Life as a Freelance Assessor
Once you have qualified as an Assessor there are many job prospects and opportunities out there, lucky for you! From being a Work-Based Tutor at one end of the pay scale to a Curriculum Manager at the other end, the world is your oyster. Or if you really fancy a complete career change and donât feel like heading back to the 9-5, you could always look at freelancing.
Many parents turn to assessing as a career because of the freedom and flexibility that it provides. By going freelance you can create a work routine that suits your lifestyle and commitments.
Things To Consider
If you are going to become a freelance Assessor, motivation and organisation are essential. You may find yourself working for several companies at one time, so you need to be able to stay on top of your workload. You also need to be clear from the outset whether you have to work certain hours for the company, or are in charge of your own diary.
Another thing to think about is pay. There are lots of different options when it comes to freelance assessing. You can be paid per hour, per learner, per visit, or per assignment marked. If you work as a freelance Independent Assessor, you can also assess other parts of an apprenticeship such as an NVQ. This opens up a lot of opportunities and gives you the option of a more varied role.
As a freelancer, you will also be responsible for filing your own invoices and self-assessment for Tax and National Insurance. It is always a good idea to speak to a local accountant to help you out with this!
Where To Find Freelance Positions
Some freelance positions are short-term, and are just required for holiday or maternity cover, but others can be longer-term. The caseload for assessors tends to fluctuate, so you may just be called upon when a company goes through a busy period.
The best place to find positions like these are on LinkedIn, which is a very important place for newly qualified assessors. LinkedIn is a platform for professionals to network and connect with the right people in your industry. There are also lots of LinkedIn Groups specific to NVQ assessors, where you can receive notifications of relevant job vacancies.
A Day In The Life
We have recently posted a blog called âA Day In The Life of a Childcare Assessorâ so you can gain a real insight into what freelance assessing involves. It means that you can really see whether becoming a freelance assessor is going to be the right decision for you. For example, if you are not a fan of driving and being away from home for a few hours each day, you may want to look at full-time positions instead.
We hope this has been useful for you, and if you are interested in becoming a freelance assessor, the best course for you to enrol on is the Level 3 Certificate In Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA). We are always at the end of the phone if you would like any other help, so give us a call on 01205 805 155.
Steve is a Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
He provides Educational Consultancy to the 19+ sector as well as being an Assessor, IQA, EPA and Digital Marketing Professional. When not doing any of these he finds time, every now and then, to write blogs and articles.