, are beginning to tackle.

Disclaimer: Any references made to financial advice in this article are strictly for discourse purposes. Please consult a professional financial advisor before committing to any financial decisions.

Angelina Der Arakelian