Gone are the days of a public office being a fixed-requirement. Any service that is delivered digitally doesn’t take any traveling to be dispensed. Freelancers have embraced the gig economy for many years, working hard to fulfill a dream of having a job that fulfills you while having no restrictions on the hours that you work, how you work, what you look like when you work, or where you work from. Independent online contractors are available for just about anything that you can think of, and the plethora of potential candidates still aren’t enough for global demand.
What Is The Gig Economy?
The gig economy refers to the ever-expanding network of online platform workers and independent contractors, contract and firm workers operating on the cloud, on-demand workers, and temporary staff. Within this range of talent, collaborative projects, and work delegation thrives. Employers are given access to a range of talent of full-time and part-time staff from around the world from all avenues of business. Employment contracts are usually either per-project, per-task, or per-hour. The gig economy is built on a range of services provided at fixed rates by freelancers and online companies, inter meshed with job offers from existing companies looking for specialized staff.
Why Is The Gig Economy Called The Gig Economy?
Online workers and those delivering on a per-service basis are not paid a salary. Instead, workers are paid on a per “gig” basis. The value of services provided is relative to the perceived marketplace value of the gig’s quality, which can only be set by means of a comparison. Each gig’s price, therefore, hinges upon the other individuals providing the same service, and the rate they charge. The sway between ratings, perceived value, and actual value for money creates a fast-moving economy, shifting the remuneration of workers relative to not only those providing the same gig-based service but global markets and pay scales for the same industries as well.
How The Gig Economy Works
A worker will either advertise their services to prospective customers by means of a range of methods including but not direct advertising, online marketing channels like email and social media, and by placing ads on job boards across the internet. Popular examples of the two primary models used are Fiverr.com and UpWork.com. Gig sites like Fiverr let you advertise a service offered, and then it’s all up to ratings. Each completed order is rated by both the worker and the person hiring, granting both parties a score. High consistent averages and customer commentary determine success. A similar rating system governs job boards like UpWork, PeoplePerHour, and Freelancer however, on sites like these, a company or individual places a job offer describing the service that they need to be rendered. Freelancers will then either bid on the project based on an estimated value or tender for a fixed price, providing a cover letter, enticing offer, and a portfolio or examples.
Try An Unlimited Job Board
There are alternate options for sourcing work online regardless of which side of the transaction you’re on. MyOpportunity.com is equally versatile for both companies or individuals hiring and online workers. Instead of limiting you to a particular type of job posting model, you’re given the freedom to list whatever service or employee you need and what your services you offer. The matchmaking algorithm takes care of the rest, putting your posting in front of eyes that matter. With diverse exposure to the right people in your field, selling your online services has never been easier while procuring talented, skilled staff is just as easy & reliable. With unlimited messaging, there’s ample facility to clarify all the details of every project, with complete profiles being available for every member to make sure that you are in touch with the right talent for your needs.
Tips For Working Gigs
Under promise and over deliver – Never overextend yourself but rather go the extra mile and allow the effort & consequent quality to be reflected in your work.
Always meet your deadlines – Reliability is the fore-running motivator for return orders.
Communicate clearly and openly – Be honest regarding all matters and always clarify all requirements by repeating your instructions back to your customer.
Write enticing copy – See ads for gigs and your job applications the same as you would any other vital piece of marketing and craft all correspondence or ad copy carefully.
Streamline your portfolio – Attached examples are great, but isn’t an online portfolio or professional PDF highlighting your most notable projects better? No one wants or needs a full list of everything you’ve ever done so keep your portfolio is concise but impactful.
Keep your portfolio up to date – Old examples serve very little purpose other than conveying a lack of sincerity in your field. Old work is also a poor reflection of your current abilities. We’re always improving even if we don’t notice it ourselves, so make sure to rework your portfolio every few weeks or months.
Grow to love routine – If you don’t already use a daily schedule, then it’s time to start falling in love with time-management. Routine is a freelance/online platform worker’s best friend, so plan to work at a fixed time when you know you’re most productive & able to focus.
Segment and isolate – Work time is for working only. Studies show that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to return to the same degree of focus on any given task after an interruption. No matter where you choose to work on your gigs, make sure it’s somewhere that you’re off-limits to others.
Don’t work for free – Time is money friend. Unfortunately, just like in conventional business, you will encounter shady characters while working the gig economy. No reasonable employer will ever ask you to complete a project for free to assess your skills or suitability. If you need to build a track-record, then rather take on a gig at a heavily reduced rate in the lure of your lack of vettable experience in the field. There are many employers who are specifically looking for new gig workers in order to reap the discount. Never, ever work for free.
Pick your gigs carefully – Many new gig workers end up falling into the trap of taking on too much work, or a selection of work that leaves them struggling to manage their time and focus. Evaluate each potential gig assessing it realistically. A good way to evaluate the viability is first to consider your desired hourly rate and then estimate the amount of time it would take you to complete the given gig. From this framework, it is far easier to see whether the payment of a project is suitable.
Tips For Hiring Workers
Divulge all requirements and confirm they’re understood – Clarity is imperative, so make sure that your prospective worker understands not only what you want to be done but how as well. Consider factors like brand representation, future work, and potential connected projects before deciding on a potential candidate.
Avoid micromanaging – Once the requirements have been conveyed and agreed upon, allow your gig worker to show initiative and take creative license where necessary. Constant commands, check-ins, and additional steps will hinder the process and almost always results in poorer quality and lower efficiency.
Ask for current references & a portfolio – Any professional will be proud to seize the opportunity to showcase their talent to you. Don’t hire unless a current, high-quality portfolio and/or recent references to completed projects are provided.
Don’t hire based on price alone – The cheapest workers aren’t always the worst, and the most expensive aren’t always the best. It’s all about suitability to your personal needs to sift through reviews, testimonials, customer comments, portfolio examples, and references to see whether the worker can pull off what you need in the style & to the specifications you need it done.
Sort through applicants at your leisure – Hiring the right gig worker is going to take sorting through applications, screening portfolios & covering letters, and speaking to prospective hires. Never feel obligated to hire during a first conversation or even a second. All applicants know all-too-well that they’re in competition with others, so use the interview phase to carefully vet everyone you see suitable.
Get Involved In The Gig Economy
The flourishing gig economy is beginning to force employers to improve and recreate outdated compensation models. The growth of digital platforms also creates a wellspring of opportunity for emerging economies and people who are otherwise limited by their social or financial standing. Being able to work and hire from anywhere is extremely empowering, shifting the world towards a global economy capitalizing on digital technology and ever-growing connectivity. People from all walks of life are given access to businesses and service delivery models that would otherwise be impossible using a traditional approach. The gig economy is here to stay, and we here at MyOpportunity.com provide you everything that you need to find talent, secure customers, and conquer the digital divide. Say goodbye to complicated hiring portals and limited features – there’s no more versatile platform for networking, recruiting, and job opportunities.