2024-02-16 10:30:18
Mentalities are changing, as are needs. The emotional upheaval caused by the pandemic made us think, opened us to other possibilities, and other desires. The engineering sector – like all others – followed. Trends and the quest for independence are pushing engineers to strike out on their own. Let’s discover industry 4.0 and its revolutionized professions…
Freelance engineers are now “digital nomads”
Via the digitalization of the economy and the development of new technologies, work processes and communication are now swallowed up throughout the digital industry: remote collaboration is enough. Freelance engineers can now work with clients all over the world, from their office and even from home. So why deprive yourself ? Being self-employed brings a certain flexibility. As said in the introduction, the freelance engineers are looking for a certain freedom. Freedom of schedules, locations of intervention, missions and clients. We are obviously talking about work-life balance and (above all) personal development!
Freelancing powered by digital platforms
We mentioned it a little earlier, today’s tools make it easier to connect. In addition to approaching their own clients, engineers can also be recruited via specialized platforms. The explosion of these networking sites has played an essential role in the evolution of these professions. Note that initially, these platforms mainly targeted professionals linked to the IT sector. Then little by little a whole list of sectors was added, including engineering. Among them, we find one of the main actors, we have named freelance-engineering.fr.
The challenges for a freelance engineer
Learn, manage, and grow in the profession
In addition to running their business, freelance engineers are exposed to a wider range of technical challenges in many fields. They can both work on multiple small projects (generally mastered), but also larger projects (where knowledge is not always acquired). Freelance engineers are thus exposed to new technologies, new work frameworks and new technical fields. Learning and self-training are therefore essential. Humility (and curiosity) too. The advantage is that every day is different and the engineer can quickly improve their skills. With each new project, he expands his knowledge and shapes his experience. Over time, this ability to adapt coupled with seniority makes freelance engineers very versatile and competent.
Develop your own professional network
The bad side of freelancing is loneliness. Freelance engineers sometimes find themselves helpless on certain subjects. We are obviously talking about commercial prospecting, but also about business assistance. To overcome this situation, it is important to be well surrounded. Building your own network is essential. The goal is to surround yourself with professionals whose job it is! To do this, chambers of trades and associations can help entrepreneurs make a name for themselves and manage all aspects of a company. The solution is to network to find clients, but also allies!
Ensure administrative and financial management
Finally, let’s talk about legal and accounting issues. Working as a freelancer also involves managing all the administrative procedures related to your activity yourself. For business creation, social and tax declarations, invoicing, and many other data, it is possible to get support. If the person is not comfortable with these questions, getting support from an accountant (or training) may then be relevant.
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