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Poll: Do you sometimes wish you had a regular "9 to 5" job instead of being a freelancer?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Mar 7, 2017

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you sometimes wish you had a regular "9 to 5" job instead of being a freelancer?".

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Catherine De Crignis
Catherine De Crignis  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 21:17
Member (2012)
English to French
+ ...
Other: (simple) no Mar 7, 2017

No, I never do. But I don't find it a "joke" either to ask this question!

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 21:17
Spanish to English
+ ...
No... Mar 7, 2017

Been there, done that. No plans to go back that way any time soon.

 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 20:17
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
No Mar 7, 2017

No, going freelance when I did was the best decision I ever made.

 
Annie Duncan
Annie Duncan  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:17
Spanish to English
+ ...
For the holidays and lack of responsibility Mar 7, 2017

I definitely don't miss the monotony, routine, boredom or inflexibility, but I do sometimes wish I could leave my desk for the day and leave my work in the office. Or go on holidays and completely switch off without the temptation of accepting jobs or the stress of running my own business. The guarantee of a salary at the end of every month is also a nice, dependable stability but is also restricting when I consider that I can now choose how much I earn every month (within reason).

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 20:17
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No Mar 7, 2017

No, not in this stage of my life, I’m quite happy being a freelancer and all the freedom and flexibility that comes with it, but I did the “9 to 5” thing (with many extra hours) for a long time and I loved it… In short, people change and circumstances change!

P.S. I should add that I did both for a while, that meant long hours and very busy days!

[Edited at 2017-03-07 10:05 GMT]


 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 13:17
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
No Mar 7, 2017

Freelancing is the perfect life for me. The only drawback is convincing people that I'm not always at their beck and call.

I did work as an in-house translator for more than 20 years. That was fun at the time. It also gave me the contacts, the confidence, and the resources that enabled me to stop when I felt the time was right.


 
Susanna Martoni
Susanna Martoni  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 21:17
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
+ ...
Sometimes Mar 7, 2017

To me, this is the same old story.
Since a live with my 11th-years-old daughter and a I have a scarce social life, if you add everything to my working in the dining room and quite a few colleagues wishing to share or enjoy some time together, well... after some decades: I still do not know precisely



Sometimes yes
Sometimes no

P.S.
I used to work in a translation agency,
... See more
To me, this is the same old story.
Since a live with my 11th-years-old daughter and a I have a scarce social life, if you add everything to my working in the dining room and quite a few colleagues wishing to share or enjoy some time together, well... after some decades: I still do not know precisely



Sometimes yes
Sometimes no

P.S.
I used to work in a translation agency, and it was my agency since I founded it, but after 10 years or so I decided to work as an independent translator.
This is a circular matter, always returning on the same perhaps unsolved knot.
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Petr Hrabe
Petr Hrabe  Identity Verified
Local time: 21:17
Member (2016)
English to Czech
Sometimes Mar 7, 2017

Like yesterday - a 16-hour workday is a bit much.

 
Katrin Taouinet
Katrin Taouinet
France
Local time: 21:17
French to German
+ ...
No Mar 7, 2017

Maybe I would wish to have a 9 to 5 job if my husband had not. The fees and bills we have to pay are quite regular...

[Edited at 2017-03-07 10:15 GMT]


 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
No Mar 7, 2017

I would hate to be an employee again for all kinds of reasons, but I work 9 to 5 anyway (apart from when the sun shines).

There is no requirement that freelancers should work silly hours; it's a choice.


 
Rita Utt
Rita Utt  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 21:17
English to German
+ ...
Not in translation Mar 7, 2017

A 9 to 5 translation job would be much too boring ....

 
Chun Un
Chun Un  Identity Verified
Macau
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
+ ...
No Mar 7, 2017

No as in never...

 
Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 21:17
English to Italian
sometimes Mar 7, 2017

It is true a freelance can choose to work long hours, but sometimes you need to because you have extras to pay.
Anyway, sometimes I think a 9-5 job would be good, because you are paid if you are sick, you are paid if you are on holiday, you are paid and you forget all the work-related problems when you finish.

I have to say that Italy for a freelance is not a n ideal place, taxes are high and the future is not very bright (when you think about retirement you realize your life
... See more
It is true a freelance can choose to work long hours, but sometimes you need to because you have extras to pay.
Anyway, sometimes I think a 9-5 job would be good, because you are paid if you are sick, you are paid if you are on holiday, you are paid and you forget all the work-related problems when you finish.

I have to say that Italy for a freelance is not a n ideal place, taxes are high and the future is not very bright (when you think about retirement you realize your life will be hell)

Then I think: Naaaaaaaaa, when you find a balance you enjoy freelancing much more.
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Samantha Payn
Samantha Payn  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:17
Member (2008)
Russian to English
+ ...
No ... I love the flexibility Mar 7, 2017

And this:
Chris S wrote:

There is no requirement that freelancers should work silly hours; it's a choice.


When I'm home I work pretty hard most of the time, by choice. But when I take time off I switch off: tell my regular clients in advance, hang up the "out of office" on the email, that's it, I'm gone. In fact we have literally shut the office door these last two weekends. It makes me sharper for the work when I get back in there.
It is easier to get my head away from it all when we go away, though ... which we do regularly.
I am aware that I am very lucky to have reached this state.


 
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Poll: Do you sometimes wish you had a regular "9 to 5" job instead of being a freelancer?






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