Back in September, I covered a story that positioned entrepreneurship as the new "safe" job. Last night, while catching up with an old colleague from my pre-freelancing days, the topic of job security and solopreneurship came up once again. Should we all go start businesses? Based on my experience, I'm inclined to say yes. Only after breaking away from the "traditional" work paradigm was I able to gain control of my schedule, have a bigger say in my compensation, and direct my professional growth. Doing these things has required a bit of initiative and excellent time management, but it's made all the difference in how I've fared since 2008 (and especially since 2010) versus my fellow millennial friends.
It's no secret that the millennial unemployment rate is atrocious. As of January 2013, it was 13.1 percent -- significantly higher than the 7.9 percent overall unemployment rate. And that's not counting the dozens of friends I know with college and postgraduate degrees who are technically employed, but are working at jobs that require a high school diploma (retail, restaurants and clerical work for friends).
Sure, not everyone can be an entrepreneur. I can't help but wonder, though, if everyone should consider freelance or contract work.
