Freelancers deal with a variety of people.

You’ll have the appreciative client who sends timely payments and respects your personal life; and you’ll have those people who thrive on making your life complicated.

Some people don’t know the definition of freelance. In a nutshell, a freelancer is a self-employed person; offers services when required; does not work for a single employer. Thus, a freelancer can pick their jobs, and they can turn down jobs. I like this aspect of the business. If eye strain or carpal tunnel starts to kick my butt, I can take a few days off. Don’t get me wrong, I always complete assignments by the due date, and I never accept an assignment if I’m unable to finish it by the due date.

Truth be told, I’m just like every other freelancer or telecommute professional. I need clients, and without them, my business would crumble. Still, I’m not an employee. And while many companies post job ads for a FREELANCE writer, a few fail to realize this crucial fact. In turn, they treat their freelancers like an employee.

I once had a client send me a huge writing assignment on a Friday afternoon, and needed it completed by Monday morning. The email didn’t include a “please” or “would you be able to complete?” There wasn’t even a greeting! It simply stated: I need this article completed and submitted by Monday. Here is the article title. Guidelines attached.”

I have a personal life, and after a week of researching and writing - I don’t even want to look at a computer on the weekends. Not surprisingly, I turned down the assignment, and the content manager wasn’t happy with me.

I didn’t receive any future assignments from that company.

Then there was the content manager who felt the need to email me throughout the day and monitor my progress. The way I see it, if you give me an assignment and a due date - don’t bother me. With any assignment, I always send a little confirmation email. This way, the company knows I received the work. In five years, I’ve only been micro-managed by two companies. Still, that’s two too many.

I don’t mind an occasional email to see how things are going. On the other hand, I do have a problem when I receive three or four emails throughout the day. I set my own hours. And the hours I choose may not be the client’s business hours. Again, I politely sent an email and explained my position. This particular company was looking for employees, not freelancers, and I gave up the assignment.

work at home, freelance, telecommute

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