For the self-employed
Career guidance for the self-employed: direction in your work again
You have been self-employed for some time, but you notice you are getting less satisfaction from your assignments. Perhaps you want to do different work, or you are considering a return to employment. Career guidance helps you work out which work suits you and in what form you want to do it. The focus is on your career, not on increasing your turnover.
Where self-employed people get stuck
As a self-employed professional you decide a great deal yourself, but that does not mean you are always satisfied with your work. These three situations can be a reason to take a fresh look at your career.
Work enough, pleasure gone
You have enough assignments and income, but you get little satisfaction from the work itself. Perhaps you mainly take on assignments that pay well, while you would rather be doing something else. It then makes sense to look at which parts of your work you want to keep and which you want to change.
Doubting between carrying on and employment
You value the independence of running your own business, but you may miss a fixed income, colleagues or cover when you are ill. At the same time, you do not want to give up your freedom lightly. Comparing both options on income, terms of employment and job satisfaction helps you make a better-founded choice.
Self-employed by circumstance
Perhaps you became self-employed because your previous role disappeared, or because a client would only hire you as a freelancer. You have gained experience since then, but you wonder whether running your own business really suits you. Career guidance helps you decide whether to stay self-employed or move into employment.
What career guidance produces
During a programme you map out your qualities, interests and wishes. You look at whether self-employment still suits you and what the alternatives are. You then draw up a plan with concrete steps to organise your work differently or to find a new role.
The guidance is different from business coaching or financial advice. We focus on the content of your work, your personal development and the choice between self-employment and employment. The broader range is on our career coaching page.
From freelance to employment: where do you start?
Start by describing your experience as a self-employed professional. On your CV, list not just your company name but also the assignments you carried out, the types of organisation you worked for and the results you achieved. That makes clear which knowledge and skills you can bring to an employer.
Also prepare for the question of why you want to return to employment. Perhaps you are looking for more collaboration, a fixed income or the chance to develop within one organisation. If you state your reasons clearly, an employer can better judge whether the role suits you. The route in the other direction is covered in starting as a freelancer after outplacement.
| Self-employed | In employment |
|---|---|
| Full control over your diary and your clients | A fixed income, also in a quiet month |
| Your own rate and the margin on it | Pension accrual and cover for illness and disability |
| Variety across several clients | Colleagues and room to progress within one organisation |
| Tax schemes for entrepreneurs | Holiday pay, a training budget and development opportunities through your employer |
What the programme looks like
The programme consists of four steps. A career scan usually runs over a few weeks. A more extensive programme involves more sessions. During the introduction we discuss how much guidance fits your question. You can hold the sessions online or at one of our locations.
Introduction
We discuss why you are looking for guidance, which options you have already explored and what you want to be able to decide by the end of the programme.
What drives you
We map out your qualities, interests and wishes. We also look at which terms of employment and how much independence matter to you.
Testing against the market
We look at which roles or assignments match your experience, and what the different options mean for your income and your work.
A plan with a first step
You draw up a concrete plan with a first action you can carry out within two weeks.
Would you like to explore your options before starting a full programme? Then begin with the career scan.
What it costs, and what you can deduct
A short programme starts at €1,000 excluding VAT. A full programme costs more, depending on the number of sessions and the duration. What that depends on is set out in the cost of career coaching.
As a self-employed professional you may be able to claim the costs as a business expense, provided they qualify as such. Whether that applies in your situation depends on the purpose of the guidance and the tax rules that apply. Discuss this beforehand with your bookkeeper or tax adviser.
From
€1000
for a career scan - tailored options on request
- Often a business expense, check with your bookkeeper
- Transparent rates, no hidden costs
- A programme built around your question
- Online or at one of our locations
- A quick start, usually within a week
Frequently asked questions from the self-employed
Can I deduct career guidance as a business expense?
That is possible if the costs meet the conditions for business deduction. One of the factors is whether the guidance relates to the work you do or want to do. Not every form of career guidance is automatically deductible, so ask your bookkeeper or tax adviser how this works in your situation.
How do I know whether I should stop being self-employed?
Start by looking at why you are in doubt. Is your income structurally too low, do you mainly take on assignments you do not find interesting, or does finding clients cost you a lot of energy? Then employment may be an alternative. If you still enjoy the work itself but your clients or workload no longer suit you, you can also look at how to organise your business differently.
Does this work if I do not want to learn a new trade?
Yes. You do not have to change profession to enjoy your work more. Perhaps you want to take on different assignments, specialise, or do the same work as an employee. During the programme you explore how to use your existing knowledge and experience in a different way.
Can I be guided online?
Yes. You can hold the sessions online and schedule them around your work and client appointments, so there is no need to travel to one of our locations. How that works is covered in online career coaching.
Do you have another question about your career as a self-employed professional? Feel free to get in touch, without obligation.