Last Updated on August 6, 2020 by Guest
Are you considering working for a creative agency or going it alone as a freelancer? There are a number of benefits to both options, but there are also some drawbacks. Lots of people decide to start out working for any agency and then move on to freelancing once they’ve built up some experience. It’s a good way to go about things as agencies can often help build your skills, but they don’t provide you with the freedom you might want from your career.
Whether you’re a graphic designer or employed in another creative industry, the pattern of employment is moving rapidly. Not everyone has to go to work in a big office anymore. Freelancing can be one of the best ways to make money from home, but it isn’t for everyone. If you’re struggling to decide which option is for you, let’s have a look at a few key things you might need to remember:
Advantages
Guaranteed income
When you work for an agency or another firm, you’ll have a guaranteed job. That’s one of the biggest benefits over freelancing—where you might not know where your next client is coming from. Freelancing can have a lot of benefits, but you’ll have to constantly be marketing your skills to stand out in order to keep getting work. When you work for a firm, they’ll take care of all of that for you, and the work should keep coming to you. If you want stability and a guaranteed income, then agency work might be for you.
Career support
When you work for an agency, they’ll continue to help you progress in your career. They want you to become better skilled and better at your job because you’ll be worth more to them. They should continue to provide you on-the-job training and support so that you can grow your skills. You don’t get this when you work for yourself, and it’s one reason some people like to work for agencies first to build up their skills.
More social
Another advantage of working in a big team is that you’ll meet people and enjoy a more social side of things. You don’t always get that when you work for yourself.
Disadvantages
Lower potential earnings
Creative agencies might be able to give you constant work, but they’ll also take a big cut. Often, they’ll just pay you a competitive salary. However, when you’re the boss of your own freelancing venture, you take all or most of the money. That could be a lot more.
Less freedom
Agency work doesn’t give you the freedom freelancing does. You’ll have to ability to work from almost anywhere as a freelancer, and depending on your schedule, you’ll also be able to work as and when you want.
More and more people are becoming freelancers every year as the digital economy continues to develop. While there are lots of reasons you might want to consider doing so (the biggest one being money)—you shouldn’t overlook working for an in-house agency. There are still plenty of benefits you can make the most of.