

“As a freelancer, making yourself known in your industry is a huge challenge. But had I not been a freelancer, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn and evolve as an individual.”
I am a freelance Host and a Digital Presenter, I do events, digital content, Red Carpet hosting and social media consulting for various brands. To be specific, I work part-time as a City Lead for Bumble India and I am also a Puma ambassador.
My professional journey started with CNBC as an Anchor where I worked full-time for 6 months followed by another short stint with the Indian National Congress as a Social Media Manager. I was working 16 hrs a day regularly and my love for Hosting was not getting the space in the 10 to 6 job structure. I realised that I needed to start freelancing to thrive in the space of anchoring and hosting.

So, I left my job at INC and took the plunge into the gig economy. I am deep sea diving at the moment with so much to learn as a freelancer. At an age of 24, freelancing has given me the opportunity to work with international brands simultaneously, to learn and grow exponentially, which wouldn’t be possible with a full-time job. If I wasn’t into freelancing I would have never been a part of a billion-dollar companies like Bumble, the Olive group, and other restaurant chains. Every day is a fulfilling day as a freelancer.

Having said that, one must not ignore that freelancing has its own challenges. In my field, the months from June to August is the off-season for events. I cannot afford to lose my motivation during lean periods and prepare myself for the next season by developing by skill-sets. Making yourself known in your industry is also a challenge. But once you break in, it gets really rewarding. Freelancing is not a traditional career option like Doctor or Engineer but once you have hustled to create a foothold for yourself, the flexibility becomes empowering. Another challenge is if you are a gig worker, unlike a traditional corporate job, you are not sure what you are going to make at the end of the month.
You might have a ballpark but what you might get in hand is not fixed. However, I have learned to look at the positive side of it- your salary is not fixed and you can make as much as you can.
Freelancing gives you the opportunity to weave the life you want for yourself. You love the work that you, and the results show in your Good Work. And the flexibility with which you work, empowers you to live a Good Life.