Why Use Gig?

The gig economy reigns supreme. More than 40% of Americans are working as freelancers. So, why use gig?

A gig is a temporary job or project. The employee often works on a specific project for an organization, either as an independent contractor or a freelancer. Most gigs are part-time or project-based. An employee working a gig might get paid hourly or may receive one lump sum for a completed project. People might do one gig at a time, or do a few at once. 

What are the Pros and Cons of hiring a Freelancer?

CONS

  • Less secure, sometimes favorite freelancers aren’t available when you need them

  • Relationship can be more transactional than traditional employment

PROS

  • Versatility to adapt quick to changing demand for skills (ramp up or down quickly)

  • Access to specialized skills and best practices from other industries

  • Faster to find freelancer talent via gig marketplaces

  • Shorter learning curve than with employees and no expectation of training

  • No payroll, taxes and insurance costs and administrative burden

Common Types of Gig Projects

There are many types of gig projects entrepreneurs offload. These three types below are very common.

 

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants provide a wide range of services from scheduling, organizing, to event management.

Skills:

  • Data entry

  • Event coordination

  • Organization/ Multi-tasking

  • Customer service

  • Google/ Microsoft applications

  • Proofreading

  • Basic Accounting

Creative

There are also many creative gigs for multimedia artists, photographers, and online content writers.

Skills:

  • Copywriting

  • Social media

  • Web design

  • Multimedia (Photography/ Videography)

  • Graphic arts

Technology

Common IT gigs include projects for web developers and software developers.

Skills:

  • Usability / Testing

  • Website development

  • IT Helpdesk

  • Cybersecurity