7 ms·

I wouldn't say riskier, just more churn. Higher highs and lower lows but you can probably extract more value because there is no middle man (i.e. an employer).

I wouldn't say riskier, just more churn. Higher highs and lower lows but you can probably extract more value because there is no middle man (i.e. an employer). However, one significant risk is losing out on promotions and status if you ever want to return to the corporate world. Seniority is often measured in "time in seat" and taking 10 years off to build your own business can make it harder to jump right back in at a level you'd expect. The other risk is the stress of uncertainty. At a corporate gig you get a paycheck every two weeks like clockwork. The moment that pattern ends, panic ensues and the company is gone. When you work for yourself you have to be responsible for ensuring the paycheck is there. Quite often freelance work can be feast or famine. You may get a bigger payday than you ever expected one month but prepare because the next month might not bring in a dime.

BjoernKW 9y ago
> However, one significant risk is losing out on promotions and status if you ever want to return to the corporate world. Seniority is often measured in "time in seat" and taking 10 years off to build your own business can make it harder to jump right back in at a level you'd expect. That's provided you'd actually ever want to return to the corporate world. Measures like "time in seat" make me wonder why given other options anyone would ever want to work in such an environment in the first place. > Quite often freelance work can be feast or famine. That certainly can be a challenge but there are approaches to alleviate that problem. It's mostly a matter of getting (and staying) organised and regularly keeping in touch with both existing clients and potential new ones.
tome 9y ago
> At a corporate gig you get a paycheck every two weeks like clockwork. Which country is that? I've only ever heard of monthly salaries for professionals.
- ianleeclark 9y ago
  United States. I've had every payment system from once a month (while working at a Unviersity), to the 1st and 15th of every month (small company in Austin), to every 2 weeks (Much bigger company in Wisconsin).
- sokoloff 9y ago
  My experience in the US is that I have been paid bi-weekly far more often than monthly. (I can only recall one position that was paid monthly.)
- Prefinem 9y ago
  The US. My currently employer pays this way. Many employers do as well

BjoernKW 9y ago

> However, one significant risk is losing out on promotions and status if you ever want to return to the corporate world. Seniority is often measured in "time in seat" and taking 10 years off to build your own business can make it harder to jump right back in at a level you'd expect. That's provided you'd actually ever want to return to the corporate world. Measures like "time in seat" make me wonder why given other options anyone would ever want to work in such an environment in the first place. > Quite often freelance work can be feast or famine. That certainly can be a challenge but there are approaches to alleviate that problem. It's mostly a matter of getting (and staying) organised and regularly keeping in touch with both existing clients and potential new ones.

tome 9y ago

> At a corporate gig you get a paycheck every two weeks like clockwork. Which country is that? I've only ever heard of monthly salaries for professionals.

ianleeclark 9y ago
United States. I've had every payment system from once a month (while working at a Unviersity), to the 1st and 15th of every month (small company in Austin), to every 2 weeks (Much bigger company in Wisconsin).
sokoloff 9y ago
My experience in the US is that I have been paid bi-weekly far more often than monthly. (I can only recall one position that was paid monthly.)
Prefinem 9y ago
The US. My currently employer pays this way. Many employers do as well