Freelance and Part-Time Work Beefs Up Resumes

It can be difficult for recent college graduates to find jobs in their fields. Educationally, new college grads are qualified for professional jobs with higher pay and much responsibility. But, having little experience leaves some out in the cold. If you are a recent college grad and want to make your resume look more impressive, consider doing part-time and freelance work in your field.

For anyone just starting out in any field, freelance and part-time work is a good way to fatten your resume and get your feet wet. It is a starting point, if nothing else, so don’t shy away from it. To begin, one must understand the two most important aspects of this type of work: flexibility and pay.

The Flexibility of Being a Freelancer or Part Timer

Often, you can work where you want and when you want. This can be good or bad, depending on your situation.

The good things:

• You are not likely to get bored, because you never know what you may be doing at any given time. This is great for those with short attention spans.
• In most cases , work can be adjusted to any schedule, creating lots of freedom.

And the not so good…

• Freelance and part-time work is not steady. You may only have fixed employment for a short period of time, and you may not know when or where your next job will come. Or, gigs may be on a one-time basis.
• Freelancers must be self-motivated and highly organized. You don’t have a boss breathing down your neck to make sure that the work is complete; it is all up to you. Many might consider this a positive aspect.

You have to look for your own work. Typically you have to actively seek out freelance and part-time work.

Not So Steady Pay

Pay scales of freelance and part-time work vary in many ways: by job, by hour, by commission and so on.

The good points:

• Sometimes pay is very high for a little amount or a short time period of work. For example, college-level adjunct instructors tend to get paid the same amount per class whether they teach a regular 16-week term or a short 8- or 4-week term.
• Bargaining. Freelancers and part-timers sometimes are able to better negotiate pay, even more so than people in full-time positions.

And the negative:

• Non-existent benefits – i.e., health insurance or retirement plan.
• No steady income. Because the work is flexible or temporary, pay may not be regular.

The main characteristics that all freelancers and part-timers must embody are ambition and flexibility. You have to actively seek work, be flexible, deal with positive and negative aspects of pay and stick to it. But, it’s a great way to earn a living, and can help newcomers fill up their resumes.

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