“When you’re accepting a job is the time to question the fine details”

Creative Career Conundrums is a weekly advice column from If You Could Jobs. Each week their selected panel of professionals from the creative industry answers your burning career questions to help you navigate the creative journey.

This week’s question:

I’m currently working in a job that has an outright freelancing ban written into the contract. All freelancing jobs must also be brought in-house for consideration, even if they’re not taken up on.

When I questioned this, I was told this is the “industry standard”. However, the more people I talk to, the more I realise that this doesn’t seem to be the case.

I understand poaching clients from your full-time job or not bringing a large freelance job to the company can raise ethical concerns. So too would staying up freelancing half the night only to show up to your full-time job shattered, but how bad is it to take on an odd job here or there to keep skills sharp and earn a few extra quid in the process?

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

Katie Cadwell, co-founder of branding studio Lucky Dip and The NDA Podcast:

Thanks for the interesting question – I bet a lot of people come up against the same issue. It’s certainly not ‘industry standard’ but I have heard of it happening. I’m not 100% sure of the motives behind studios stopping freelance, perhaps the fear of talent being poached. Or divided attention.

To start with, I think you need a frank conversation. Set up a meeting and bring some notes to clarify what you mean when you say you want to freelance — and what that looks like for you.

Draw up some boundaries.

It shouldn’t be for other agencies; shouldn’t be jobs big enough to go through the studio; or be for any client competitors. Make it clear you’re not trying to have a second job or get burnt out juggling both.

Clarify what your reasons are.

Why are you freelancing? If it’s for friends & family, then that’s your prerogative. A decorator is allowed to paint their own house after all. If it’s for self-development, brilliant! Tell them that. It only stands to benefit them if you’re upskilling in your own time. If it’s for the extra income, then I’d tell them that too. Especially during a cost of living crisis, I defy someone to stop you from doing what you need to survive. It does beg the question if you’re being paid enough if you need to supplement your salary…

Ask them their reasons, it may be they’re worried about something I haven’t covered here — and perhaps this can serve as some advice to anyone reading. Check over your employment contract for things like this. Another classic watchout is whether you can feature studio work in your portfolio. When you’re accepting a job is the time to question the fine details.

In answering your creative career conundrums we realise that some issues need expert support, so we’ve collated a list of additional resources that can support you across things that might arise at work.

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