Perspectives on the Future of Work: June 20

Upwork’s weekly column brings you the latest news on hiring and working with freelancers, freelancing, and the future of work.

Do women make better freelancers than men? (Vice)

A Freelancers Union study found a majority of full-time freelancers are women. And they’re thriving while balancing the demands of project work along with a traditional job and family.

Writer Katherine Gillespie wonders whether this might be because freelancing allows women to circumvent obstacles they may face in a traditional career, such as pay gaps, confidence gaps, workplace sexism, or sexual harassment.

Ngaio Parr, a designer, illustrator and curator says, “Freelancing benefits women as it sits outside of a system that was not made for us. I don’t think it exclusively benefits women… but in general, women have to jump more hurdles in the traditional workplace, and some of these issues can be somewhat alleviated when working independently.”

Freelance documentary photographer and journalist Elize Strydom takes a more economic view. She believes women often freelance to supplement their income, motivated by tougher competition coupled with waning job security. Strydom provides an example within her own industry: “If you’re a journalist, it’s no longer enough to simply write. You must be able to write and take photos, record video and audio, edit it all then put it online and promote it across your social media networks. It’s rare for employers to hire a person to specialize in one creative area.”

How to freelance successfully while looking for a full-time job (Money)

Recruiter and coach Caroline Ceniza-Levine says you need to maintain a careful balance when you’re promoting yourself as a consultant while also looking for a full-time job. Here are her suggestions:

Focus on your activities and results, rather than on a specific title. For example, instead of saying you’re a marketing consultant with Company X, talk about what you’re doing, such as spearheading new product development or executing social media campaigns.

On your LinkedIn profile, choose one way to represent your work experience for anyone who happens upon your profile. Include accurate, updated information, and state your goals. You can appear committed to both your clients and potential employers by focusing on the skills you’re building, the results you’re achieving, and the expertise you’re gaining.

And manage your time by going after the right opportunities. If you want a permanent job and can afford to hold off working for a while, consider concentrating your efforts on a full-time job search. If you need to find work quickly, dedicate time to pitching for consulting projects. Ceniza-Levine suggests allotting at least 10-15 hours per week to your job search or your next consulting project.

Most freelancers are happy with their income and career choice (SIA)

The 2016 Field Nation Freelancer Study found 95 percent of freelancers feel positively about what they do. According to the study, the newest shift in freelancing isn’t in its growing numbers—it’s in how traditional and freelance workforces are blending.

The report states: “While the freelance movement continues to accelerate and widen, we do not foresee a future where everyone is independent. Rather, we see a hybrid workforce emerging that taps a network of expertise for collaborative projects, and elastic teams that scale up and down with need, demand and capacity. This is the blended workforce.”

The study shows freelancing is driven more by choice than economic reasons. Eighty-six percent of freelancers surveyed said they chose to freelance rather than feeling forced into it. The top two reasons cited are: “More flexibility” (33 percent), and “control over my future” (23 percent).

Other findings include:

• 72 percent of freelancers make the same or more than they did when traditionally employed.
• For 94 percent of freelancers surveyed, contract work comprises a regular, reliable part of their household income.

What changes have you noticed in the way we work? Tell us about them in the comments below!

The post Perspectives on the Future of Work: June 20 appeared first on Upwork Blog.

from Upwork Blog http://ift.tt/28IVZwk