freelance
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freelance
Relating to self-employed work in which you are not permanently employed by one employer, but instead take on assignments from different clients or companies.
Nach mehreren Jahren in der Agentur arbeitet sie jetzt freiberuflich als Grafikerin.
After several years at the agency, she now works freelance as a graphic designer.
The word combines 'frei' (free) and 'beruflich' (professional/related to one's occupation). It describes a professional activity that is 'free' from a fixed employment contract.
Als freiberuflicher Programmierer kann er von überall auf der Welt arbeiten.
As a freelance programmer, he can work from anywhere in the world.
'Freiberuflich' (freelance) can stand as an adverb after a verb, as a predicative adjective with 'sein' (to be), or as an attributive adjective before a noun.
Er arbeitet seit fünf Jahren freiberuflich.
He has been working freelance for five years.
The term is often used for professions in the fields of creativity, consulting, or media. Typical examples are 'freiberuflicher Journalist' (freelance journalist), 'freiberufliche Grafikerin' (freelance graphic designer), or 'freiberuflicher Übersetzer' (freelance translator).
Viele Journalisten arbeiten heute freiberuflich für verschiedene Zeitungen.
Many journalists today work freelance for different newspapers.
self-employed / independent
Selbstständig generally refers to working professionally on one’s own account and responsibility. Freiberuflich is narrower and applies when someone takes on assignments for different clients without having a permanent position. Someone who works freiberuflich is therefore also selbstständig, but not every self-employed activity is described this way.
Mara arbeitet freiberuflich und gestaltet Bücher für verschiedene Verlage.
Mara works freelance and designs books for various publishers.
Mara arbeitet selbstständig und führt ihr eigenes kleines Geschäft.
Mara is self-employed and runs her own small business.
