Freelancer finds his own way

“Thanks to being a freelancer, I am constantly improving my skills. Not only am I financially independent, but I can also help my family and expand my social network,” said Le Ich My (22 years old, from Thua Thien – Hue).

Opportunities intertwine with challenges

America is a freelance illustrator, known as Lim.

Having identified his passion since childhood, My chose to study at the University of Architecture in Da Nang and started illustrating in 2020. After only 4 years, his "assets" are quite a few projects for famous computer and milk tea brands. Interestingly, they are all done online. My does not confine himself to a specific workspace, because for him, keeping in touch with customers is important. Thanks to his comfortable mentality, he is inspired to be creative, thereby improving work efficiency.

Le Ich My believes that young people who work as freelancers will practice good discipline, even if there is no boss or colleagues around, they still have to be aware of completing tasks.

Huynh Khanh Luan (21 years old) was recruited as a web programmer at Neo Prototype Company (Canada) from mid-2023. The software engineering student said that this was lucky, because even though he worked remotely, all contacts between the company and employees were very convenient. "I have access to new knowledge about artificial intelligence and improved my English communication skills" - Luan said. Thanks to a stable income, Luan can pay his own tuition and cover living expenses without depending on his family. Due to the time zone difference between the two countries, he just needs to cleverly arrange things so as not to affect his health and studies, especially when meeting online.

Like many other freelancers, computers and smart devices are indispensable to Khanh Luan.

Constantly renew yourself

Geographical barriers have gradually been eliminated, creating conditions for freelancers to become an indispensable part of the labor market. Nguyen Vu An (living in Ho Chi Minh City) has worked for more than 7 years in large and small companies at many different levels before turning to become a full-time freelancer. This choice is suitable for the personality and desires of the 9x guy. An said that it is the relationships and successes from old projects that contribute to opening the way for many new projects that match his strengths and goals. An has achieved success when designing products for foreign companies such as ReShare App (Australia), Subtrux Marketplace (Australia), Wylde App (Australia), EventCHI App (Netherlands)... Compared to his previous office job, freelancing helps him explore his potential. Nguyen Vu An realizes: Being passionate about design and knowledgeable about technology is an advantage, but one cannot neglect updating new knowledge if one wants to continue creating products that bring long-term value to the public.

Vu An increasingly positions himself clearly, he believes: "If the motivation comes from love, believe that every decision will always be right."

For Le Ich My, his dream is to become a famous illustrator and be known by many customers. He is willing to join a certain company to accumulate knowledge and experience. Khanh Luan is continuing to improve his foreign language skills to confidently coordinate with international partners and boldly seize job opportunities in the international labor market in the future.

According to the General Statistics Office, by 2025, Gen Z is expected to account for 1/3 of the working-age population in Vietnam and will have a great impact on domestic labor trends. This is a special human resource, with very different thinking and needs compared to previous generations. Their level of ambition, creativity, and independence is higher, and freelancers are the ideal choice for many Gen Z. Common reasons are: freelancers have flexible control over their work, can choose their favorite projects, can work on many projects at the same time depending on productivity, and are free to try new things. On the other hand, the opportunity to work for international companies while still living in the country is even more attractive to many people. Even without close supervision from managers, freelancers need to have a sense of responsibility, develop their working ability, continuously self-study and improve their skills to handle work effectively. Freelancers often do not have welfare policies, health insurance policies, social insurance policies or specific labor contracts, so young people need to be careful when negotiating work to avoid disadvantages.