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Freelancers found happier
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November 8, 2000: 10:50 a.m. ET
Survey: Independents earn more, enjoy better balance between work and life
By Staff Writer Steve Bills
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Independent professionals are generally happier in their work than employees who draw salaries, a new survey finds. They also earn more money and maintain a better balance between work and life.
But the freelance lifestyle is not for everyone. The tradeoff for freedom is uncertainty and the risk that if business slows down, it's the outside contractor who likely will be the first one to be cut.
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People love the flexibility, choice and control in their jobs.
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John Chuang, Aquent |
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Alex Leopold, for instance, a production designer in Cleveland, has been working as a freelancer for seven years. "I'm not doing this as a temporary thing. I'm not doing it because I couldn't get a job," he said. "I'm doing this because it's what I want to do."
On the other hand, Jamey Frank, a graphic artist in Boston who specializes in Internet projects, has been without a steady gig for three weeks, with just a couple of short jobs for a day or two to keep her busy.
"There's a lot fewer jobs out there than there were last year when everything was just insane," she said.
More soloists 'very satisfied'
More than 70 percent of independent professionals report being "very satisfied" with their work situation, according to a new survey by conducted by national polling firm Penn Schoen & Berland, compared with just over 50 percent of salaried employees.
In addition, IPs are twice as likely to earn annual salaries of more than $75,000, according to the survey conducted for the talent agency Aquent, which specializes in project work for creative and technical professionals.
"People are very happy in this world," said John Chuang, Aquent's co-founder and CEO. "People love the flexibility, choice and control in their jobs."
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If you don't like your boss, you can totally leave and it won't look bad on your resume. How beautiful is that.
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Jamey Frank, graphic designer |
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Almost 90 percent say they work independently by choice, not forced by circumstances, according to the survey. Eighty percent of freelancers expect to continue working independently, and almost one-third vow never to return to the traditional work force.
The biggest downsides: a lack of financial security, health insurance, disability protection. "As a soloist, you don't get that," Chuang said. "The next biggest concern is finding work."
Aquent will use the results to plan new products and services for its stable of artists and technical pros, who already get some insurance and retirement benefits through the agency, Chuang said: "A lot of it is for the sake of knowing. We want to be the company that knows independent professionals."
'Keep your eye on the bottom line'
Holly Goodrich, a graphic artist in Boston, has been a full-time freelancer for 12 years and said she loves the life: "There is a tremendous amount of freedom, as long as you keep your eye on the bottom line."
In fact, Goodrich is going to Bali for three weeks in December to attend the wedding of a friend. "I'm able to do that because I can say, 'This is where I want to be.'"
Despite their general enthusiasm for the lifestyle, the independents acknowledge that a career as a soloist is not for everybody. If you need job security or a stable work environment, then freelancing might not be for you.
Also, the dot.com recession has caused a slowdown in demand in what had been a hot sector of the economy. "Now is a bad time to start. Independent contracting rides the wave of the economy," said Frank, the Internet artist. "Now the tide is low. There's not as much work out there and the rates are low. You're not going to see the success and the money."
She also pointed out that demand for freelancers generally undergoes a seasonal slowdown after Thanksgiving: "Nobody is interested in getting anything done at the end of the year."
Still, the soloist is not likely to be trapped in a bad work environment. "If you don't like your boss, you can totally leave and it won't look bad on your resume," Frank said. "How beautiful is that." 
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Aquent
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