Yet another good reason for becoming a freelancer

A few months ago, after leaving my last job, I thought about what to do next and decided to become a freelancer. A lot of people would think it's crazy to do that in this economy and without really having a specialty to speak of, and the reasonable voices in my head pretty much agreed with them, but there were the other voices that said that I should just try it out and see where it goes. I had nothing to lose at this point and I was convinced that it would be infinitely better than working at a job that I hate and that made me miserable.

I was right, it was by far the best thing for me. However, after a couple of months, I started stressing out a bit, because I really didn't have a lot contracts and I just kept seeing my bank account get lower and lower with no replenishing of it in sight. So, I decided that I had to do something about it and started, yet again, to look for a job. I was hoping to find something part-time so that I could still keep freelancing, but part-time jobs that don't involve me serving people food or coffee or anything of that nature are hard to come by. I got a few interviews, and I have to say, that most of them were just wrong, or weird but It made me realize that Freelancing is really looking better and better and that I really should push harder and try to get more contracts somehow.

One of the interviews, went somewhat well, but I got a bad feeling from the place just sitting at the front, waiting to be interviewed. The offices were in a crumby location, right on the side of the highway, the people that I saw come in and out of there just seemed very stiff and unfriendly and really not my type of environment. But i went through the interview regardless of all that, and throughout the whole interview, I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't be bad to work there. Until the end of the interview, where they asked me how I would feel if they told me that they didn't have voice mail here, and that everybody answers everybody's phone and takes everybody's messages!! I was taken aback by that, and just asked if they were serious? And they said yes, we don't believe in voice mail here, it's poor customer service!! Euh, OK, now I am sorry, but I believe that NOT having voice mail is much worse for your customer service than having one. So what? You're on the phone with a customer and then you have to drop them to answer another incoming call because there is no way for that person to leave a voice message? That was just too weird for me. I even asked them what the receptionist at the front desk was doing there if they were the ones to take all the messages for everybody. And their answer? She only transfers calls! Wow, I was blown away. Needless to say, after that I wanted the interview to end as fast as humanly possible so I could move on. The minute I got home, I sent the person i met an e-mail thanking them for their time, but that I was retracting my application as this is not the place for me...I would have called her and left her a voice mail message but they don't believe in that!

Then I have this other interview, which didn't go so well either. First off they made me wait over half an hour before coming to get me and interviewing me...not very cool. And then we go through the motions of the interview again, and one of the two people i met was the VP of the department and I didn't like him right off the bat, he was smug and arrogant and really not someone i would ever want to work with. And then after I've basically sold myself to them with the usual pleasantries of my work ethic and skills etc., the smug guy, just sits back in his chair, and says, OK, i need you to sell me on you because I'm not convinced!! Euhh, what have I been doing for the last 45 minutes buddy? If you're not convinced now, than you never will. Besides, It's a two way street, I was also not convinced AT ALL that I wanted to work there, and he did a poor job of explaining what the company does and convince me that this is the place I want to work at. So needless to say, once again, I just wanted this interview to end and put me out my misery.

Then finally, comes a call from someone that had gotten my resume months ago, and that the position I had originally applied for was filled, but that something else opened up that they thought I would be perfect for if I was interested! I was very much interested and did a preliminary phone interview with this person that went really well. I genuinely liked her and the job she was offering and so she called me in for an in-person interview. This one was great, I hadn't had such a good job interview in years. The conversation just flowed, the company seemed really good, very professional but still very much pro-employee. It felt like you were valued as an employee and a person there rather than being treated like a number or like you were disposable. I left this interview with a really good feeling and with the hopes of getting called back, as not only did the job seem perfect for me, it was a 10 minute walk from my house! I get called back the day after for my second and final interview with the head of the department who I would be working with, and got a bit excited. I thought, OK this is great, my final interview, this should mean that my chances of getting this are great. This final interview went just as well as the first two, I got along really well with the guy and the conversation just flowed so easily. The guy even tells me that He thinks I would be a perfect fit with the team, and not to worry that my chances of getting this are excellent and to expect a call shortly from HR. And so I wait...and I wait...and I wait...and Nothing. I sent a quick e-mail to the HR person reiterating my interest in the position and that I look forward to hearing from them etc. And still...Nothing! A week after that, I called her and left her a voice mail message...At least they believe in voice mail!! And I basically asked her to call me back and let me know what was happening, and to just keep me posted, regardless if it was a positive response or not. And yes, you guessed it...NOTHING! So here I thought they were this awesome company, super professional and once again, I couldn't have been more wrong. To me that is a total lack of professionalism if you don't even bother calling the person back or at the very least e-mail them back to update them. Even if this meant that I didn't get the job, at least tell me!! Don't end it saying that my chances are excellent and to expect a call and then leave me hanging for 2 1/2 weeks. I'm an adult, I can handle it if you tell me that I didn't get it, that's fine...just tell me!

So this kind of brings me back to thinking that becoming a freelancer was probably the best thing I could have done for myself! Granted I don't have the same salary as I did when I was a full time employee, but now I am getting more and more contracts and the money is starting to come in regularly so it's really not bad. And the fact that I don't have to deal with unprofessional companies and a lot of bureaucracy just makes me realize that this is exactly where I want to be right now and I'm going to do everything in my power to make it work longer term.