employment

Last week we wrote about the study conducted by the university of Hagen dealing with similarities and differences between freelance and permanent employees.  The scientists came to the conclusion that freelancers are not less content with their working life than permanent employees.

In the second part of the survey of the university of Hagen the reserchers analyzed where the differences between freelancers and permanent employees are. Therefore in the second part 103 freelancers and permanent employees working in IT, media,training and journalism were surveyed. In the following you will find the most significant points regarding the general level of satisfaction.

Freelancers are less satisfied when it comes to:
1. their work life balance

2. their general life situation

3. their order/booking situation

However freelancers seem to be more content about:
1. their choice of employment

2. their career

3. their salaries

Particularly striking is the difference in how the quality of their activities is viewed by freelancers and permanent employees: freelancers tend to be extraordinarily satisfied in this point.

What are the most important factors motivating freelancers as well as permanent employees?
“Varying tasks” are a motivational factor which is valued higher by permanent employees than by freelancers. Important motivational factors for both groups were “personal responsibility”,  “independence” and “creative work”, the “autonomous time management” as well as the “task itself”. “Status”, “recognition “and “income” seem to be less important.

What is your experience – do you agree with the scientists main results? If you don’t agree what is your point of view?

Based on: elektronikpraxis.vogel.de

In Germany, there are currently about two million people working in a freelance employment – the trend is rising. Is freelance work a higher requirement regarding professional and personal life? The study conducted by psychologists from the University of Hagen is dealing with motivational factors and the question how both handle uncertainty and strain.  Among others the scientists also focused on  IT freelancers. According to the study, freelancers in general and IT freelancers i.e. are mostly contented with their working situation.

Here are some further results of the study:

IT freelancers pursuit economic goals. They are  satisfied with their income and see the flexibility that is required rather as a challenge than as a burden.

The acquisition of projects is not viewed as problematic. The concept of self-promotion is valued highly by the respondents.

None could identify with the stereotype of the lonely freelancer. They can quickly identify with the companies they are working for and see the permanent employees as colleagues. Therefore social skills are very important.

Also freelancers are those who are the ones who could distinguish best between private and professional life.

All in all the researchers came to the conclusion that freelancers are generally satisfied with their working life – still freelancers are confronted with different aspects/obstacles than permanent employees.

What are the differences you have encountered in your freelance working life? In your opinion are freelancers generally more or less content than permanent employees? We are looking forward to your comments.

Based on: elektronikpraxis.vogel.de

“the new york times recently explored trends in the technology jobs market and suggets that significant opportunities only reveal themselves when examining both the available jobs and the underlying trends in demand for skills…”

…read the full article here.