Self-employment, however, is not without its challenges. A person who has spend a major portion of his or her life working for others will be overwhelmed by the challenges offered by self-employment. If you can overcome the difficulties, however, you will have found a highly rewarding career.

When people consider self-employment, they think in terms of working at their own pace in the comfort of their own home offices. To a certain extent, this is true. A self-employed person, sometimes, has to work longer than he or she bargained for. Self-employed individuals also require a high degree of motivation, the ability to stick to goals, and make quality decisions in a short time. They also find themselves responsible for paying their social security, medicare, and quarterly taxes. At the same time, they enjoy the immense freedom to build and develop their careers according to their wish. The bonus of being self-employed is that many of the expenses they make are tax deductible.

Make a careful study of the various pros and cons of self-employment before jumping into it. You can use resources such as books, workshops, seminars, and websites. You will realize that you have a lot to learn about working by yourself–from dealing with the solitariness of your home office to the collection of debts. You will have to learn about how to lower tax burdens and to minimise expenditure until you really start making a profit. Join an organization or group of the self-employed. It is a rich source of information about the life of self-employed people, a place where you can garner information right from the horse’s mouth.

According to a popular belief, older people usually adapt well to a self-employed life. They possess the knowledge and experience to do so and are also tough enough to handle the trials and tribulations of the self-employed. However, one cannot generalize. Younger people are equally qualified to become self-employed. With their enthusiasm and energy, they are more likely to put in more hours and work for the success of their company.

There are some things that you should avoid and never ask a recruiter.

Don’t Cross the Line

Recruiters are usually warm and friendly – but don’t be over friendly with them, as it is their job to put you at ease and guide you through the hiring process. They are true professionals and not your colleagues or friends, and it is crucial that you don’t forget this. Think of the recruiter as a respected person in the company and treat them accordingly.

You can be friendly with them, but never over friendly. It is always wise to keep some things confidential; therefore, don’t disclose anything that is not applicable to the job at hand. Recruiters aren’t really interested in what clubs you belong to or if you are a single mom – so keep these things to yourself.

Career Coaching

The recruiter’s job is to guide you through the hiring process of specific companies. Recruiters are not career coaches, so it is inappropriate to ask them to guide you with writing a cover letter or resume. You have the freedom to ask them about the company in general, but keep your questions related to the specific job that you are discussing.

Save your more detailed questions for the hiring manager, as that’s the person you will ultimately have to impress.

Insider Information

It is absolutely OK to ask the recruiter how many other candidates are being considered for the position that you are applying for. In fact, they are probably expecting you to ask. If you don’t ask this question, you run the risk of looking uninterested or unambitious.

Recruiters are used to fielding questions from candidates about the competition they face – so don’t disappoint them.
Don’t Expect Too Much

Though you may wish to be treated as special, you are not probably the only candidate for the job. Many recruiters may treat you very well, but that’s their job and they are quite happy to make you comfortable. Their aim is to project your good qualities to the hiring manager. Keep in mind, though, that they work for the employer and their objective is to fill the position – whether with you or someone else.