Keeping my Corporate Job or Transitioning to Freelancing: Real Estate Virtual Assistant

What happens when one day you realize that you are no longer happy with your work in the corporate world? That you have already become what they call a “bundy clock employee” who just does her usual work and gets paid at the end of the day? Will you cry out “eureka?” Or sing the lyrics of Scotty McCreery’s “This is it. This is now. This is what I’ve been talking about?” Most probably.

When you have been accustomed to working in the office for a hefty 10 years, you may be having second thoughts of handing over your goodbye letter. You might chicken out and say, “Man, this is tough!” and just hide that letter in your table. Or you would stand straight, walk confidently into the HR office and hand that paper over, flip your hair and walk graciously out of the building. Hilarious, but the real deal here is whether I would transition myself from the corporate to the freelancing industry?

What is a corporate Job? What is freelancing?

Before anything else, I’ll be digging up the basics. What is the difference between a corporate job with that of freelancing?

A corporate job is basically a job being done in an office setting. It involves a structured organization with a physical business location and a number of employees. On the other hand, freelancing is being self-employed and freelancers are often referred to as an independent laborer who is working remotely or at the comfort of their own homes. A freelancer is working on a per-job, per-task or per-project basis unlike for a corporate or office employee who works and sticks on a per-schedule set-up like the usual 8-working hours from 8am to 5pm.

Moving on, what are the pros and cons between these options? I wouldn’t want myself to be subjected to the dilemma when talking about my source of living or, with much gravity, to my future career right? So I would want to dig deeper and know the facts.

Pros and Cons of Corporate Job

Let’s start with the pros to lighten the mood. To be essentially fair, there are a lot of perks from being a corporate guy and that will boil down to a number of employee benefits which include that of health and wellness bundle, a tempting relocation offer or a good compensation package. Honestly, these had enticed me the most, especially because I just graduated years ago and being part of the bandwagon of fresh grads with no experience at all, I would love to dive into that job which can sustain my already independent living. Aside from those tangible benefits, we would also be talking about stability, promotions, networking opportunities and professional development which the organization can offer in the long run.

On the other side of the coin, there are also some disadvantages to it. Remember the line “you will be eaten alive?” Sounds scary but is actually happening in the real world of corporate competition. That is when office politics comes into the picture. Unhealthy competition would lead to potentially aggravating one’s career over their professional interests and this will likely impact the company’s operation as a whole. A domino effect would worsen the situation especially if these companies find employees replaceable. It’s a hard and sad truth knowing you have just given your all for the company, even sacrificing your family and personal life, and yet they still find you dispensable. Maybe not all of them, but we should face this realization. And given all these, it is still our choice to make. Stay or try something new instead.

Pros and Cons of Freelancing

Speaking of trying something new, what would freelancing be offering on our plate? Freelancing has been continuously making abuzz lately especially with the current pandemic the world is facing right now. Everyone’s in a frantic state, and already are opting for a work-from-home set-up all for safety and health concerns. Personally, that is one of the biggest reasons why I am in this deciding state. So aside from this instant benefit, what are the other advantages of becoming a freelancer? There are numerous ones and it all points towards time and location flexibility as well as skills upgrade. Apart from these, freelancing gives you the opportunity to become your own boss where you can do your job at your own pace. Well, of course, without compromising the quality of your work and maintaining your client’s satisfaction.

Perks of Freelancing

Now what about the downside of it? Some of the drawbacks to freelancing include less job security or issues on work stability, variable workloads and income, lack of insurance and other employer provided-benefits, tax consequences and others. From all of this information, the question that would resonate for me is to push through or not? Will it be worth it?

The Big Reveal: Freelancing is my choice

The make it or break it decision will lead me to decide whether to grab the opportunity of freelancing freedom or stay in my comfort zone which is keeping my 8-5 job.

With everything on deck, I’ve done my research and had thought and prayed for it for a while, I have decided to test the waters and pursue freelancing specifically targeting the real estate virtual assistant niche for a start. I am already gathering my weapons to be able to survive the battle in this new industry. Well as for me it will all be about dedication and hard work. I have subjected myself to learn and explore the beauty of freelancing, focusing on the virtual assistance training course, and through training in a topnotch institute (Filipino Virtual Assistance (FVA) Academy) topped with my corporate experience, I am confident to be able to thrive in this whole new world.

It has always been my mantra that “Everything worth doing is worth doing well.” So with grit and passion, I shall fulfill my goal and that of my future clients as well.

If you're also caught in the same situation but decided to go with it instead, here's a useful guide to prepare what is instore for you in the freelancing world. Good luck!