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Retirement planning is typically framed around full-time employment. 401(k)s or pension plans are attractive benefits for people in the corporate world. Those people can open their monthly statements and watch their retirement accounts grow steadily over time. But for the 16.8 million people in the U.S. who are self-employed (myself included), retirement planning looks different. Over the past two years, 1.4 million people have turned to self-employment. Whether thats due to layoffs, voluntary quitting, or other reasons, the number is steadily increasingand there arent a lot of resources available for people trying to figure out retirement planning on their own. While retirement is not something self-employed people can ignore, the whole concept of ending work on a certain date and drawing money from your retirement accounts may not be what some people have in mind. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} The traditional retirement model doesnt apply If youre self-employed, you know a lot of factors can make retirement savings tricky. Your income is irregular, you forego a 401(k) plans employer match, and the process to make contributions might be more manual. When I first became self-employed a few years ago, retirement was something I started thinking about in the first year. However, I also spent more than 15 years working in the banking industry, so it was no surprise that finances were on my mind. I had to research a solo 401(k), figure out how to open the account, and start making contributions when I could. But as Ive watched my little self-employed 401(k) grow over the years, Ive also wondered: Am I even working toward the same retirement goal I had when I was working a corporate job? Or have my financial needs in retirement changed? Redefining a retirement lifestyle Ive known many people in my life who have literally counted the days until retirement. They couldnt wait to stop working. By contrast, many self-employed people love their workespecially creatives. Its an integral part of their identities. Im a freelance writer, so does retirement mean I . . . stop writing? Its hard to imagine. Retirement feels like a fuzzy concept. As self-employed people look into the future, retirement might look less like a full stop and more like a slow down or akin to selective work. It may include passion projects, consulting, or mentoringbut not giving up work altogether. With this in mind, the retirement calculation is different. Rather than assuming you have zero income during retirement, you instead consider that youd have less income. Planning for an undefined ending You wont have an office retirement party. No one will give you an engraved watch or clock celebrating your years of service with a company. (But, by all means, get yourself a gift!) Without a particular end date in mind, think instead of how you might step backand at what age? Its important to intentionally plan what you want your next chapters to look like. Retirement for the self-employed requires more self-direction, but you also get to define your own path. You already did that once, when you started your own business. You can do that again as you plan for retirement. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
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If you dont get the job, you have nothing to lose by asking for feedback.
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Back in 2023, social media management platform Buffer wrote a blog post about how it had received 1,518 applicants for a single role on its marketing team. While thats a jaw-dropping number, its a common occurrence for companies with well-paying jobs that boast a great company culture. In the present job market, many job seekers are discouraged knowing theyre competing against hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants. For some roles, a résumé will only get you so far. A personal brand helps you stand out before you ever apply for a job, making the application process tip in your favor. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"blue","redirectUrl":""}} You can break out of the résumé mold Résumés often have very prescriptive formats. Youve probably heard the common advice: Keep it to one page, highlight your accomplishments, make it easy to read. These days, résumés are often fed directly into an applicant tracking systemso any creativity is stripped, and a résumé reviewer only sees text. Yet many companies have a required field on their applications: the URL of your LinkedIn profile. This is where you can shine. Anyone can have a polished headshot, colorful banner, and interesting headline. But you can set yourself apart with a compelling About section, links to projects in the Featured section, and recommendations from former colleagues. Your LinkedIn profile is like your résumé with a microphone. Instead of passively waiting for someone to review your work, youre amplifying it. Of course, to do this, you need to create content. Start with a small, manageable posting schedule LinkedIn can be a very intimidating place, especially if youve never shared content there before. The feed is full of people who are Excited to announce a new job or want to tell you how to “10x your career.” One Gen Z user referred to LinkedIn as the overachievers Facebook in an article for the New York Post. Creating content is a way to showcase your personality in a way that your résumé and profile cant. You dont have to set out to be an influencer, but you can share relevant experiences from your careerand even a peek into your personal interests (if youre comfortable doing so). I started with one post per week, sharing anything work-related that popped into my head. I had no particular goal in mind, but recognized that LinkedIn was the platform where work and opportunities happen. Eventually, I started becoming more strategic and shared content that showcased my expertise and personality, but not until my weekly writing habit was well-established. You can bypass gatekeepers and make connections A personal brand will open doors in a way that a résumé wont. In an intense job market, you need anything and everything that distinguishes you from other job seekers. With a personal brand, you can make connections with potential hiring managers and rely on those connections when applying for a job. Do this before you apply. Start connecting with people in your industry or at companies youd like to work for. Engage with them and continue posting content. When a role opens up, you can apply and also send a DM saying: Hey! Just wanted to let you know that I applied for XYZ role. Really excited about the opportunity. It might move your résumé to the top of the pile. Significant attention A personal brand might also bring offers directly to youwithout needing to apply. You might catch the attention of hiring managers or recruiters who will reach out with potential opportunities. Im self-employed, so my experience isnt the same as a traditional job seeker. Still, I can attest that I get a significant amount of attention on LinkedIn after several years of building a personal brand. Connections have brought opportunities my way that I would not have had otherwise. Because of my content, people know who I am, understand what I do, and trust that my personal brand matches my work ethic. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"blue","redirectUrl":""}}
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