Not every graduate has plans to, or wants to, develop a large business or has the good fortune or opportunity to secure a job in their chosen career sector. Freelancing can be an excellent way of generating work and developing work opportunities for an individual as well as building a professional CV. Freelancing is also a great solution for businesses because it enables them to tap into graduate level skills on a short term basis, as well as enabling the graduate to build a portfolio of clients and experience.

Sometimes, when the perfect job opportunity isn’t out there freelancing can be a great way of using your skills and experience to gain short term contracts with companies and could even be the start of a new business! Instead of being paid through a PAYE payroll system, you will be responsible for invoicing the client for your work, and paying your own tax and national insurance contributions via a self-assessed tax return. You can do this by registering as self-employed. Visit the HM Revenue & Customs website to find out more on how and when to register as self-employed, why you need to register for a tax return, the information you will need to do so and what will happen after you’ve registered. Successful freelancers are able to work across many organisations, are their own bosses and are able to specialise in particular skill sets.