The gig economy statistics will show you that the workplace has drastically shifted already. There were 24.6 million part-time workers in the US last 2020. At present, about 36% of US workers are part of the gig economy, either through their primary or secondary jobs. Data from the Gig Economy Index also revealed that 40% of US-based workers generate a large part of their income from the gig economy. It is predicted that at this rate, there may be 86.5 million freelancers in the US by 2027.
And who would not be enticed to be a gig worker? Through gigs, you can control your own work schedule, work from home or anywhere convenient for you, and have multiple jobs at the same time. The pandemic also pushed people to join the gig economy as some were retrenched, furloughed, or simply needed additional income.
Since many are joining this bandwagon, you have to stand out and be one of the best talents to get more opportunities.
Here are some skills that a gig worker must have to succeed in this industry.
Entrepreneurship
Being a freelancer means you are self-employed. Therefore, you need to know how to run your own business. A piece of working knowledge in marketing, accounting, and time management will come in handy when you do your gigs.
This skill also includes self-promotion and branding. It would be best if you are good at marketing yourself to your prospective clients. A wide network is an advantage, but how you let companies and potential clients know that you are good at what you do is a better way to ensure that you land that work. You should be able to create a “personal brand” and show them what makes you unique.
Self-direction and Discipline
Being your own boss means you should direct yourself on the tasks that you need to accomplish. It would be best to be disciplined enough to manage your time and tasks even when working from home. A successful gig worker is someone who can balance work and time with family- who does not lose sight of his professional and personal goals.
Interpersonal Skills
As a gig worker, you’ll need to have good interpersonal skills as you establish relationships with your clients, colleagues, and customers. You should be able to build and maintain rapport easily. Practice active listening and empathy as well to win over people.
In addition, having a good sense of communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, can also come in handy in relating to people. The best talents can communicate asynchronously. As an independent remote worker, communicating asynchronously means that you can clearly connect and collaborate with anyone, regardless of location and time zone. Even if you are using different technology tools and apps to conduct meetings, you should be able to convey your message and influence your partners.
Agile Learning
The gig economy is very fast-paced, and numerous independent workers are taking multiple projects simultaneously. In this competitive environment, you need to learn fast so that you do not get left behind. Check the in-demand jobs and study them. Be updated on the trends in the industry where you belong. For example, if you are part of the events industry, learn what’s new in photography, video, sounds, and lighting. Capitalize that learning can be done easily now- whether through enrolling in an online class, watching tutorials and self-study, or learning from your co-gig workers.
Work Smart
As a gig worker, you need to learn how to work smart, especially when juggling many projects. Leverage on your strengths and build a network of the right people that can help you reach your goals efficiently. Select which tasks to prioritize, what interactions, and ideas to undertake.
Other Tips to Further Advance You
Since technology is an essential tool of the trade of a gig worker, be in the loop of the latest advancement in programs and applications. These technological innovations may aid you in being more efficient and effective.
Constantly update your portfolio as well. This tip will help you land more gigs and let potential clients know and hire you quickly. Make sure your portfolio is organized and complete. Add also the feedback of your clients to make you more trustworthy.
In addition, join communities of gig workers. You can get tips based on others’ experiences and learn from the success stories of other individual workers by joining these kinds of groups. Aside from that, you can expand your network and meet more people- some can be potential partners for a project, or some can share with you job openings that you can grab. If you are into gigs and events, you can meet freelance event crews, lighting programmers, lighting technicians, sound technicians, photographers, videographers, stagehands, and set-up and teardown crews by joining community groups.
Wrapping Up
The gig economy is here to stay and will expand more in the coming years. If you want to succeed in this industry, you need to stand out from the others. Make sure you become one of the most sought after gig workers by constantly developing your self and abilities.
This article was written by Regi Publico for Electric Dreamz, an event company in Singapore. Regi Publico is a full-time writer based in Manila who is also an artist for fun. She takes pride in her towering collection of books and loves reading about anything under the sun. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge through every article that she writes.
Here is a fun video by our event company about the daily work life of AV technicians and event setup crew.
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