The first fork
Ten years ago, I was an intern at Buck in LA. I felt like I killed it there. I worked hard, showed my talent off, built quality relationships, asked the right questions, and at the end I earned an offer to go full time. I had just come out of college with a full-time offer from one of the best studios in the world. I made it.
Or so I thought. When the offer actually came, I turned it down. Not because of Buck, and not because of anything wrong with full-time work. My personal goals didn't line up with the requirements of being full time in LA. I had family and friends who meant the world to me and I was commuting almost two hours each way, every weekend, just to see them. I didn't want to live in LA. I didn't want to be working on the same project for months. Were there massive pros to taking that job? Absolutely; but they weren't pros to me. So against the advice of many; including leadership at Buck; I went freelance straight out of college. Never looked back.
Freelance or Full-Time
The second fork
Fast forward. A few years ago when our industry went south (you remember), things got tight at Eido. Projects weren't coming in like they used to. Long-lasting clients were changing their budgeting strategy. The water was drying up. And after grinding through a high volume of low-paying projects, I did what I swore I'd never do; I went in-house at a tech company.
My goals had changed. I had a very real, tangible family to support. And life can be cushy in the tech world; tech full-timers know what I'm talking about. A paycheck without fail. Unlimited PTO. Stock options. Unmatched benefits. Multiple retirement accounts. A monthly stipend. A project manager. Reimbursements. "Creative freedom." There's always something to do, and it's enticing. There were things I absolutely loved about that season. But coming down to the end of my time there, it became obvious; I'm not configured to work in-house. I know too much and it feels like my hands are always tied to do anything about it. If you've been full-time at a tech startup, you may know exactly what I mean.
What I've learned from sitting on both sides
Freelance and full-time are two completely different worlds. They use the same tools. They both require strategy and craft. But the fulfillment you get from either is completely dependent on how you're wired and what your current goals are. The question was never should I go freelance or full-time? The question is which set of requirements matches my life right now?
Because both paths demand something of you. They just demand different things.
Freelance
Pro | Con | |
|---|---|---|
Income | No ceiling; you set your rates. | No floor; dry months are real. |
Creative Control | Total ownership of taste and output. | Clients hire your expertise then ignore your advice. |
Project Flow | You choose what you work on. | Feast or famine; too much or nothing at all. |
Operations | No bureaucracy; you move fast. | You're the PM, accountant, salesperson, and creative. |
Benefits & Safety | Freedom to structure your own safety net. | No PTO, no insurance, no retirement unless you build it. |
Growth | Self-directed; no ladder, no ceiling. | No structure; you have to figure it all out yourself. |
In-House
Pro | Con | |
|---|---|---|
Income | Stable paycheck without fail. | Capped upside; raises are incremental. |
Creative Control | Dedicated creative teams and resources. | Output shaped by company/client vision and needs, not yours. |
Project Flow | Always something to do; consistent pipeline. | You work what's assigned; some boring, some not. |
Operations | Business side is handled; you focus on craft. | Process, approvals, and politics slow everything down. |
Benefits & Safety | PTO, insurance, retirement, stipends; built in. | Security can become a comfort trap that dulls your edge. |
Growth | Structured path with mentorship and resources. | Growth often tied to politics, not performance. |
Neither table is better. One fits your life right now. That's the only honest answer.
If you're early in your career trying to figure out which path is for you, stop asking people what's "better." Start asking yourself what you need right now; and be honest enough to know that the answer might change in five years. Mine did.
Have you had a similar experience? Reply and let me know!
More next week 👋