For Jan S., Outlier paves the way to full-time freelancing
From his home in Prague, in "the middle of Europe," as he proudly notes, Jan S. is methodically building a bridge to a new professional future. Working part-time at a technical university while simultaneously cultivating freelance opportunities through Outlier, he represents a growing segment of the workforce transitioning from traditional employment to the flexibility of independent contracting.
"I actually plan to leave my current job as a full-time employee," Jan explains. "I don't see much more potential for personal growth." But making such a transition requires careful planning, especially given his family responsibilities. "I've got a wife. We might have babies. So once I will really feel settled or secured, I can make that move."
Jan's journey with Outlier began when he was among the first contributors to join a Czech language project. His progression from contributor to reviewer to quality manager (QM) happened organically as the platform recognized his talent and dedication.
What makes his story particularly interesting is his background — Jan works part-time at a technical university managing data that’s used to train safety systems for autonomous cars. The parallels between his university work with LIDAR systems and his Outlier contribution to large language models aren't lost on him.
"I like these kinds of jobs," he says, highlighting his natural affinity for quality control and process management. Jan's methodical approach to his career transition reflects his analytical mindset. "My goal is to find long-term contracted jobs as a freelancer," he explains, noting that he's currently juggling several smaller projects in addition to his work with Outlier.
Beyond his own contributions, Jan has dedicated time to help connect others with Outlier opportunities, seeking out mathematics, physics, and computer science students at Czech technical universities.
"I think that's the right place to target — students who are skilled and have interest," he says. "Let's try to give them part-time work with actual good money."
While Jan considers himself very experienced in terms of understanding large language models, his experience has made him both appreciative and cautious.
"I am intrigued by autonomous systems like safety systems in cars," he notes, "but when it comes to large language models in general, there’s still work to be done." His wife, a teacher, provides him with firsthand accounts of students submitting AI-generated work, which has deepened his interest in the responsible development and use of these technologies.
"Perhaps that pushed me more to dig into these models and work as a trainer from the contributor side," he reflects. "I see a bright future with this."
As Jan continues to build his freelance portfolio, he appreciates the stability and connections that Outlier provides. "I'm happy that I can connect to real people," he says, noting how rare that can be with large companies.
For Jan, Outlier represents not just a source of income, but a stepping stone toward a more fulfilling, independent career — one where his skills in quality management and process optimization can truly shine.
