As of today, I’m a freelance translator again. My own little business is back, and today is my first day at work again. I’m back at IBM, and enjoying the familiarity and calm atmosphere. I work four days a week, leaving one day to do other things and socialise.
As I indicated before, I didn’t enjoy being a freelance translator that much. I longed for a solid job which would cover illness, retirement, etc. An ex-colleague from IBM asked me if I wanted to work for a company in Zoetermeer. Not having any freelance work at that point and being quite desperate for job security, I took the job very quickly.
While the job itself was ok, wages were a lot lower than I was used to while working as a freelancer, and the salary I got still didn’t include a retirement plan. I didn’t really mind at first, though. I had very nice colleagues, the location was awesome (it’s a farmhouse) and the work was a challenge. I learned to communicate very quickly (phone calls and e-mails mostly) and to be more assertive (taking over tasks and initiating communications about them).
But the stress of the job got to me. And then there was the fact that I had a boss to report to (or rather two, including my boss’s husband). I didn’t respond well to authority, in particular when they started to change the rules. I don’t want to go into more details here, since it’s not wise. The changes were enough to make me want to go back to my freelance life, though, so that’s what I did. We agreed that they’ll hire me as a freelance translator when needed, so that gives me another customer to add to my list.
The experience taught me a lot. First of all, apparently I do not like commitment to a steady job as much as I thought I would. Also, I need a job that will allow me to keep a social life on the side, which this job left me no space for whatsoever. Oh, and I really like money, more than I cared to admit to.
And, without me realising it, IBM has become a place I return to gladly.