Why The Younger Generation Aren’t Involved in Freelancing

I love reading about, and hearing about, success stories of people who have finally taken that plunge to go freelance and it has worked out lucrative for them. There’s nothing I like more to see than people who choose to take a different working route or path from what is considered the norm in the industry – that is turning up on time and working for somebody else every day of the week.

Yet, despite so many people taking up this route, and succeeding with it, I am still confused as to why there is so little help and support at the very beginning of such ventures for younger people who are interested in making this a viable working solution for themselves.

The Freelance World Is Not a Closed Door

When I remember back to my time at school, the careers interview was perhaps one of the non-descript interviews of my school life! With the usual safe suggestions, it was merely assumed that I would get my grades, and then get a job working for someone else. In a nutshell, once I was employed by a company, I would be set for life! Oh, how limited our career advisors were in those days!

Yet, after doing a couple of talks in schools in recent months, I have had the opportunity to discuss freelancing options with many students, some who would potentially suit this lifestyle, but, to my amazement, they had no idea they would even be allowed to start looking at such options in the future!

Freelancing Can Be a Practical Route

Now, I am by no means suggesting kids leave school and register freelance. We all know that’s not how it works – and of course, kids will need to join the workplace and without a doubt work for other people for a few years at least if not to learn the world or work, then to socialise with others and find out what it is like to earn real money! However, what I’m talking about is the option to look at going the freelance route when they have a bit of experience behind them. Why are we not talking about this as a possible future option? In the same way that they talk about the careers of specific professionals as examples of jobs, why is it that a freelancer is never mentioned – because you can guarantee the younger generation would have come across more freelancers now in the twentieth-century than we ever did when we were their age!

Let’s get rid of the it’s not a real job debate, and start putting freelancing on the map – once and for all. We owe our future generation this at least.