More and more often you can hear the phrase: "I work as a freelancer!" And although literally a dozen years ago such a profession did not exist in Russia, today it is not so rare. Therefore, for those who ask the question: “Freelancers - who are they?” - and this article is written.
A bit of history
If you translate this word into Russian, then the answer to the question: "Freelancers ... Who are they?" - there will be a strange combination that sheds a little light on the mentioned question. After all, the English word "freelancer" means "free spearman" or "hired, free lancer". To define a word in the detachment of neologisms is also impossible for us, because it arose even in the days of Walter Scott. For the first time "freelancer" appears in his novel "Ivanhoe". Here you have a new word! And indeed, initially it was the medieval mercenaries who were called “freelancers”. Who are these, our modern “free lancers”?
Modern meaning
It would be more correct to call such an employee a “freeworker,” since spearmen now practically do not exist. The first part of the word means "freedom, will." It is she who is fundamental. So freelancers - who are they? The answer can be short: these are people working remotely for whom there is no obligation to personally visit the workplace (office, office) and a clear work schedule. Some in the explanations indicate that freelance involves a temporary amount of work. However, this is no longer an indisputable fact. Today there are a lot of Internet exchanges, sites where long-term contracts are concluded with freelancers, “free lancers” can be drawn up at the place of residence as an emergency or private entrepreneur, pay taxes and so on.
Free artist
Even before the penetration of the Internet into all areas of our lives, “free artists” began to appear - people of creative professions who did not want or could not serve in any particular place. And it was not only people involved in the visual arts, that is, not only artists or sculptors. This also included writers and poets, musicians and composers, singers, dancers, architects and representatives of many other professions. Of course, not everyone has the opportunity to create only for the sake of art. And to be sure that your work will be in demand, bought out and will give a good, and most importantly, stable income, is impossible. And often the geniuses who embarked on this path died in poverty, never knowing real glory and not receiving the recognition of the people. Perhaps the most stable was the position held by a freelance journalist, with whom some kind of agreement was concluded.
Stability of current freelancers
But time passes, and everything changes, often for the better. Today, in order to become a freelancer, it is not necessary to be a genius. It is enough to know your business perfectly, to be able to work on the Internet and be a responsible person. You can offer through the Internet or a newspaper the services of a book designer in the editorial office, printing house or private person, provided that there is artistic talent. You can contract to perform proofreading or provide translation services - if knowledge of the language allows. The freelance programmer, site creator and developer, administrator and moderator, rewriter and copywriter are in great demand today. Without even knowing anything at all, you can become a freelancer and earn some money only by regularly giving answers to various profiles on the Internet or simply “poking” buttons when accessing these sites in order to increase their traffic. It is difficult to agree that this work is simple. But regular income, even a small one, will not hurt anyone.