How to Articulate Your Desire to Quit and Freelance without Burning Bridges

Transitioning from a full-time job to a freelance role is a significant professional move, often influenced by the desire for more flexibility, better compensation, or personal growth. However, telling your current employer is a delicate matter that requires careful planning and communication.

Freelancing: A Shift from Full-Time Employment

Freelancing involves leaving a full-time job and setting up as an independent contractor, leveraging years of experience as your primary asset. Some people practice freelancing as a supplementary income or a growing side hustle. The goal is to establish a reliable income stream that can support you both financially and professionally.

When the freelance income becomes substantial, you will need to approach your work more seriously, ensuring new revenue channels are established. Always diversify your clients and income sources to avoid dependency on a single customer. Dependency on one client can have severe consequences, especially if they discontinue their business relationship. Regularly track your expenses, use professional accounting services for tax advice, and always ensure timely tax payments to avoid legal complications with government authorities.

Communicating Resignation to Your Employer

If you are planning to resign from your current job to start a freelance business, understanding the potential outcomes is crucial. Your former employer may:

Try to rehire you, potentially acquiring valuable information from you. Choose not to consider you for future contracts.

Unfortunately, your chances of obtaining a good reference from the company might be slim unless you possess highly desirable skills.

A more strategic approach is to approach your boss and request a raise, backed by research from comparable positions at other companies. This demonstrates your value and can benefit your transition.

Freelancing within Your Current Employer’s Parameters

Under certain circumstances, you might be allowed to continue freelancing for your current employer. This is more common if your current employment contract permits you to do so. However, most employers do not typically welcome this arrangement, as it essentially means you are working for yourself while they bear the risk of hiring a self-employed contractor. Always check your employment contract for such clauses.

Strategizing Your Freelance Transition

Before making the final decision to resign and freelance, ensure you have laid the groundwork:

Conduct thorough research on starting your business, including revenue forecasts, target client profiles, market analysis, and marketing strategies. Identify areas where you overlap with your current employer’s services and areas where you can provide additional support. Determine the primary reason for your career change. Secure a strong position from which you can operate without revealing your true intentions. Only once your new venture is successful, should you inform your boss about your freelance plans.

When you decide to leave, if your relationship with your current boss is positive, you can share your plans. However, do not express enthusiasm or ask for a chance. Simply explain that you would be “able to provide those services externally.”

Any other approach may result in termination, blacklisting, and damage to your professional reputation.

It's important to understand that your former employer's chief concern is their own financial security. Sometimes, a shift in focus from your full commitment to your company to your own needs can be seen as a betrayal.

To be clear, I am advocating for an ethical, strategic path that does not reveal your intentions and allows you to proceed from a position of strength.

By carefully planning and executing your transition, you can enhance your professional prospects while maintaining valuable professional relationships.