Guest post by Cassie Phillips, Technology & Internet Security Enthusiast; Blogger at securethoughts.com. Full bio located at the end of the post.
Another year in the information age has come and gone, and the internet has cemented itself even further as an essential part of not only our personal lives but our business lives. Can you think of many positions that don’t involve the use of the internet and complex programs now?
With that advent comes the rise of freelance labor from all around the world, people much like yourself who wanted more control over their careers and their lives. And from what we can tell, people are starting to freelance every day and therefore joining the freelance economy.
Here are four reasons why next year will be a year freelancers and hopeful freelancers will celebrate:
Online Freelancing Platforms Are Cementing Themselves
When the internet as we know it was forming, there wasn’t a centralized location freelancers could go to find safe and reliable work. Craigslist at the time was more legitimate for finding work, and various illegitimate sites popped up and vanished after doing damage to the freelancers who tried to use them.
Now we have websites, such as Upwork and Freelancer, that let freelancers congregate and bid for jobs that not only have protections put in place but are numerous and specialized. Not only that, the most established of these sites are now perfecting their systems and their reputations, allowing freelancers and clients alike to find the people they’re looking to work with.
This makes the process of finding work much easier for both people just entering the freelance world and those who have been there for years. Potential clients are now focused on a few major websites, making job searches a shorter process. These platforms also allow for rating systems, and while those have their problems, experience is noted and commands a higher price.
More People Are Turning To Freelancing Than Ever Before
Given the shake-up the world economy incurred in the last decade, more people have tried out freelancing as a means of bringing in income when full-time employment was hard to find or to supplement reduced wages. This wave of freelancers not only created a stronger infrastructure for freelancers (by necessity), but it normalized freelancing more than ever among the average person. To show the numbers, the number of freelancers quadrupled over the last decade.
This is now combined with the proliferation of the internet and technology to create an environment where nearly anyone can try out freelancing as a career choice. While the dedication and hard work have not been removed from the equation, the high costs of entry originally required are now gone, and there are many websites that will help new freelancers on their path (such as this one).
More Businesses Recognize Remote Freelancers Are An Option
Fortunately, to match this increased freelance workforce, there’s an increased demand for freelance work as companies have more tasks that they need completed by specialists in their field who they do not have employed full-time. From their point of view, they don’t have to worry about HR problems, and they don’t have to maintain a long-term contract with the freelancer should a project dry up. They usually don’t need to use any office space as well, and due to the independent nature of freelancer, managerial time is kept to a minimum.
Quite simply, freelancers and prospective freelancers such as yourself are convenient for companies, and they often do better work than their in-house counterparts. Why wouldn’t companies take advantage of the opportunity to work with and learn from an expert? Next year will be filled with uncertainly, so freelancers provide a short-term commitment.
Not only this, but freelancers are now available all over the world. Companies are no longer bound to finding the best local employee. They can hire people from Canada to South Africa, even someone with special talents who happens to live in a place where they would be locally in low demand.
A freelancer can work from anywhere where there’s WiFi, so long as the connection is strong and that they’re using a Virtual Private Network to protect client information. Internet cafes aren’t as popular as they used to be in the United States, but worldwide the industry is still strong.
Freelance Workplace Culture is Becoming Mainstream Workplace Culture
When you think of workplace culture, do you immediately think of setting your own hours and having autonomy on projects? Many people wouldn’t think that, but people in some tech industries and forward-thinking companies are realizing that flexibility and specialization are keys in bringing a company ahead of its competitors. The workplace is becoming a little looser and open-minded, and with that freelancers are more readily accepted into a company fold, even if only for a short while.
It’s now standard for managers and projects leaders to use and communicate with freelancers to get the job done. Remote workers are now appearing in most major companies, and remote work (and partially remote work) is commonplace. While teamwork is as important as ever, individual creativity and decision making are growing in value as skillsets. These are skills that freelancers by nature are going to bring to the table.
Conclusion
Next year is going to be great for freelancers. Opportunities are growing, and the online culture making its way into businesses is only going to improve the general climate toward freelance professionals of all fields. In fact, no matter what industry you look at, freelancing is becoming a more viable source of income. I hope that you are in a good position for yourself whether or not you’re freelancing and that you take the steps forward to give yourself the life that you want.
About the Author: Cassie is a freelance author and marketer who has found the freelancing life to be an amazing one after she eased into the lifestyle. She hopes that others will consider opening up their life and turning toward freelance work as a potential choice for them.