How to Find a Job in the Gig Economy

Today, the gig economy has been instrumental in creating tens of thousands of new opportunities to find work as a freelancer or independent contractor. As businesses continue to realise the benefits of working with independent contractors rather than hiring full-time employees, it is likely that we are going to see an increase in this type of work in the future. Gig workers are required in a wide range of different industries including online services, business services, delivery driving, taxi driving, pet care, household task help, design, and many more. Gig jobs have been a great help to people who are looking to be their own boss and take control over their work-life without the stress that comes with setting up a business. In addition, the flexible nature of gig work means that those who are looking for a way to earn some additional money alongside working in full-time employment are able to do so in a way that works best for them. 

What is a Gig Job?

A gig job is any short-term job or project carried out by a freelancer or independent contractor. Gig jobs are typically offered by companies who need some work carried out but do not have the budget or the need to hire a full-time employee to do the work. There are various types of gig jobs available. Some are posted by companies that have a one-off project that needs completing while others are posted by companies like Uber, which mainly work with gig workers. Delivery driving is one example of a popular gig job that you have probably heard about. If you have ever ordered food to be delivered to your home through a service such as Deliveroo or UberEATS, you have probably used the services of a gig worker. These delivery drivers are typically self-employed and use an app to find orders in their area that they can commit to fulfilling. Once you have ordered your food, the order comes up in the app for them to select and complete. Once the food has been delivered to your door, they can browse the app again for the next order to pick up and deliver. 

What is Gig Work and Where to Find It?

Gig work is a great way to earn an income if you want to enjoy more flexible work where you are in control. In addition to this, gig working can be a great option for earning an additional income on top of your full-time employment since you are in control and it is more flexible compared to getting a second job where you will usually be required to work set hours designated to you by the company. As a gig worker, you get to choose which days and hours you want to work based on what is best for your schedule. It’s also up to you how long you work for and in some cases, where you work. Many gig workers who drive for a living as a food delivery or taxi driver will often go to more densely populated areas to work where they are more likely to pick up gigs and earn more money. 

To find gig work, you should first decide on the type of work that you want to do since this will influence where you look for it. Driving jobs, where you use your car as a taxi, are best found on Uber, while you can sign up as a food delivery driver with a range of companies including UberEATS, Doordash, Deliveroo, and Just Eat. If you are interested in online freelance work, consider checking out Fiverr and Upwork. Household tasks such as minor repairs and assembling flat-pack furniture for a fee can be found at TaskRabbit. 

Gig Job Meaning and the Benefits of the Gig Economy:

Gig jobs are becoming an increasingly popular way of making a full-time or a side income. They are flexible and self-led, allowing you all the perks of being self-employed without the need to put the effort and investment into starting your own business. In addition, many of the companies that offer gig work are highly reputable and well-known among consumers such as Uber, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo. Because of this, gig work is usually easy to find depending on the type of work and the company that you sign up for. 

Another main benefit of gig work is that you are free to work as many gigs as you like, even if they are different from one another. This can be a great way to break up your working day and enjoy a wide range of work that keeps you on your toes. For example, you could work full-time completing web design gigs in the day and then get in your car and deliver for UberEATS in the evening to earn some additional cash. Many gig workers find that this is a great way to create several different streams of income and combat the income inconsistency that can come with being self-employed. Some of the major benefits of the gig economy that will often attract people to working in these jobs include:

Be Your Own Boss:

With the gig economy, gone are the days of having to be in the office at a certain time in the morning and your boss telling you what work you need to compete. As a gig worker, you will be fully in control of most of the aspects of the work that you do. This includes the gigs that you choose to work, when you want to work, how long you work for, which days you take off, and much more. 

Uncapped Earnings:

Unlike working in a full-time job where your salary is usually set, one of the main advantages of being a gig worker is that the more work you do, the more you will earn. If you have the time to dedicate to completing gigs and getting paid for them, you can earn a handsome income in no time and there is always the chance to earn more by taking on more gigs or even spreading the gigs that you do out across different industries. 

Availability:

As the gig economy grows, gig work is becoming more and more available and it’s often easy to sign up for. For example, if you want to become a delivery driver with UberEATS, all you will need is a car, bike, or motorcycle and the appropriate insurance for doing the job, along with a clean driving licence. If you have all of these things, all you need to do is download the app that is specifically designed for workers and upload the information. Once you are approved to work, you can start selecting gigs and working immediately. 

Side Hustle Opportunities:

While there are many people out there who successfully do gig work as their full-time income and make a decent income from it, gig work also lends itself really well to the side hustle. Many people wish that they could improve their financial situation but are simply not in the position to get a second job. In addition, getting a second job can be tricky if you are already working full-time since hours could clash and you can easily become burned out by travelling to different locations for work. On the other hand, the gig economy puts you in charge, providing you with a side hustle option that you can do at times that are the most convenient to you. In addition, the wide range of online gigs that are now available means that this is something that you can easily do from home once your working day is over. 

What is Gig Economy Work and Who is it Best For?

Gig economy work can be ideal for just about anybody. For the most part, it is a beneficial type of work for anybody who is tired of the constraints of working full-time and wants more control over how they work, how often they work, and when and where they do their job. If you have a car, a clean driving licence, and the appropriate insurance, there are several driving jobs in the gig economy that you might be interested in including food delivery and courier delivery driving. On the other hand, online gigs are becoming more and more popular. There are several jobs that are becoming more available online including content creation, graphic design, web design, social media management, and more. If you are skilled in one of these areas, there are a lot of opportunities for you to make a great income in the gig economy. Community gig work is also a good choice for some people, which may involve helping customers with household tasks like minor repairs through apps like TaskRabbit, or providing a local service like house cleaning, dog walking, or pet sitting. 

The gig economy is becoming an increasingly popular way to find work, either as a full-time income or a way to make additional money on the side.