"Freelancer"
Ivonne Karamoy
A quick Google search brings up the following definitions of "freelancer"...
“a person who contends in a cause or in a succession of various causes, as he or she chooses, without personal attachment or allegiance.”
“a person who acts independently without being affiliated with or authorized by an organization.
a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer”
More and more people are opting for the freelance career because they want to have control over how they work. The want the flexibility and the ability to choose the work they do.
The problem I find with the above definitions is that they imply that freelancers have no commitment to the people we work with. It's true that some of us–even the best of us–take on work sometimes more for the money than the work itself. But for me, being a freelancer means being able to work with the people I want to work with and to do the best work I can for them. That means committing to them for the period of time that they need me and helping them set off into the future of their business in a better way than when they first came to me. It may not be a long-term commitment but I am committed to their long term success. That is a big distinction.
The other problem is the implication that we have no commitment to the work that we do. I would again argue that the commitment to the work is one of the reasons we become freelancers. We have an idea of the type of work we want to do and are therefore committed to it. If I didn't care about the work I would work for any company. But I do, and that's why I am a freelancer, to have the ability to choose the work I want to do and the work that will make up my career.
In short, I care. Sure, maybe not all freelancers do, but this freelancer does.
The biggest benefit to freelancing outside of the work itself is the flexibility. That is more and more valuable in today's culture (and some companies provide flexible work arrangements). That being said, I would give that up to work with an agency or company who do the type of work I want and care to do and are committed to that work, their values and their clients because they also care.
If you're looking for a freelancer who cares or if you're simply looking for a designer who cares, reach out to me. If you don't know the difference between a caring and a non-caring designer–freelance or not–then reach out to me and I'll tell you.