What type of jobs would you prefer?

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Tuffdisc

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A normal paid job
Pros: You work for a salaried jobs on normal shift hours, where regular income is assured, you have some kind of protection against unscrupulous bosses. Minimum amount of paperwork to the tax revenue service (if required)
Cons: You probably don't like the boss annoying the crap out of you for probably what seems peanuts of a pay. Probably stuck in a dead end job

Self-employed/Freelancer/Short to long-term contract
Pros: You work your own hours, you are effectively your own boss. Depending on what skills you have e.g. photography, software developer, (the list is endless)
Cons: The pay can be irregular depending on the job. Depending on your job, can be minimum to a load of paperwork to the relevant to your respective tax authorities etc....

I would prefer neither, but photography can be rewarding
 
I prefer employment, it's marginally more secure deal, though it really depends on the company and the company structure.

I'm currently freelancing, kind of, which can be just horrible. The paperwork is Spain is ghastly, though an account takes care of that (you actually have to employ an accountant here, doing it yourself isn't an option), the biggest problem is clients: from non-paying (very common here) right through the just how difficult they are to work with.
 
As much as I like the idea of being self-employed, all the paperwork for taxes is a nightmare, and keeping track of what you have to pay etc etc....

So mainly I'd like a regular job. Given any choice though, I'd quite like to stay home and have a couple of kids :)
 
Self employed sounds fun admittedly (choose your own hours, no boss to make you angry) but the taxes reason is a major turn off. Given the choice I would choose normal employment though as usually it's more secure because usually it's more of a demand concerning where you work as opposed to the unsteady nature of self employment.
 
dkwrtw said:
Self employed, it would be pretty sweet to choose your own hours.
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Problem is that oftentimes your hours choose you.

When I was freelance a few years back, I had about 10 regular clients and my workload was immense. I'd work evenings and weekends and it was difficult to justify taking time off. Freelancing invades your home, suddenly you're getting phone calls in the evenings and at weekends, and clients breathe down your neck constantly.

Right now my situation is better, I'm working out of an office with a couple of other people so we switch off at 5pm. We're starting a company soon, not sure how that will work but I guess we'll still technically be freelancers, just pooling our efforts.

The pressure of being self-employed comes from all directions: your clients, the govt, money... you name it. You have 100% responsibility for everything. But, it can be really rewarding.
 
Tuffdisc said:
Oh I forgot, in self employment, if things get busy, like Ed said, you have to justify taking time off, so all about the 'working your own hours' it can be nauseating if you are a driver like for example a courier
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Very true, and even worse if you're in my line of work - working overnight to meet deadlines isn't particularly uncommon, keeping clients happy is really the biggest challenge.

The other thing to point out is that if you're freelance/self-employed - you have to have a massive skill set: not only be damn good at your chosen profession, but you'll need a good head for business, plus a good idea about marketing and advertising. Also, you've got a reputation to maintain that can sometimes interfere with your personal life. You're never off the clock: you become your business.

Scary sometimes.
 
Both is my answer.

I like the security and simplicity of having a steady paycheck. But I also always try to have outside and freelance opportunites to supplement my income and to allow some of the creative freedom and sense of control over how much I choose to work/earn.
 
trust me owning and running a business you still are the slave to somebody

it is no picnic to have the lives of employees dependent upon keeping a business going when the economy sucks and the field of work is dwindling

I am so ready to retire it is not funny. I can not though. I need about 5 more years. If I make it I will be surprised. I can feel it sucking the life out of me every day.
 
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