Gone are the days of looking at freelance consultants through a narrow scope; they shouldn’t be portrayed as outsiders to organisations any longer. Now more than ever, companies need flexible talent to “jump in” and take the reins on projects when a need for their skills arises.
We often hear our family members and peers talking about the importance of “diversifying our investments” as a means of secondary income, but diversifying your income streams should be the primary objective, especially during this difficult economic climate in which we find ourselves.
Along with that, we have seen a clear boom surrounding the Freelance industry in South Africa. Many of us allude to the idea that, because it’s a struggle to find permanent employment in this country, people are forced to venture into freelancing.
But, what if you were told that more and more South Africans are choosing the freelance lifestyle on their own accord? Managing your own time, being your own boss and being in control of your own schedule, sounds like a very attractive way of life – and people are doing it!
Online recruiters are starting to pick up on this trend and big tech companies have even developed complete departments purely dedicated to freelancers and side-hustlers. Just like securing permanent employment is not easy, getting a freelance contract can be even harder.
That is why it is important to seek out platforms on which you can promote yourself as a freelancer – and where you know employers and recruiters will visit, specifically to seek freelance talent.
Freelancers are usually skilled professionals in a niche area. You can find them in every area of expertise, from HR managers and lawyers to creatives like graphic designers, photographers, PR and social media specialists, to copywriters and bloggers/influencers/brand ambassadors or journalists.
They will choose the life of a freelancer because this lifestyle allows them to have multiple income streams/secondary income, within a culture that they’ve created for themselves – to put that into perspective, that is next year.
And even though millennials prefer to make a decent amount of money, best believe they will leave their full-time jobs if they’re unhappy with the company culture and start promoting themselves as freelancers. It is time that employers jump on this.