Freelance or in-house… where to go next in user research?
Which user research track should you choose?
There is no right way to get into user research or one perfect next step on the journey. Whether you are just starting or have been in the field for years, there is no “correct” place for a given level of experience. There is no template for the perfect career path. We are user researchers, and we come from a large variety of backgrounds. Our paths will be just as varied.
I have questioned this next step frequently, to be honest. I am a classic “grass-is-always-greener” case. When I am an in-house researcher, I long for the days of freelance, and when I’m a freelancer, I wish for a stable 9–5. I transitioned between these two roles in the past seven years and, I must say, I love both for their reasons. The choice depends so much on:
- What your goals are
- What you want out of your role
- Your level of experience
- How comfortable you are in different environments
I will talk about the pros/cons of both sides. This article talks about my experience I have had in both roles. I want to provide as much guidance as possible for those who are asking themselves this question. However, my experience may be very different from yours, or you might disagree. In that case, go for it! Try new things and report back!
In-house researcher
I, personally, have come to love being an in-house user researcher. Creating your schedule and working for yourself is fun. However, I love the distinct impact of working in-house. Here are my favorite parts of working in a company as a full-time user researcher:
- Working consistently with the same product. Although some may see this concept as a con (which I explain below), I love it. I love watching the product I’m working on evolving. When I am in-house, I can see my direct impact on this product, which is why I became a user researcher. I watch the pain points of users melt away as we improve. It is very gratifying to see how you have helped shape a product through research.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of an industry. Learning about an industry is fantastic as it allows you to understand your users deeply. You can generate profound insights about who uses your product and what the motivations might be. I loved becoming an expert on hospitality, social media management (SaaS), and e-commerce. It helped me contextualize my learnings from research into an enormous scope.
- Learning how to work on and impact a team. You can learn how to work on a team and how to help that team along with user research. Working with others helps you learn how to pitch the value of user research to different roles. Your process becomes your own as you work through how to integrate user research into an organization. You can also try new and creative methods of introducing and reporting on research.
- Mentorship. Mentorship and proper management aren’t a given, but you are likely to find a manager to guide you. When you have someone to help you, you can learn and develop much more than on your own. They will teach you how to navigate the world of user research properly. A built-in mentor (through a manager)is hands down the biggest pro of being an in-house researcher
- Receiving a stable paycheck. I love getting paid. I also love getting paid the same amount at the same time every single month. I know how much I will get and when it will drop into my bank account. I can count on my paycheck. Even if it isn’t “enough,” I still know it will be there and how to budget around it.
And, of course, there is the other side of the coin. Here are the cons of having an in-house research role:
- Getting stuck in company politics. There is nothing more that I hate than getting sucked into company politics. This can happen if you are working in the same company long-term. It creates tunnel vision. You can no longer see things for what they are but, instead, through a lens of who said what, who was upset, and who pissed someone else off.
- No set working schedule. There are days when I wake up early, ready to work by 7 am. And there are days when I couldn’t be bothered to open my email until after lunch. Some days I don’t want to talk to or see another human. Having to be at work during certain hours can be a drag.
- Same sh*t, different day. The same job with the same people can sometimes be monotonous. You can feel like you are getting nowhere despite the work you are putting in and can get boring.
As a junior, I would recommend an agency or in-house with a user research team and a strong user research manager. These positions will help you develop your skills much faster and further than on your working through freelance.
Freelance researcher
Freelancing can be a lot of fun, and something is alluring about being a freelancer. Although I did freelance for some time in New York City, and I did love it, I default to in-house. Here are some of the things I loved about freelancing:
- Variety of projects. With freelancing, you hop between different projects. You get three months in one place, maybe six months at another, and others might only need you for a few weeks. You are continually working on new ideas and products. This feeling can be refreshing and exciting.
- Seeing how different organizations operate. It is incredible to see how various organizations structure themselves and how they integrate user research. You get to see a variety of teams and their ways of working. Having these experiences can help you apply user research to a diverse set of situations.
- Understanding different industries. Jumping around projects also means jumping around sectors. You can spend a few weeks in e-commerce, a few months in academia, and then some in payments. You will see B2C, B2B, B2B2C companies and understand how user research fits into the puzzle of these.
- Flexible working. You don’t have to be in an office at a specific time every day of the working week. I loved being able to get groceries on a Monday when everyone was at work. Working for yourself means setting your schedule and “unlimited” vacation.
And cons to consider:
- Dealing with health insurance and taxes. I hate paperwork. And I loathe paperwork that I don’t understand. When you are freelancing, there is a lot of paperwork that isn’t easy to understand. You have to deal with your health insurance and taxes, which can get complicated. It is time-consuming and arduous.
- Not a stable source of income. Not having a guaranteed paycheck is one of the hardest parts of being a freelancer. Contracts and jobs can fall through at the last minute, and people can ghost you. Nothing is ever as secure as you would find in an in-house role. Also, you may have to chase people to pay you for work you did.
- Unsure of your impact. Since you are jumping around different projects and companies, you never know if your work will be used. You might put a lot of effort into research to never see the changes come through on the company’s side. You leave a lot up to them, which can feel frustrating.
- Marketing yourself constantly. To get work, you have to market yourself through networking events, reaching out to recruiters, and talking to others in the field. During these times, it can be hard to have a normal conversation since you are selling yourself all the time. This constant search for another contract or temporary role can get exhausting.
- Blurry work/life balance. When I was freelancing, I would do a lot of work from home. This meant that I sometimes turned on the TV at 2 pm, making me wildly unproductive. Or, other days, I would be working late into the night. Like we are all facing with remote work now, it can be hard to find a balance when you are working from home.
- It can be lonely. This experience might be me, but I could feel quite isolated. There were days when I didn’t speak to another human. There was no chit chat by the coffee machine or shared lunches. I couldn’t make “work friends.” This feeling wore down on me.
Looking for freelance user research work? Guess what! It’s the same as looking for a full-time job. You have to apply different search criteria. Here are a few ways I recommend:
- Job boards (ex: LinkedIn) and use the filters for contact or temporary work
- Slack channels
- Networking and word-of-mouth
A note on agency life
Agency lifestyle means you will be working on different projects, brands, and teams, which is attractive in gathering a lot of experience. However, agencies are less likely to do in-depth discovery research, and you aren’t as likely to follow through with the product/brand to make sure the analysis is actioned on or continued. Sometimes an agency is a happy medium between in-house and freelance!
My biggest advice for those just starting is to go in-house or agency. A lot of freelance roles will be for mid-level or senior user researchers because they have to come into a company and do things pretty quickly. Often, you won’t get a lot of guidance, and the company will be in a difficult spot with user research. This is super hard for someone junior to tackle!
Don’t force or rush into any of these if they don’t feel right. I promise you will have the opportunity to try all of them throughout your career if you’d like. Overall, the path is up to you!
